With the flu season arriving earlier than expected this autumn, a leading pharmacist is urging people in the UK to carry out a 30-second check before taking cold and flu remedies containing paracetamol. Girish Desai, Chief Pharmacist at Landys Chemist, warned that focusing on brand names rather than active ingredients can lead to accidentally doubling up on remedies that share the same ingredient, such as paracetamol, raising the risk of overdose and liver damage.
Why the risk of paracetamol duplication is high
Desai said: "A common winter medicine mistake is checking the brand name instead of the active ingredients. Two products with completely different packaging can contain the same paracetamol, decongestant or sedating antihistamine."
Paracetamol is particularly easy to duplicate because it appears in a wide range of products, including sachets, day-and-night remedies and separate painkillers. Taking multiple products containing the same ingredient can lead to accidentally exceeding the recommended daily dose, potentially causing liver damage.
Desai added: "It's important to look beyond the product name and check the active ingredients of everything you're taking. Keep track of each dose throughout the day and always follow the instructions on the packaging."
Safe dosage and when to seek help
Taking several medications containing paracetamol simultaneously, such as pairing a standard painkiller with a cold and flu treatment, can result in an unintentional overdose and severe liver damage. To avoid toxicity, adults should never surpass the maximum daily threshold of 4,000mg (usually eight 500mg tablets) in a 24-hour period and must always leave at least four hours between doses.
Scrutinising the active ingredient labels on all over-the-counter and prescription medications is crucial. Habitual alcohol consumption or pre-existing liver conditions can result in harm at considerably lower doses.
If you believe that you or another person has consumed excessive paracetamol, seek emergency medical assistance without delay, even in the absence of symptoms, as indicators of liver damage may not manifest for several days. In the UK, you should contact NHS 111 straight away or attend your nearest hospital accident and emergency department for swift assessment and treatment.
Why paracetamol is common in cold remedies
Cold and flu medications typically include paracetamol because it effectively treats the pain and fever symptoms common to viral infections, turning the medicine into a convenient, all-in-one remedy. It works on the brain's heat-regulating and pain-signalling centres to lower high temperatures, ease chills, and soothe sore throats, headaches, and body aches.
Because paracetamol is gentle on the stomach and rarely interacts with other drugs, manufacturers can safely combine it with decongestants, antihistamines, or cough suppressants so patients can relieve multiple symptoms with a single product rather than taking several separate tablets.
The 30-second winter medicine check
Before reaching for another cold, flu or pain relief remedy, the experts at Landys Chemist recommend carrying out these five straightforward checks:
- Read the active ingredients. Don't depend on brand names or packaging alone. Look for common ingredients such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, antihistamines and cough suppressants.
- Check for duplicate ingredients. Be careful not to inadvertently take two products that share the same active ingredient. This is especially important with cold and flu remedies, which may already contain painkillers or decongestants.
- Calculate your total daily dosage. Keep a tally of every tablet, liquid, capsule, sachet and night-time remedy taken within any 24-hour period and never go beyond the recommended dose stated on the packaging.
- Look out for drowsiness warnings. Certain cold and flu remedies contain antihistamines that may cause drowsiness. Always check the warning label before getting behind the wheel, consuming alcohol or combining the remedy with any sedating medication.
- Take your existing prescriptions and health conditions into account. Not every winter remedy is appropriate for all individuals. Certain ingredients can interact with prescription medicines or aggravate existing health conditions. If you are on regular medication or have an underlying health condition, consult a pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter remedy.
