Know Your Drug-Paracetamol

You would have taken "Paracetamol" on numerous occasions.  The common brand names available in India are -Crocin, Calpol, Dolo, Paracip. It is also present in many fixed drug combinations for cold and pain.
We highlight the benefits and risks of Paracetamol in this post.

Image:Flickr

Uses:

Many people think paracetamol is only for fever. Paracetamol also has the ability to relieve pain.

Therefore it is used in

• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Toothache
• Arthritis
• Back ache
• Cold &
• Fever

It only reduces the symptoms and does not correct the underlying pathology.

A recent paper mentions that it may not be effective in back ache. Lancet, News. So, we can probably use other placebo drugs for back pain and get the same relief!

Dose:

In children the dose can range from 15 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg up to 12 years.

In Adults: Dose for fever is 325 mg to 650 mg every 6 hours. Not to exceed 3 gm per day.

For pain: 650 mg every 6 hours or 1000 mg every 8 hours. 

Paracetamol in Combination:

For pain control it is available in combination with Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Tramadol.  The dose of paracetamol available in such combinations is 325 mg. Dosage varies, please consult your doctor or use our tele-consultation service.

Side Effects:

Paracetamol is considered a "safe" drug. But it needs to be taken with caution in people who have liver disease. Also overdosing should be avoided.

• a rash or swelling – this could be a sign of an allergic reaction
• hypotension (low blood pressure) when given in hospital by infusion (a continuous drip of medicine into a vein in your arm) 
• liver and kidney damage, when taken at higher-than-recommended doses (overdose)

There have recent data collected from observational research which indicate that "Paracetamol" could be injurious to kidney, liver, gastric mucosa and heart when used for a long time. 

Even though paracetamol is very safe to be taken during pregnancy, reports indicate association with hyperactivity disorders in children. Safe to say that use paracetamol only when necessary under medical supervision. 

Addendum: Added on 16/04/2015

Paracetamol also known as acetaminophen also has been found to reduce the ability to have "pleasure"! Link to new article here

Acetaminophen is also found to increase the risk of few hematological malignancies.  Abstract here

What does this all mean? Be careful about taking drugs indiscriminately.

World Health Day -April 7

Imagine getting anything at Rs 1, yes, Rupees One per day!!

Never before offer for #Bangalore people on occasion of "World Health Day" which is on April 7.  Offer valid only for first 500 customers.

1.  Customers who visit our clinic at #Indiranagar from 9 am to 8 pm tomorrow or #Rajarajeshwari Nagar from 6 pm to 7 pm- OPD Consultation at only 150 Rs for General Physician.

2. At Indiranagar Clinic - #Oncology consultation for 250 Rs only.

3. Home visit by Prana Doctors at 350 Rs. Prior scheduling required.

4. If you have availed any of the above service, you get unlimited teleconsultations for 1 Re per day per person.

Call /whatsapp/sms  us on 9886309122 and be one of the first 500 Bangaloreans to grab this offer.


The theme for this year's , World Health Day is "Food Safety"

Below is the extract from WHO page!

Unsafe food is linked to the deaths of an estimated 2 million people annually – including many children. Food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.

New threats to food safety are constantly emerging. Changes in food production, distribution and consumption; changes to the environment; new and emerging pathogens; antimicrobial resistance - all pose challenges to national food safety systems. Increases in travel and trade enhance the likelihood that contamination can spread internationally.

Five keys to safer food

Food safety is a shared responsibility. It is important to work all along the food production chain – from farmers and manufacturers to vendors and consumers. For example, WHO’s Five keys to safer food offer practical guidance to vendors and consumers for handling and preparing food:

• Key 1: Keep clean
• Key 2: Separate raw and cooked food
• Key 3: Cook food thoroughly
• Key 4: Keep food at safe temperatures
• Key 5: Use safe water and raw materials.

Autism Awareness Day. What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental and neurological disorder that is estimated to affect nearly 20 lakh individuals in India (T C Daley and Sigman, 2002). This number may be more. 

The video gives description about Autism.

Below are the centres in Bangalore which are making a difference to Autistic people.

1. Sunshine Trust 

2. Asha Integrated School

3. Apoorva Centre

4. Bubbles Autism

Prana Healthcare provides the general physician support as and when you need. Prana is you trusted "family doctor".

Prana Healthcare is a new age, compassionate, caring, primary healthcare provider. We send general physicians for home visits and run primary care clinics in Bangalore.

Painful Menstrual Periods

Do you dread those two to five days of the month because you have to suffer the pain? The pain can be in the form of  lower abdomen pain, back pain, crampy pains, a sharp pain which comes and goes.

Most doctors will tell you that some amount of pain may be normal and there should be nothing to worry. But in case you have severe pain you need to rule out few causes. The medical term for menstrual pain is dysmenorrhea.

Painful menstruation can be the reason for losing out on school, office or daily fun. In rural India, menstruation is one of the reasons why girls drop out of school, as they do not have separate toilets in schools.

Dysmenorrhea can be of two types:

1. Primary Dysmenorrhea- Pain in young healthy females when they start menstruating.
2. Secondary Dysmenorrhea- is one which develops later in women who had normal periods.

Causes of Secondary Dysmenorrhea:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Intrauterine device (IUD) made of copper
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Sexually transmitted infection
• Stress and anxiety

What you can do at home to help yourself:

• Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower belly area.
• Drink warm beverages.
• Eat light but frequent meals.
• Eat diet low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. 
• Keep your legs raised while lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
• Apply a heating pad to your lower belly area, below your belly button. 
• Do meditation or yoga.
• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. Start taking it the day before your period is expected to start, and continue taking it regularly for the first few days of your period. Please ensure that your kidneys and liver are functioning normally. People with diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease need to discuss with their doctor before taking any medicines.
• Vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements may help if your pain is from PMS.
• Take warm showers or baths.
• Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.
• Lose weight if you are overweight. Get regular, aerobic exercise.

You need to consult a doctor , if you have

• Increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Fever and pelvic pain
• Sudden or severe pain, especially if your period is more than one week late and you have been sexually active.

Contact us if you need more help or have any health related queries.

Prana Healthcare is a new age, compassionate, caring, primary healthcare provider. We send general physicians for home visits and run primary care clinics in Bangalore.