Acetaminophen with its brand names (Tylenol, Parador, Dorico, etc) and generics is clearly one of the most well-known and used drugs around the world. It is used successfully against headaches , fever and many pain-causing conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Acetaminophen, when used in therapeutic doses, has the advantage of producing few side effects. Other pain relievers in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) family, such as ibuprofen or aspirin , are often irritating to the stomach.
Many physicians follow medical guidelines and often prescribe acetaminophen for acute low back pain. Low back pain is a very common condition that affects the lumbar vertebrae which are at the bottom of the spine.
As no serious study has so far shown the efficacy of paracetamol against acute low back pain, Australian researchers sought to compare the effect of paracetamol against placebo.
Method
Scientists conducted a study comparing paracetamol to placebo in different medical centers (multicenter study) in Sydney. The study was double-blind (neither participants nor physicians knew whether acetaminophen or placebo were prescribed) in a randomized fashion (participants were randomly assigned to receive the drug or placebo) from November 2009 to March 2013. person received 4 grams of acetaminophen per day or placebo. Participants suffered from back pain with its origin mainly due to poor posture or lack of exercise.
Results
The Australian researchers found no difference between acetaminophen or placebo. Those who took paracetamol took an average of 17 days to relieve pain and those who took a placebo, an average of 16 days. In other words, recovery time was statistically identical between acetaminophen and placebo.
Dr. Chris Williams, who led this research, believes that back pain mechanisms are different from other painful conditions and this is an area where more study is needed.
Physical exercises instead of paracetamol
In addition to medication, doctors advise regular physical exercise, such as stretching, application of heat or cold (hot or cold packs), or certain so-called physical therapies, such as therapeutic massages to treat low back pain.
We know that exercise works to treat back pain. Instead of staying in bed, it is advisable to go for a walk or do weight training. This study was funded by the Australian government and the Australian branch of the British-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
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