Paracetamol - is it a standard in your house?

[Mum2jenny]

I’ve just had my adult daughter here and I do not use paracetamol as it just isn’t my thing, I prefer ibuprofen.
What standard painkillers do the rest of you use and keep in your house?
I do keep baby paracetamol, but not adult doses.

Not entirely sure what your adult daughter has got to do with anything? Also not sure what you mean by 'isn't your thing'? It's not a drug that provides any extras beyond pain relief.

Ibuprofen and paracetamol but usually have none because I never think to buy it!

I rarely take pain killers but would reach for paracetamol before ibuprofen. Always think the ibuprofen is harder on the stomach.

Yes, it's our go-to, and even though I wouldn't say we use that much of it, I tend to chuck a cheap packet in the trolley every time I do a big shop, say once a month. They always get used eventually.

I always have paracetamol and ibuprofen in. If we finish a box I just buy another with the food shopping so we always have at least one box of each in. Also keep calpol and kids Nurofen in too.

We have both as although we infrequently take painkillers i keep paracetamol for high temps then if I've a lot of muscular aches eg my hip is playing up I take ibuprofen as it's anti inflammatory.

In our house, it’s Ibuprofen for inflammatory pain (knocks/sprains etc), Paracetamol for period pain/headaches.

Paracetamol does nothing for me nor DS and DH refuses to take any painkillers so I don't buy it, only Ibruprofen

I don’t think your medicine cabinet needs to cater to people who don’t live with you, but I would say it’s unusual in the UK to not be able to find a paracetamol for a visitor with a headache. I hardly ever take painkillers, but I have both paracetamol and ibuprofen. If your adult daughter really needed it, she could have taken the Calpol, so I’d say YANBU.

I can't take NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, due to stomach issues. So, yes, I have paracetamol. No other options really.

I do have brufen and Naproxen in the house just in case (and for visitors), but I don't use them - maybe once in five years.

Oh, I have triptans for my migraines.

I have a whole pharmacy. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen, dihydrocodeine… take your pick!

Usually only ibuprofen here, I don't find paracetamol as effective. I wouldn't take ibuprofen on an empty stomach though.

There are probably some paracetamol knocking around somewhere, but I don't buy them regularly. We also have Calpol and junior Nurofen.

Cheap ibuprofen is easier to swallow than cheap paracetamol. Plus my pain is usually joints. So I tend to go for ibuprofen first but I always have both in.

I have masses as I get it on prescription and take it every day for back and joint pain! I take it with an nsaid as they increase each other’s effectiveness.

I probably have a couple of hundred at the moment.

Shed loads.

A full St John’s Ambulance first aid kit including burns kit.
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Co-Codamol
Asprin
Rennies
Laxatives (both the stimulant type and softener)
Upset stomach meds
Diarolyte
Antihistamines (strong, quick acting ones and once a day ones)
Cold and flu medicine
Decongestants
Orajel
Cold sore cream
Savlon
Bite cream

Probably more. Lots of prescription meds

I’m not able to take ibruprofen, and I never take painkillers so I don’t keep either in the house. I suppose I’d go to the all night guy garage if I needed to.

We have it but I'm not sure how well it works so generally I either put up with the pain or go straight to co-codamol if it's bad. Actually last night was the first time in ages I had to take one for (I think) ovulation pain-who knew that was a thing! Sadly even that didn't seem to work that well. Thankfully it's gone off today. I have all the different kinds of OTC painkillers just in case, but rarely need to use them. Maybe twice a year or something. I just like to know they're there just in case.

We have all sorts (partly because I have spinal issues and an allergy to ibuprofen!).

We have paracetamol, ibuprofen (as DH uses them) plus I have Co codomol (a mix of paracetamol and codeine) and some codeine for when it's really bad, although I don't share those out as they are prescription only and strong.

I also have calpol 6+ and children's ibuprofen in case DS needs it.

Oh, yeah, I have cocodemol too. Very rarely take it as it makes me feel spacey, but it's a good option when I can't use NSAUDs. If I do need it I only take it at bedtime.

DP can't use opioids or benzos. So between us we have to keep everything in!

I live abroad where painkillers costs at least 5 euros a packet. Every time I go back to the UK I stock up on 39p packets of both paracetamol and ibuprofen. I prefer ibuprofen as I feel like it hits my pain faster and use the paracetamol to chase it up with two hours later if I'm in a lot of pain. I had shingles last year and depleted boxes of both paracetamol and ibuprofen as I was using them on rotation for weeks. I'm not one of those people who triage themselves and try to drink more water before reaching for the painkillers. If it feels like I'm getting a headache, out pops one of my 39p wonders to stop it before it starts!

Both paracetamol and ibuprofen, they do different things. Research and get informed.

Paracetamol (asthmatic so have to avoid ibuprofen). People saying it does nothing for them likely aren’t using it correctly. It’s a build up so you have to take every 4 hours and you’ll find it very effective. Popping 2 pills and expecting it to work in 10 minutes is unrealistic. Most women are taking paracetamol to manage pain after a C-section but you have other pain relief initially while the paracetamol effect builds up.

I've got 2 teens who get horrible period pain and a younger one who is no stranger to sore throats and ear aches so we have a veritable menu of painkillers here!

Paracetamol, as ibuprofen really upsets my stomach.

@Libellousness ibuprofen reduces blood loss with a period so better than paracetamol in that respect.

I have the works but we use ibuprofen, paracetamol and antihistamines regularly. We try not to run out of decongestants as well, but use much less so check when someone starts a cold.