{"id":31231,"date":"2025-04-18T21:37:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T21:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/31231\/"},"modified":"2025-04-18T21:37:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T21:37:10","slug":"indians-take-dolo-650-like-its-cadbury-gems-says-us-doctor-how-much-paracetamol-is-safe-for-your-body-health-and-wellness-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/31231\/","title":{"rendered":"Indians take Dolo 650 like it\u2019s Cadbury Gems, says US doctor: How much paracetamol is safe for your body? | Health and Wellness News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paracetamol, the fever pill that features in each of our first aid boxes, has become our go-to solution for everything, from fever of all kinds to body aches, headaches, sinus, cold, vaccine-induced discomfort and any kind of pain. It is like our everyday shield that has become a silent addiction. Except it is not safe if popped at will.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the tweet by US-based gastroenterologist Dr Palaniappan Manickam, popularly known as Dr Pal, that \u201cIndians take Dolo 650 like it\u2019s Cadbury Gems,\u201d has raised a viral storm. Dolo 650 is a brand name for paracetamol. \u201cJust like any other drug that comes with its own caveat, paracetamol too comes with advisories. Except that we ignore them and have the pill unsupervised, almost like taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. We do not even feel the need to ask a doctor about dosage since it is available easily over the counter. Fact is overuse can be toxic for key organs like the liver and kidneys and can lead to serious health complications,\u201d says Dr Rakesh Gupta, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the ideal way to take paracetamol?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is absolutely safe when you take it as your doctor prescribes it, do not self-medicate or take the pharmacist\u2019s word for it, the last being very common in India. Paracetamol is used to reduce fever and pain but is not an anti-inflammatory drug. It comes as tablets of 500 mg, 650 mg and even as 1000 mg injectables. The maximum dose that a person can have per day is 4 g or 4000 mg.<\/p>\n

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So if you have been prescribed 500 mg, you can have up to eight tablets in 24 hours with about four-hour gaps in between to see if the condition improves. The tablet can take up to an hour to work.<\/p>\n

Do not take paracetamol with other medicines containing paracetamol because there is a risk of an overdose.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, paracetamol is safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding as recommended by your doctor.<\/p>\n

What does an overdose of paracetamol do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

An overdose of paracetamol can severely damage the liver, potentially leading to acute liver failure. The liver processes paracetamol but during an overdose, it gets overwhelmed and releases toxic byproducts. These then bind to liver cells, causing damage and potentially leading to liver cell death (necrosis). In one to two per cent of users with above-normal dosage, these toxins that the liver cannot neutralise lead to renal toxicity and damage the kidney\u2019s filtering capacity. Sometimes even bleeding can happen.<\/p>\n

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In 2021, 227 deaths were recorded in England and Wales due to paracetamol overdose. In 2022, that number rose to 261.<\/p>\n

If your liver and kidney are already compromised or if you are a regular drinker, having more than 14 units of alcohol a week, the effects could be more severe.<\/p>\n

How long should one use paracetamol on one\u2019s own?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not more than two days. If the fever and pain have not subsided, it means that there are some other underlying infection or conditions that need to be investigated and treated with other medicines. Temporary relief could be suppressing a condition instead of treating it as fast as needed.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 The Indian Express Pvt Ltd<\/p>\n

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