Pain killing meds help manage a variety of discomforts including migraines, persistent spell of headache, tooth pains, neck ache and muscular pains. A few brands of pain killers are widely used by treating physicians / physicians; these include Tylenol, Panadol, Mapap, etc. In this light, how is Panadol or paracetamol called in the US? It becomes essential to know more about this prior to commencing your medication plan to control pains?
Panadol or paracetamol are commonly called acetaminophen in the US. Acetaminophen is a fever reducer and a pain reliever. Its chief function is to boost your system’s capability to handle pains. The active ingredients can also manage signs infections such as an increase in body temperature; this is done by elimination of additional heat from your body. Due to these properties, this med is used for the treatment of a large range of discomforts such as joint pains, pain of muscles, headaches as well as migraines. The chief thing to remember is – acetaminophen does not belong to the genre called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Acetaminophen is considered to influence the quantum of prostaglandin (a natural chemical your system makes while you are undergoing pain). In many nations, acetaminophen is called paracetamol. Most widely available brands (of acetaminophen) are Apra, Tylenol, Aceta, Mapap, etc. Although acetaminophen works upon COX enzymes, it is not grouped under NSAIDs such as naproxen, aspirin or ibuprofen. It is due to the way acetaminophen performs is action and how it acts on enzymes (that make prostaglandins) is very unique and also differs from how NSAIDs function.
Dosage range of acetaminophen for treating discomforts
Pain killing drug acetaminophen is used as antipyretic med (to reduce increase in body temperature) and as an analgesic (pain controlling med). Typical dosage – among adults – ranges from 500 milligrams (mg), taken once every eight (8)-hour timeline. This strength is often used if you are taking an immediately releasing form of acetaminophen. On the other hand, for extended release version of this drug, the strength can go to as high as 1,200 mg for every 8 hourly time windows.
However, for children aged in between 14 to 17: dosage strength can hover in the range of 15 mg per kilogram (kg) of the child’s body weight. For children below 14 but 10 years of age, dosage strengths can range from 7 to 9 mg per kg of their weight. Regardless of the dosage range, acetaminophen does not decrease inflammation or internal swelling.
Acetaminophen is a short-action drug. Due to this property, relief it often instantaneous, and is hence used for shorter spells of pains. In other words, it is seldom prescribed for the treatment of chronic pains. On this front, this med differs from NSAIDs such as naproxen and ibuprofen. A few studies have evidenced NSAIDs are better suited for treating pains and a few allied discomforts.
The catch however is – ibuprofen can trigger a few gastric conditions such as ulcers, internal injuries, bleeding as well as some cardiac conditions. It is to avert such risks NSAIDs are always offered in lesser dosages – of say, well under 1,000 mg per day. NSAIDs are fairly long-acting as compared to pain killing meds like acetaminophen. This is also one of the key reasons for using NSAIDs for chronic pains as well as discomforts.
In sum, Panadol or paracetamol are referred to as acetaminophen in US. Acetaminophen is essentially a fever reducing and a pain relieving formulation. The key chemicals can handle pains, fever and associated discomforts. It is administered for the effective treatment of pain in muscles, migraines and tooth ache. The main thing for you to know is – acetaminophen is not a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
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