Paracetamol brand names

The analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer) paracetamol (INN) (/ˌpærəˈsiːtəmɒl/ or /ˌpærəˈsɛtəmɒl/), also known as acetaminophen (USAN) /əˌsiːtəˈmɪnəfɪn/, is sold around the world under a number of different brand names. Common brand names include Tylenol, Calpol, and Panadol.

Tylenol

Tylenol is a brand of drugs advertised for reducing pain, reducing fever, and relieving the symptoms of allergies, cold, cough headache, and influenza. The active ingredient of its original flagship product is paracetamol. The brand name "Tylenol" is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.^[1] As of 2017 the brand was used in Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Lebanon, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.^[2]

Calpol

Calpol is a brand of children's medicine sold in the UK, Ireland, India, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Malta and the Philippines. The main product is a paracetamol suspension. It is usually a coloured syrup with a sweet taste, and is used to treat fever and pain. The Calpol brand was owned by Mark Profad, the president of the company and Paul Knott, his vice president. The brand is now owned by Johnson & Johnson. Calpol also comes in a form containing ibuprofen, marketed under the name Calprofen. Calpol is a common cause of accidental child poisoning because of its pleasant taste.^[3] Calpol Night, a product containing paracetamol and an anti-histamine, was listed for use from 2+ months. However, this has recently changed and it is now only considered suitable for children over the age of 6 years.^[4] In 2016 it was the second biggest selling branded over-the-counter medication sold in Great Britain, with sales of £66.3 million.^[5]

Panadol

Panadol 500 mg tablets

Panadol is one of GlaxoSmithKline's trade names for paracetamol or acetaminophen. According to GlaxoSmithKline, Panadol is marketed in 85 countries,^[6] including Australia,^[7] Belgium,^[8] Brazil,^[8] Bulgaria,^[8] Chile,^[8] Finland,^[8] France,^[8] Greece,^[8] Hong Kong,^[8] Indonesia,^[8] Ireland,^[8] Italy,^[8] Korea,^[8] Malaysia, Netherlands,^[8] New Zealand,^[9] Nigeria,^[10] the Philippines,^[8] Peru,^[8] Puerto Rico,^[6] Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa,^[8] Sri Lanka, Switzerland,^[8] Taiwan,^[8] Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,^[8] the United Kingdom, Malta, and Uruguay.^[8]

History

In 1955, Panadol was introduced to hospitals in the United Kingdom.^[11] It was first marketed by Phillips, Scott & Turner, which was acquired by Frederick Stearns & Co, a subsidiary of Sterling Drug Inc. It was advertised as being "gentle on the stomach", since other analgesic agents at the time contained aspirin, a known stomach irritant. Panadol was originally available only by prescription in the UK, but is now available over the counter. In 1983, Sterling introduced Panadol to the United States market.^[12] In 1988 Sterling Winthrop was acquired by Eastman Kodak which sold the world-wide over the counter drug business to SmithKline Beecham in 1994.^[13] Two weeks later, SmithKline Beecham sold the over-the-counter medication business in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to Bayer for US$1 billion.^[14] However, North American rights to Panadol was retained by SmithKline.^[14] It has been called "one of the most-frequently counterfeited medicines in the world."^[15]

Other formulations and packaging

Panadol is sold in different formulations and packaging with different names.^[6][16]

Panadol Extra, an S2 pharmacy-only medicine in Australia, combines 65 mg of caffeine with 500 mg of paracetamol per tablet. Caffeine may improve the analgesic effect of paracetamol. Studies have reached conflicting conclusions regarding the clinical significance of this incremental pain relief.^[17][18]

Panadol Osteo and Panadol Extend Tablets are modified-release formulations of paracetamol.^[19] Panadol Osteo is marketed in Australia and New Zealand; its immediate to sustained release ratio is 33% to 66%.^[20]

Panadol Rapid Handipak is Panadol Rapid packaged in a slim container of ten 500 mg caplets, designed to appeal to Australian women who are 20 to 35 years of age.^[21][22]

Panadol Cold and Catarrh contains three active ingredients: paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride as a nasal decongestant, and chlorpheniramine maleate to prevent certain allergies.^[16]

Panadol Cold and Flu and Panadol Fever and Congestion both combine paracetamol with phenylephrine hydrochloride as a nasal decongestant.^[9][23]

Tipol

Tipol is an Irish brand name of paracetamol preparations. It is marketed by Carysfort Healthcare Limited. It is also available in a wide variety of suppository strengths for rectal administration to babies, infants, children and adults.

Other brand names

References

External links

• Vademecum.es (Spain)
• Chinapharm Chemicals Manual (China)
• Tipol Website (Ireland)