To think paracetamol is just a placebo?

[User321321321321321]

I have taken many over the course of my life, for a variety of different types of pain, mainly headache. However, I can't ever recall an occasion where paracetamol made the slightest bit of difference!!

Is it just a placebo!!?? A big con???

Or are some people simply not susceptible to it?

It works for minor things for me, and combined with ibuprofen it's ace. But when they gave it to me after my c- section I did laugh Errr hello!

I gave birth to DS2 off two paracetamol and a diazepam.
I find it works, can even tell when it's 'wearing off'.

@bill do you take paracetamol and ibuprofen together or space them out as I just advising DD to take 2 of each 2hrs apart rather than take 4 lots together.

So adult DD has
2 paracetamol at 8pm
2 ibuprofen at 10pm (not on empty stomach). She got temp and start if flu symptoms

Kween I used to do the same as you advised your daughter and it kept pain at bay, but was then told by a doctor (and read online on NHS) that you can take them at the same time as they just work so differently. It really works great for intense toothache etc.. it's like a wave of relief. The paediatrician also said I can give the baby version of both medicines to my teething baby at the same time if it's really bad.

Ok thank you @bill for reply, I will message DD.

It works for me but only either in combination with other painkillers (eg, just paracetamol or just ibuprofen might not take the pain away but together they do) or to take temperature down.

On it's own it's pretty rubbish. It can tackle discomfort but not really pain. Aspirin is better.

When I broke my leg they gave me paracetamol. It didn't even touch the sides of the pain

I wanted to hit someone when they offered it during my very long induction

There are some things that it works well for - toothache for example.

Thanks everyone! Glad I'm not the only one who finds it doesn't do anything for me! Thanks for the Cochrane review info, reading with interest!

DH has Gilbert's Syndrome. He really struggles with effective pain relief.

I only need one paracetamol and it works. Same with ibuprofen. Anything stronger knocks me out.

Paracetamol reduced levels of prostaglandins in the brain, which reduces inflammation, and therefore pain. If they ate taken regularly, the effect increases by about 200%. So one of doses often do nothing. Or so Iwas taught as a student nurse, it's probably all changed now.

It never does anything for me

It's mainly used for keeping fevers down in our house, rather than as pain relief. It's a very mild analgesic, so won't really touch anything other than the mildest of headaches. It's great for colds/flu though. I'd say we use Ibuprofen more, as it is better for headaches,muscle pain etc.