At present time, whenever a person is having headache or is feeling achy in any part of his/her body, or fever sometimes, he/she will most likeky to take in Panadol.
However, not all of them know what does Panadol actually do. They just have a concept that Panadol will relieve their pain and they eventually consume it. So, now I will be the one explaining to you how Panadol works here. Or to be more detailed, the question should be - how does paracetamol work?
Well, Panadol contains the active ingredient paracetamol. It is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain and fever. Although it has been widely used for over 100 years, many people did not understand how it actually works. But, it is now thought that it works by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord.
Paracetamol
How many of you here know what prostaglandin is? It sounds scientific, doesn't it? Haha. In fact, prostaglandins are produced by our body in response to injury and certain diseases. One of their actions is to sensitize nerve endings, so that when the injury is stimulated, it will cause pain.
Thus, when the production of prostaglandin is reduced, the actions of sensitizing the nerves will be reduced as well. This will eventually increase our pain threshold, so that although the injury remains, we can feel it less.
How does it reduce fever then? It is thought that paracetamol can affect an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature, or known as the the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.
Here I made a flowchart to show you the summarized actions of paracetamol towards injury:
Take in Panadol --> Take in paracetamol --> Reduces the production of prostaglandins --> Less nerves will be sensitized --> We feel less pain although the injury remains
There are some cautions to be noted when you are to take in Panadol:
You should not take this medicine with any other paracetamol-containing products.
You should not exceed the dose as it is dangerous.
You should consult a doctor if symptoms persist.
Besides, children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take in Panadol. But, there are other forms of paracetamol which are more suitable for them.
Furthermore, Panadol should not be taken with other certain kinds of medicine as well. For example, cholestyramine, metoclopramide and domperidone. Cholestyramine will reduce the absorption of paracetamol from the gut so the effect of paracetamol will be reduced. On the other hand, metoclopramide and domperidone will increase the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.
We are also recommended not to take in Panadol for a long duration. Long-term use of paracetamol may increase the anti-blood-clotting effect of warfarin and other anticoagulant medicines, leading to an increased risk of bleeding.
It is totally undeniable that Panadol is a good painkiller. However, I personally think that we should not rely on it at most of the time. As mentioned above, taking it in overdose or in long-term duration will be harmful to our body. Take it whenever necessary only. If you are just suffering from a light fever, drink plenty of water, that will be the most appropriate cure to it. Don't think it is convenient and simply take in Panadol. This is not a good habit anyway.
CARE YOUR LIFE FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE.
CARE FOUR HEALTH FOR IT IS YOUR HEALTH.
CARE YOURSELF FOR EVERYONE CARES FOR YOU TOO.
References:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100003607.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol
Various products of Panadol seen in market
However, not all of them know what does Panadol actually do. They just have a concept that Panadol will relieve their pain and they eventually consume it. So, now I will be the one explaining to you how Panadol works here. Or to be more detailed, the question should be - how does paracetamol work?
Well, Panadol contains the active ingredient paracetamol. It is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain and fever. Although it has been widely used for over 100 years, many people did not understand how it actually works. But, it is now thought that it works by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord.
Paracetamol
How many of you here know what prostaglandin is? It sounds scientific, doesn't it? Haha. In fact, prostaglandins are produced by our body in response to injury and certain diseases. One of their actions is to sensitize nerve endings, so that when the injury is stimulated, it will cause pain.
Thus, when the production of prostaglandin is reduced, the actions of sensitizing the nerves will be reduced as well. This will eventually increase our pain threshold, so that although the injury remains, we can feel it less.
How does it reduce fever then? It is thought that paracetamol can affect an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature, or known as the the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.
Here I made a flowchart to show you the summarized actions of paracetamol towards injury:
Take in Panadol --> Take in paracetamol --> Reduces the production of prostaglandins --> Less nerves will be sensitized --> We feel less pain although the injury remains
There are some cautions to be noted when you are to take in Panadol:
You should not take this medicine with any other paracetamol-containing products.
You should not exceed the dose as it is dangerous.
You should consult a doctor if symptoms persist.
Besides, children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take in Panadol. But, there are other forms of paracetamol which are more suitable for them.
Furthermore, Panadol should not be taken with other certain kinds of medicine as well. For example, cholestyramine, metoclopramide and domperidone. Cholestyramine will reduce the absorption of paracetamol from the gut so the effect of paracetamol will be reduced. On the other hand, metoclopramide and domperidone will increase the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.
We are also recommended not to take in Panadol for a long duration. Long-term use of paracetamol may increase the anti-blood-clotting effect of warfarin and other anticoagulant medicines, leading to an increased risk of bleeding.
It is totally undeniable that Panadol is a good painkiller. However, I personally think that we should not rely on it at most of the time. As mentioned above, taking it in overdose or in long-term duration will be harmful to our body. Take it whenever necessary only. If you are just suffering from a light fever, drink plenty of water, that will be the most appropriate cure to it. Don't think it is convenient and simply take in Panadol. This is not a good habit anyway.
CARE YOUR LIFE FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE.
CARE FOUR HEALTH FOR IT IS YOUR HEALTH.
CARE YOURSELF FOR EVERYONE CARES FOR YOU TOO.
References:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100003607.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol
eekkk same topic lol.
ReplyDeleteBut I think yours is much more detailed compare to mine.
awesome work ^^
hahaaha! thx thx...
ReplyDeleteurz is not bad too.. =)