Microblog Memes

I would say most people are like this. Knowing it's super dangerous in high doses is the minority because it's sold OTC and everyone knows and trusts it.

People look up resources on them and see that the recommended max dose of ibuprofen is lower than paracetamol per day in weight of the active ingredient and stop reading.

They don't get to the part about how the effect per weight isn't the same. Or how damaging paracetamol can be for the liver if you take it regularly or go over the recommend limit. Heavy drinkers especially don't take into account the extra stress on their liver, which is a contributor to the 400-500 deaths it causes every year in the US alone.

Meanwhile ibuprofen makes you feel sick and want to vomit once you start to go over the recommended limit. And if you reach that stage, you basically just stay hydrated to keep your kidneys going and wait for it to pass. Since it usually takes another 2-3 times as much to for the severe effects to occur.

To quote Scrubs:

Dr. Cox: Did you just page me to ask me how much ibuprofen to give Mrs. Lenzner here?

Sunny: Well, I was worried it would exacerbate the patient's

Dr. Cox: It's ibuprofen! Here's what you do. When she wakes up, get her to open her mouth nice and wide, then get some of those ibuprofen pills in your hands and throw them at her. Whatever sticks in there, that's the correct dosage.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is definitely tough on the liver. I remember during EMT classes (well, I kinda remember, was 20 years ago) having one of the paramedics in the class talking about how it was worse on the liver than heroin. Now yes, heroin obviously has other downsides, but it's just crazy to think about. I have always limited my intake of it, never take it if I've been drinking, that sort of thing. The issue is that it's not exactly common knowledge. I know plenty of people who would drink and take some Tylenol at bedtime to kill the hangover. Not a good habit.