Paracetamol is a pain reliever widely used to relieve various types of discomfort, such as headache, toothache, muscle pain and even to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. However, this remedy is also an antipyretic and therefore can be used to reduce fever in cases of flu and mild infections.
Although it can be used safely by most people, including pregnant women and children, this medication should only be used on medical advice in patients with:
- Liver or kidney problems : as it is eliminated from these organs, which can worsen symptoms of serious problems such as kidney or liver failure, for example;
- History of excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption associated with the effect of acetaminophen on the liver increases the risk of worsening or causing liver problems such as cirrhosis or hepatitis;
- Underweight : in these cases, the dose of paracetamol must be adjusted by the doctor, to avoid intoxication of the organism.
In addition, Paracetamol should not be used at the same time as other medicines such as Carbamazepine, Metoclopramide or Warfarin, for example.
Thus, even though it is an over-the-counter drug in pharmacies, it should only be used with a doctor’s recommendation, to reduce the risk of side effects that could be life-threatening.
Medicines that should not be used with Paracetamol
The main medicines that should not be used during treatment with Paracetamol are:
| carbamazepine | cholestyramine | Imatinib |
| ketoconazole | Metoclopramide | Phenobarbital |
| phenytoin | Primidona | warfarin |
Therefore, if it is not possible to stop using any of these drugs, it is advisable to inform the doctor so that he can prescribe another type of analgesic or antipyretic that is safer to use.