Acetaminophen vs. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen); Side Effects & Overdose

The trend of Acetaminophen use around the world

The use of Acetaminophen has increased drastically in a few years. No doubt, Acetaminophen is very suitable for mild pain management, and anyone with discomforts of pain can get the medicine directly from the pharmacy counter. However, very recently, with the growing cases of Acetaminophen overdose, healthcare professionals have been concerned about its excessive use. The primary reason behind the aggressive use of this drug is its easy access and feasible availability without any prescriptions.

In the Nordic countries, usage has increased considerably. The Daily Defined Dose (DDD) is 1000 inhabitants per day. However, its use has increased to 2015 inhabitants per day and is not controlled since the elevation of its consumption has been recorded. The highest consumption of paracetamol and its prescription is found in Denmark (78%), followed by Finland (75%) and Sweden (69%).

In terms of the pharmaceutical market, Acetaminophen still remains the top-selling drug all over the world. The reason behind its excessive use is its potent effects in not only pain-relieving but also in the management of fever, cold, and flu. It makes up 88% of the total sales in the global drug market. The highest consumption of Acetaminophen has been observed in China, with a global share of 56%. Tablets are the most used dosage form of the drug, and the physicians have more strongly prescribed it among the adults and the geriatrics class of the population.