Pharmacist explains how paracetamol and ibuprofen work
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Like all medicines, there are some side effects, albeit rare, to taking paracetamol.
Some of them are manageable, others require the immediate presence of a doctor.
One of these is the lips, fingernails or skin turning a pale blue.
Should this occur, you should contact a doctor immediately.
This isn’t the only side effect that should result in a call to a medical professional.
If breathing is difficult or troubled, irregularly fast or slow, or shallow, a doctor should be consulted.
The NHS recommends that emergency treatment should also be sought if a serious allergic reaction is experienced.
An allergic reaction to paracetamol can come in the form of a skin rash with “itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin”.
Alternatively, it may also come in the form of:
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest or throat
• Mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat starting to swell.
Although these are potential side effects, they are not a comprehensive list.
This list will be written on the leaflet that comes with each packet of paracetamol.
When it comes to other medicines, the NHS recommends caution in this regard.
Although it can be taken safely with many prescription medicines and some antibiotics, there are some medicines that patients should seek clarification from their doctor on before taking with paracetamol.
Why this is the case is because paracetamol isn’t suitable for everyone.
Medicines that are used to thin the blood, treat epilepsy or tuberculosis are not necessarily suitable in the company of paracetamol as, in the case of blood thinners, paracetamol can increase the risk of bleeding when taken regularly.
Herbal remedies are not immune to this caution either.
St John’s Wort should only be taken with paracetamol if the dose of the latter is reduced
While the list of side effects may sound unnerving, they are there to provide information so that the user is aware of what could happen after they consume the medication.
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