Having been in a boarding school long enough, it’s always the same drill—someone gets a headache, and suddenly, everyone starts offering Dolo as if it’s the cure for all problems. Feeling feverish or fatigue? Dolo. Cold and sore throat? Crocin. Hurt your toe, or stomachache? Oh, wait, feeling anxious? Better take a Dolo just in case! It’s almost as if these tablets have become our go-to solution for every problem, from anxiety to homesickness to even exhaustion.

Although paracetamol is amazing for some things, it simply cannot cure anything and everything. It might dull the headache a little, but it won’t fix that all-nighter pulled or the cold that’s been messing with life for days.

Also called acetaminophen, it is a member of the class of drugs known as analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). It mainly works in the central nervous system rather than on the site of pain and works in the brain to block the production of prostaglandins—chemicals that signal pain and cause fever. Unlike its cousins, aspirin and ibuprofen, it doesn’t belong to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) category, as it lacks anti-inflammatory properties.

Another theory says that paracetamol acts on the serotonergic pathways in the brain, boosting up the body's natural pain-relief mechanisms. Some researchers have suggested that paracetamol might target the cannabinoid system in the brain, quite similar to how drugs like marijuana reduce pain, but obviously without the psychoactive effects.

Dolo 650 and others—how different are the brands?

Where these brands may differ is in the inactive ingredients, such as fillers, binders, and coatings. These can affect things like the speed at which the tablet dissolves and is absorbed by the body, the tablet's taste, or how it feels in the mouth. However, these differences are irrelevant and negligible.

Whether one consumes a Dolo 650 or a Crocin, the active ingredient is the same—paracetamol. The main difference is the dosage. Dolo 650, as the name suggests, contains 650 mg of paracetamol, a bit more than the standard 500 mg found in Crocin. This might give an upper hand in pain relief, but it doesn’t really make much difference.

The Paradox: When Paracetamol Isn’t Enough

The popularity of Dolo 650, especially during COVID-19, has led to a problematic trend where people used it as a solution to every ailment. This ‘dolo-fication’ of self-medication overlooks the fact that it is not the solution to every problem. As mentioned earlier, it doesn’t tackle inflammation and certainly doesn’t cure a bacterial infection or exam stress—over-relying on it just masks symptoms that need more targeted treatment.

For example, in conditions where inflammation or chronic pain is a significant component, such as rheumatoid arthritis or severe toothaches, paracetamol might not provide adequate relief. This limitation can lead to frustration and the overuse of the drug, which brings its own set of risks, especially when it comes to liver toxicity.

One of the most significant risks of overusing paracetamol is liver and kidney toxicity. It is metabolized in the liver, where it’s broken down into both harmless substances and a small amount of a toxic compound called NAPQI. Usually, the liver can neutralize this toxin, but in cases of overdose or chronic high-dose usage, NAPQI can accumulate, leading to serious liver damage. Long-term usage can also cause tiredness, breathlessness, fingers and lips turning blue, anemia, heart disease, and stroke if you have high blood pressure, etc.

Two paracetamols should not ever be taken before a difference of 4 hours, and one should not take it with another medicine that contains paracetamol, or when one has an allergy to it. Surprisingly, some animals, like cats, are extremely sensitive to paracetamol, and it can be fatal to them even in small doses. Even many cold and flu remedies contain paracetamol along with other active ingredients, so the label shall be checked to avoid accidentally doubling up on paracetamol, which could lead to an unintentional overdose.

There’s something oddly comforting about taking a Dolo when you’re not feeling well. It’s like a security blanket—a small action that makes you feel like you’re doing something to take care of yourself, but it’s essential to understand its limits and not fall into the trap of thinking it’s a cure-all. So, next time you reach for that Dolo, remember the ‘paracetamol paradox’—even though it may be a key component in our medicine cabinets, understanding its limitations and using it wisely is critical to ensuring it is actually the right tool for the job—or if you might just need some rest, hydration, and maybe a little less stress.

Bibliography

https://www.sciencedirect.com/

https://www.bmj.com/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/

https://www.haleonhealthpartner.com/

https://www.1mg.com/drugs/paradix

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/

https://pharmaoffer.com/