Sometimes it's hard to sleep at night with all the body pain you have, isn't it? When you go to bed with a headache, body aches, and a slight fever, you just toss and turn and sleep doesn't come. It's at times like these that some people turn to this special medicine that reduces pain and induces sleep. So today, let's talk about this medicine.
What is this medicine? Simply put...
This is actually a combination of two types of medication.
- Acetaminophen: This is a common painkiller that we all know and take for pain and fever.
- Diphenhydramine: This is actually a medicine for allergies. However, taking it can cause drowsiness as a side effect.
So, when you take a solution or pill made by combining these two medicines, your body's pain will be reduced and you will also be able to fall asleep faster. These are the compounds available on the market under names like Tylenol PM and Panadol Night.
Before taking this medicine, be sure to tell your doctor these things:
It is important for your doctor to be aware of your health condition to decide whether this medication is right for you. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor before using this medication.
| Health condition/habit | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Asthma or other lung diseases | This medicine may affect breathing. |
| Glaucoma condition | There is a possibility of increasing eye pressure. |
| High blood pressure or heart disease | Heart rate or blood pressure may be affected. |
| Liver disease | (Very important) Acetaminophen can affect the liver, so it can be dangerous for people who already have liver disease. |
| If you are a regular drinker | The combination of alcohol and Acetaminophen is very harmful to the liver. |
| Difficulty urinating or prostate problems | This medication can increase urinary retention. |
| Stomach ulcers or other stomach problems | Some symptoms may worsen. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | Avoid taking without medical advice. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | Ask your doctor about the ingredients in the medicine, as they may pass into breast milk. |
| If you have allergies to other medicines, foods, or dyes | You should also be aware of the possibility of an allergic reaction to this medicine. |
How should I use this medicine?
- Read the label: Follow the directions on the medicine label exactly. If there is any advice given by your doctor, follow it.
- Measure correctly: If you have received this as a syrup, use only the special spoon or cup that comes with it to measure it. Do not measure with teaspoons or tablespoons that you have in your kitchen. They are not accurate. This can cause you to take too much medicine.
- If given to children: This medicine is not generally approved for use in children under 12 years of age . So, be sure to talk to a pediatrician before giving this to your child.
What to do if you take more medicine than you should (overdose)?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately . Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Do not wait until symptoms appear. Acetaminophen overdose can cause serious liver damage. Therefore, it is very important to act quickly.
Can it interact with other medications? (Drug Interactions)
Yes, definitely. This medicine can interact with other medications. So tell your doctor about all the medications you take, even vitamins and herbal remedies.
| Things that may interact with this medicine | |
|---|---|
| Don't take these with you at all! | |
| Some older medications for depression are called MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors). Tell your doctor if you are taking one of these medications. | |
| You need to be very careful if you take these with you. | |
| Alcohol | It causes excessive drowsiness and is also very harmful to the liver. |
| Other sleep-inducing medications | (Example: other cough, cold, allergy medications, mental illness medications, sleeping pills) |
| Any other medicine containing acetaminophen | (e.g. some Panadol brands, other painkillers). Taking the same thing twice can increase the dose. |
| Some blood pressure medications | The effectiveness of the medicine may be affected. |
Be careful of these things when taking medicine.
Dry mouth
It is normal to have a dry mouth when taking this medicine. Chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free candy, and drinking more water can help. However, if this problem persists, tell your doctor.
Drowsiness and dizziness
This medicine can make you very drowsy, so never drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires alertness. Especially if you are an elderly person, be careful when getting up from a sitting position or sitting down suddenly. Otherwise, you may feel dizzy and fall.
Special warning about acetaminophen
Do not take any other medicine containing Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) while taking this medicine. Always read the labels of other medicines and syrups you take. If in doubt, ask your doctor. Taking too much Acetaminophen can be very dangerous for the liver.
What are the possible side effects of the medication?
| Side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Symptoms of liver damage | Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and extreme fatigue. |
| Serious skin reactions | Skin redness, blistering, peeling (even inside the mouth). |
| Eye problems | Sudden eye pain, blurred vision, seeing rings around lights, loss of vision. |
| Difficulty urinating | Inability to urinate or difficulty urinating. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| |
Take-Home Message
- This medicine is a combination of two medications that relieve pain and help you sleep.
- It is essential to tell your doctor about any other illnesses you have and any other medications you are taking.
- Never take more than the prescribed dose. Taking too much acetaminophen is very dangerous for the liver.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking this medicine.
- Avoid driving and performing tasks that require attention, as you may feel drowsy after taking the medicine.
- If you suspect that you have taken too much medication, go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately, even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
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