In Nigeria, when certain drugs are advertised for
usage, especially common drugs like
antimalarials, at the end of the advert, they often
say, “If symptoms persist after three days,
consult a doctor.” In some other cases, they tell
you to consult a doctor “if symptoms persist after
five days.”
But, we also see adverts on brands of
paracetamol (acetaminophen) which tell you they
are for treating “fever, chills and aches,” ending
with “if symptoms persist after three days,
consult a doctor.” That is as dangerous as a
statement can be!
In studies on self-medication in Nigeria,
analgesics, where paracetamol belongs, ranks
among the most abused. Among the common
paracetamols we have in Nigeria include Avipol,
Boska, Calpol, Daga, Kaka, Lotemp, Painax,
Panda, Pancemol, Panadol, Pentax, Remidol,
Saridon P, Uncle Joe, and Piccan for teething,
which has diphenhydramine added to the
paracetamol. Some of them have “Extra” after
their names to mean they also have caffeine.
Chronic usage of paracetamol especially in high
doses can damage the liver. Little wonder there
has been an increase in liver disease in the
country in recent time.
If there is an obvious cause of body ache, or you
were involved in exercise, some strenuous work or
you have minor sprain or some similar things, or
a child has fever after immunisation, the analgesic
and antipyretic effects of paracetamol may be
enough. But certainly not when there is a fever
which cannot be explained, occurring alone, or in
association with other symptoms.
The wait for three or five days for the usage of
paracetamol when there is fever is usually based
on what obtains in some Western countries where
the most common cause of fever is a virus, which
is often self-limiting. But in Nigeria, it is not a
virus. It is malaria or some infection.
I laugh when I see a dubious commercial where
the individual is sweating, feverish, with chills and
rigour, and pops two tablets of paracetamol and
“everything” is “gone,” the person is back to
“work”, back to “normal life.” What a fraud!
I recall with sadness one day while I was at work
and a young woman rushed into the consulting
room with a pleasant chubby boy infant. But when
I examined the baby, he was already stone dead!
It was difficult to accept that that baby was dead,
even to me. When I broke the sad news to the
mother, she wailed uncontrollably, claiming that
the baby had been having fever and she had been
using a common brand of paracetamol that ends
with “babe”. She said she had been using it as
she was “advised.”
You have heard of the child whose mother has
been giving him or her “teething medicine” which
of course has paracetamol and dyphenhydramine ,
but ends up being admitted in the hospital. Or,
the fellow who has been on paracetamol for his
fever for days because it is “stress oh,” but ends
up in the hospital ward, with exhaustion. Many
have been using paracetamol for a headache that
won’t go, only to die of stroke because they had
been suffering from hypertension that was not
detected, all because they wouldn’t seek medical
help early. Another person had been using
paracetamol for “a long time”, for a so-called
nagging headache. It was after a lot of
persuasion that they sought proper medical help,
and it turned out the person needed eye glasses.
And since they have been using the glasses the
headache has not come back. But imagine all the
load of paracetamol to the liver!
From a Nigerian perspective perhaps it is even
more ominous for the individual if the
paracetamol controls the fever! Then, the
individual tends to relax, and not taking further
action. It is perhaps better for the individual if the
paracetamol does not control the fever.
Paradoxically, this is where fake drugs may save
lives! Because in this situation, anyone who loves
their health will seek medical care if their fever
persists.
But you could say that for other people, not
Nigerians. Nigerians don’t come early to the
hospital. Even with the three or five days, in
Nigeria, the wait is usually longer! It could be
weeks. And all other sorts of roadside herbal
concoction may have been used. A child will only
be brought when the child stops feeding, and all
other problems have set in, including severe
anaemia and even kidney failure.
To those who are marketing paracetamol, please,
every advert on any brand of paracetamol must
end with “after you have taken the drug go
immediately to see a doctor!” This is particularly
so with those with fever, and especially in
children.
For you who use paracetamol, be wary of
commercials on brands of paracetamol! I cannot
overemphasise by saying paracetamol only
suppresses fever, while a definitive action is to be
taken. Paracetamol does not cure what is causing
the fever! By continually using paracetamol to
“suppress” your fever, on yourselves and your
loved ones, without seeing a doctor thereafter,
you – and your loved ones may be dying silently
and slowly. A word is enough for the foolish, let
alone the wise!
Dr. Odoemena, medical practitioner, is based
in Lagos


The Punch

What a nice article.The way nigerians use paracetamol is too much especially amongst illiterates.And they expect the medicine to cure all their illness.Remain small make them even use the drug prevent ebola sef.*modified*.

Wow. Eye opening.
Now I know better.

That awkward moment when you are seriously sick and all daddy could say is : Have you taken paracetamol?

Where can I buy sachet of paracetamol?

hahahahahahaha

Nigerians ... space bookers everywhere

True Talk

Nice article. Not just paracetamol, antibiotics too..Nigerians sabi abuse drugs

Some even use Paracetamol to treat malaria

Paracetamol can even cure cancer...una never know

Acetaminophen over dose is a common cause of Cancer, also causes Ageing and can also be a good oxidant.... This I know from my Biochemistry class back in the Uni!

"Madam Jeli-jeli, better dey for Boska oh, see as my bodi don dey, as I dey nao, I fit pound anytin."

In Phyno's voice: "I see them everywhere!" www.nairaland.com/1959715/space-bookers-association-nairaland-Nairaland

Up until recently, every slight discomfort, especially having to do headache (I used to have headache a lot then), I went for paracetamol.

In fact, if you put all tablets of paracetamol I have consumed in my life in one 20 liter bucket, it will fill it up.

I recently stopped taking it except very necessary when I read it could damage the liver. I have also led the campaign against taking it at the slightest headache or any other bodily discomfort. I don't allow my people to take it except part of the drug prescribed by the doctor.

Who is to blame.??

This is priceless!

I am showing this to the colony of people around me.

I Can't Remember The Last Time I Took Paracetamol.

True talk

Yeah

As a good citien of nigeria i can tell you that paracetamol can make you look cuter and give you abs

nice article..Majority of the general populace often assume fever can be taken care of completely by paracetamol instead of seeing it as a palliative measure.

sad

abeg give me 10naira paracetamol btw you know our grand fathers too took paracetamol even our fathers and yet nothing happened to them soo why us ?

datguru:
Z.

Harmvirus:
H

initialize:
o

stalyf:
X

stalyf:
X

you all need paracetamol

Nice piece. The problem is that those that will have access to this article are not the ones guilty of paracetamol abuse.

We Nigerians believe we are so strong ordinary paracetamol can cure everything

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mmm

ok ooo.......

ok ooo.......I go dy use panadol