My mother was a panado junkie (but I set her straight)

Posted on March 22nd, 2008 by Richard Catto 2,993 views

I’m sick. It’s the Easter looooong weekend and I’m spending the entire holiday in bed. I called my mom today, looking for sympathy. I said to her, "Moooooom, I’m sick. Don’t you wanna come round and fluff my pillows?"

"Take two panados and call me in the morning." intoned Mother Dearest.

Evidently, she wasn’t coming around to fluff my pillows.

Rats. And mice!

How was I to get the attention I so desperately needed (and deserved)?

Well, you’re talking to Dr Richard Catto here, a graduate of the internationally renowned and acclaimed, "Antelopes are Smarter than YOU" Medical School. It was the kind of school where yelling "MEDIC!!!" would instantly summon thousands of naked and or scantilly clad nubile gazelles to nuzzle away all your troubles. But I digress.

Back to the problem – how to lure mom over to fluff my pillows.

"Mooooom, don’t you know that swallowing panados for every known flu symptom can lead to sudden death?"

"Where did you read that?"

"Well actually it’s common knowledge. I’m pretty sure I read about it on New Scientist’s web site. Even if you take panados within the recommended dosage, long term usage (in some inveterbrates) can lead to sudden and irreversible DEATH. You don’t want me to die do you, mom?"

Mother wasn’t biting, but actually it’s true. Paracetamol is a killer drug.

So despite further pressure from Mother, I refused all entreaties to swallow yet more paracetamol. I’d rather be a bit fluey than die of organ failure.

I eventually got mom over to make me chicken soup. I convinced her that chicken soup is a healthier natural flu remedy. Aren’t moms the best!?

But whatever you do, don’t take paracetamol anymore. Not in any shape or form. It will kill you.

Educate yourself about the dangers of Paracetamol:
Tragedy highlights case for new paracetamol drug
‘Safe’ painkiller is leading cause of liver failure
New paracetamol overdose guidelines
Tylenol May Cause Serious Liver Damage
Mixing coffee and paracetamol ‘could cause liver damage’
Headache tablets killing livers
Asthma increase could be caused by paracetamol use, study says

Tags: aspirin, codeine, flu treatments, Paracetamol
Filed under Paracetamol |

12 Responses to “My mother was a panado junkie (but I set her straight)”

1. Melo Says:
   March 23rd, 2008 at 22:30

   I know you said paracetamol but I’ve never heard of panado before.

   Melo’s last blog post..EntreFrame: A Second Look At Entrecard Widgetsurf

2. Richard Catto Says:
   March 24th, 2008 at 00:08

   Melo » That’s the brand name for paracetamol tabs in South Africa. There are dozens more generic names.

   I prefer to use Disprin (aspirin) but right now it is unobtainable in SA. According to press reports the supply problem has supposed to be solved, but I still can’t find Disprin available in local stores anywhere in Cape Town.

   http://tinyurl.com/2phvhj http://tinyurl.com/2wkczr http://tinyurl.com/3dp7la

3. arnold Says:
   March 24th, 2008 at 08:17

   The flu has not affected your sense of humour, nice article. I hope you feel better soon.

   arnold’s last blog post..Priority 1 Accessibility Checkpoints

4. Richard Catto Says:
   March 24th, 2008 at 12:35

   arnold » It’s Monday and I’m still not 100% yet. I think I may have to summon those gazelles to nuzzle me.

5. Marko Says:
   March 27th, 2008 at 18:51

   Chicken soup and hot black tea with honey and lemon… aaaaaah relief

6. Candy Tothill Says:
   March 28th, 2008 at 10:25

   Please contact me urgently.

   Candy Tothill’s last blog post..[wfdv] the secret blog and a last minute addition

7. Kloggers Says:
   March 30th, 2008 at 17:24

   … Useful advice – I think we should all steer clear of the paracetamol!!! Hope you are now feeling better.

   Kloggers’s last blog post..Dandelions welcome in the longer days

8. clangnuts Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 15:27

   Isn’t all death irreversible?

9. Marko Says:
   April 4th, 2008 at 05:58

   Depends on what you believe Clangnuts, when someone is revived by CPR, is that cheating/reversing death?
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death

   Don’t take pills, eat chicken soup

10. clangnuts Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 18:22

    I’d never eat chicken soup. I’m one of those vegetarian freaks you see. I don’t often take paracetamol either. My body isn’t a temple.

11. Marko Says:
    April 4th, 2008 at 19:29

    Heh, what is it about chicken soup that makes it supposedly such a good flu buster? I’m guessing the steam/herb/spices so in that case a nice veggie soup should work too
    In any case, hope y’all got your flu jabs. This is supposed to prevent flu in 70-90% of people. March was optimal but get it now! About R40 from your pharmacy or doctor.

12. Steve Hayes Says:
    April 22nd, 2008 at 08:42

    I’ve often wondered why doctors always seem to recommend Panado. I avoid it, and take aspirin. I know that taking too much aspirin can give you stomach ulcers and other nasties, but from all I’ve heard paracetamol is worse, and an overdose can cause irreversible liver damage.

    Steve Hayes’s last blog post..The Mighty males of God conference — under the radar

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