paracetamol (thing)

Paracetamol in the UK may be sold over-the-counter by any retailer, but may only be supplied in packs of no more than 16 500mg tablets, and no more than two packs may be sold in any single transaction. The justification for this is not that depressed people cannot visit more than one shop, but rather that it reduces the number of opportunistic suicides by people who find fatal dosages lying around in their cupboards. (It is well-known in the UK that paracetamol is fatal in relatively small doses).

Paracetamol in the official name of this drug in European and British Pharmacy, while in the US it is officially known as "Acetaminophen". Panadol and Tylenol are brand names under which this drug is sometimes sold. Paracetamol is very cheap, although branded versions may have advanced formulations that speed or otherwise modify the release and absorption of the drug.

Ibuprofen and aspirin are not groups of drugs, but specific drugs belonging to the NSAID group. It is often considered safe to mix ibuprofen and paracetamol each up to their recommended maximum dosage, but REMEMBER THAT I AM NOT A DOCTOR NOR ANY OTHER KIND OF HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. For your information, I reproduce the list of questions that one should answer "no" to before taking paracetamol without medical supervision, as given on the packet I have before me (I assume that all uncapitalised drug names are the standard British Pharmacy names):

• Are you allergic to paracetamol, or any other ingredient?
• Do you take medicines for nausea or sickness, such as metoclopramide or domperidone?
• Do you take Cholestyramine for high cholesterol or high blood fats (lipids such as triglycerides)?
• Do you take Warfarin or other medicines to thin the blood or reduce risk of clotting?
• Do you take any other medicine including any not prescribed by your doctor?
• Are you pregnant or trying to become pregnant?
• Do you have liver or kidney disease?