Of all the antipyretic and painkillers used to treat small patients, Panadol is one of the most popular. It belongs to the group of non-narcotic analgesic agents. The main active ingredient of this drug is paracetamol. Panadol is released in several dosage forms that are taken orally:
- effervescent powder for solution;
- capsules for solution preparation;
- solution for infusion;
- syrup;
- suspension.
This drug is included in a number of tools that are used in other ways:
- rectal suppositories - Panadol children (candles);
- suspension.
Children's Panadol, being an effective analgesic, acts on the centers of thermoregulation and pain. It blocks cyclooxygenase (COX), mainly in the central nervous system. In highly inflamed tissues, the effect of paracetamol on cyclooxygenase by cellular peroxidases is neutralized. This explains why the anti-inflammatory effect of taking the drug is practically absent.
Indications for use of this tool are: pain and febrile syndrome, which arose against the background of an infectious disease. The drug is prescribed for toothache and headache, arthralgia, neuralgia, migraine, myalgia.
Despite the fact that Panadol for children is an affordable and quite effective analgesic, it also has contraindications for use. These include: age up to 1 month, hypersensitivity.
With great care, this drug is prescribed to patients with impaired renal and hepatic function, benign hyperbilirubinemia, early age (up to 3 months), and viral hepatitis.
This drug often leads to various side effects. These include: skin itching, rashes on the mucous membranes and skin (erythematous urticaria), erythema multiforme, epidermal toxic necrolysis, angioedema.
When using large doses of the drug, dizziness, impaired orientation, psychomotor agitation can be observed. On the part of the digestive system, there may be such phenomena: nausea, increased activity of "liver" enzymes, epigastric pain, hepatonecrosis. Disruptions in the endocrine system may occur: hypoglycemic coma, hypoglycemia. The effect of Panadol on blood forming organs can be accompanied by anemia, sulfhemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia (shortness of breath, heart pain, cyanosis). With prolonged use of this drug in high doses, it is often observed: agranulocytosis, leukopenia, anemia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, aplastic thrombocytopenia. Nephrotoxicity, interstitial nephritis, renal colic may be observed.
In case of an overdose, the following symptoms are observed: loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased sweating, nausea. Symptoms of a chronic overdose are: hepatotoxic effect (pain, adynamia, weakness, sweating) and liver damage. Against this background, hepatonecrosis may develop.
Panadol children should be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor. Self-medication is absolutely unacceptable.
Another popular way to take Panadol is rectal suppositories for children. They are available in packs of 10 pcs. Each of them contains 125 mg of paracetamol. With rectal use, the drug begins to enter the blood plasma after 0.5 hours. This medicine is an excellent antipyretic, has analgesic and mild anti-inflammatory properties. These candles are used for various colds and flu. Just like other drugs containing paracetamol, Panadol in any of its forms should be taken only as directed by a doctor.