Fewer than half of Britons ‘carefully consider what painkiller to take’

Many Britons do not check what kind of painkiller would be most suitable for their needs, according to the findings of a new survey.

Panadol, the paracetamol brand marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, revealed that 39 per cent of women “carefully consider” what sort of painkiller should be taken, in comparison to just over a quarter of men.

Furthermore, men are more likely than women to go without any pain relief medication, although females have a greater knowledge of the dangers of some types of painkillers in patients with particular ailments, such as heart problems, asthma or digestive disorders.

However, a third of Britons still reach for the first painkiller they can find, whether it is in the form of paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin.

Panadol advises people to think about their symptoms before deciding to take any painkillers – pain can be caused by conditions such as dehydration, which would be better cured by drinking water.

The survey states that paracetamol can work as an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, since it can be taken in conjunction with “most other medicines”.

Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen and is widely used throughout the world.