Paracetamol is a medicine cabinet essential, often used to treat mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. You can also find it in a range of cold and flu treatments, as well as combined with other painkillers and anti-sickness medication.
With flu season around the corner, Britons may be stocking up on painkillers and cold and flu remedies.
Both coronavirus and flu can cause aches and pains, headaches, high temperatures and general feelings of being unwell.
Taking painkillers like paracetamol can lessen these symptoms, making colds and flu manageable at home.
You can purchase painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen at most supermarkets and pharmacies – however, there are restrictions on age and the number of tablets you can buy at once.
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To help you get better more quickly:
- rest and sleep
- keep warm
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
If you are worried about yourself or someone else who has the flu the NHS advises you should get advice from 111.
Get advice from 111 if
- you’re worried about your baby’s or child’s symptoms
- you’re 65 or over
- you’re pregnant
- you have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
- you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV
- your symptoms do not improve after 7 days
NHS 111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.