Paralen 100 (Paracetamol)

Paralen 100 contains paracetamol, an analgesic that acts on the body's pain‑and‑temperature pathways.

• Headache: provides relief from mild to moderate tension‑type or migraine‑associated pain.
• Fever: reduces elevated body temperature in febrile conditions.
• Musculoskeletal pain: eases discomfort from strains, sprains and low‑back pain.
• Dental pain: alleviates pain following dental procedures or toothache.
• Osteoarthritis: helps manage chronic joint pain in mild cases.

• Paracetamol exerts its effect primarily by inhibiting central cyclooxygenase enzymes, especially COX‑2, which reduces prostaglandin synthesis in the brain. This action lowers the hypothalamic set‑point for temperature regulation and diminishes pain signal transmission in the central nervous system, providing antipyretic and analgesic effects without significant peripheral anti‑inflammatory activity.

Paracetamol is generally well tolerated, but adverse reactions can occur.

Common Side Effects

• Nausea: mild stomach upset may be experienced.
• Rash: occasional skin redness or itching.
• Elevated liver enzymes: transient increase detected in blood tests.

Serious or Rare Side Effects

• Hepatotoxicity: risk of liver injury with overdose or chronic high‑dose use.
• Stevens‑Johnson syndrome: rare severe skin reaction.
• Anaphylaxis: extremely rare allergic response requiring immediate medical attention.
• Blood disorders: rare cases of thrombocytopenia or neutropenia.

When using Paralen 100, consider the following safety measures:

• Dose limitation: do not exceed the recommended daily maximum of 4 g for adults.
• Alcohol use: avoid concurrent excessive alcohol consumption, which can increase liver risk.
• Liver disease: patients with existing hepatic impairment should use only under medical supervision.
• Pregnancy: consult a healthcare professional before use during pregnancy or lactation.
• Drug interactions: review all concurrent medications with a clinician.
• Store at ambient temperature: keep below 25 °C, in the original packaging, protected from moisture and direct sunlight.

Paracetamol may interact with several medicines; monitoring is advised.

Major Interactions (Avoid)

• Warfarin: may enhance anticoagulant effect and increase bleeding risk.

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

• Isoniazid: can increase risk of liver toxicity.
• Antiepileptic drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin): may reduce paracetamol clearance.
• Rifampicin: may lower plasma concentrations of paracetamol.
• HIV protease inhibitors: potential for altered metabolism.
• High‑dose vitamin C: may affect renal excretion of paracetamet