Latest news with #paracetamol
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Mum issues chilling warning after her ‘gorgeous' daughter, 15, died of an accidental paracetamol overdose
ALICE Clark was like any other 15-year-old girl - excited for her prom, a lover of animals, Christmas and her family. But in December 2024, after being off school sick for two days, with her mum Joanne Garcia-Dios watching over her, she died of a paracetamol overdose. When Joanne, 43, found her daughter incoherent in her bedroom, she discovered from friends that Alice had taken a fatal dose of the painkiller days before. Joanne and her family, from West Parley, near Bournmouth, Dorset, do not believe Alice meant to end her life, and are petitioning for the law to change regarding the sale of paracetamol. Here, she tells her story and makes a plea to all parents... IT was a summer's day, but as I walked into the kitchen, it smelt like Christmas. As 'Merry Christmas Everyone' blasted from the speakers, my daughter Alice, then 11, turned to me, flour dusted on her cheeks. 'What do you think, Mum?' she said, pulling out a tray of gingerbread men. 'They're perfect, sweetheart, but it's only August!' I chuckled. 'You know Christmas is my favourite time of year,' she grinned. 'I couldn't wait!' Alice was always making me, her stepdad Rudi and brother Jake, 17, laugh. Jake and Alice were each other's worlds. Alongside Christmas, Alice adored animals and enjoyed collecting snails and woodlice from the garden, making them her pets. Scientists discover that even really low doses of paracetamol could damage your heart She was family-orientated too, and loved spending time with my parents – who she called Nanny and Bop-Bop – and her dad, Rob. Before I knew it, my little girl had turned 15. Her GCSEs were her next big exams and after that, her prom. Alice had sent me photos of prom dresses she liked, all in her favourite shade, baby blue. I knew she would look like a princess, with her blonde hair and model looks. At Christmas, she had a tree up in her room, decorated with Jellycat teddies. It was a December morning when I went into her bedroom, but she didn't seem herself. 'I've got a funny tummy,' she said. 'Don't worry about school today,' I told her. I was working from home so I could keep an eye on her. She spent the day on the sofa, but later, seemed to rally. She went to her orthodontist appointment and was her normal chatty self. But the next morning, she texted me from her room. 10 10 'I've been sick and my tummy hurts,' she wrote. Alice was sick a few more times that day, but she was also laughing and joking. 'I'm popping out for a bit,' I said to Alice later. 'Do you need anything?' But when she replied, she wasn't making sense and slurring her words. What Alice's friend told me left me reeling Mothers' instinct kicked in - could it be a stroke, I thought? 'What's your brother called?' I asked. 'I don't have a brother,' she replied. I asked her what month it was, thinking she had to know with the Christmas tree right beside her. But to my shock, she was stumped. 'I'm ringing 999,' I said to Rudi. As we waited for paramedics, Alice's phone didn't stop ringing. 'Alice is really poorly and can't talk now,' I told her friend. But what he said sent me reeling. He told me my girl had taken an overdose of paracetamol two days ago. 'No way,' I said, not believing it. But the first thing I did was tell the paramedics. 'This isn't my daughter, but I'm relaying what I've been told,' I said. Alice was so sensible, and had seemed absolutely fine. She was rushed to hospital, where they ran tests all night. Rudi, Rob and I were beside ourselves. Alice was falling in and out of consciousness and so confused, as we stayed by her side all night. The next morning, the doctor came to see us. 'Alice has acute liver failure,' he said. They believed it was caused by taking too many paracetamol tablets. Alice was given dialysis treatment, but wasn't improving. We were told that Alice would need to be put into an induced coma and moved to a specialist hospital in London. 'It'll give her brain the best chance of survival,' the doctor said. 10 10 While Alice was transferred by ambulance, I picked up Jake. Back at hospital, doctors told us the next few days were critical. As the hours passed, we held Alice's hands and stroked her hair. Heartbreaking goodbyes By 10pm, we hadn't slept for so long, so we decided to go and get some rest. 'Good night, Alice,' I said, kissing her forehead, before Jake and I went to the family accommodation. Only 10 minutes later, Rob called me. 'You need to get back now,' he said. Jake and I ran to her ward. Rudi and one of my sisters had just been driving home, but they turned back too. 'I'm so sorry, but Alice isn't responding to treatment,' the doctor said. Then suddenly she went into cardiac arrest. After 25 minutes, she came round, but moments later, they were working on her again. Jake was too upset and waited in the family room with his auntie, my sister, while Rob and my husband tried to shield me from what was happening. But despite trying for another half an hour, they couldn't save Alice. I let out a cry of pain as Rudi held me. I'd never believed she wouldn't make it, never thought I'd need to say 'I love you'. The loss was excruciating. We were allowed some time with Alice, and Jake helped the nurse take Alice's hand and footprints. Searching for answers The next days sped by in a blur of grief and confusion. I just couldn't understand why Alice had taken the pills and how she'd deteriorated so quickly. The police took her phone to glean clues from her messages. In time, we held Alice's funeral, where everyone wore a splash of baby blue. Car-loving Alice would have been thrilled to be escorted to her prom in a supercar, but she'd never get that chance, so my son-in-law contacted three supercar owners to accompany her on her final journey. As her coffin was carried out of the car, the drivers of the cars, including a Lamborghini and Ferrari, revved their engines. My eulogy, which was read out by the priest, talked of her love for her family, Jellycats, cars and loud music. 'Alice left this world far too soon, leaving behind so many people who absolutely adored her,' he said. 'She leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of everyone who loved her.' After police returned Alice's phone and I'd spoken to her friends, I pieced together, as best as I could, what had happened before she died. My beautiful, smiley Alice never appeared to be in a dark place and her struggles with mental health escalated so quickly, it came as a horrendous shock to us all. Joanne Snapchat and TikTok messages from Alice showed she had taken several paracetamol tablets in one go over several hours. She'd received harassing, then nasty messages from school pupils and also had the stress of looming exams. Although she'd told several of her peers she had taken the pills, none of them had told an adult. I learnt that if caught early, doctors could have pumped her stomach and even 24 hours later, they could have given her medicine that reversed the effects. If only someone had said something, I thought, desperately. We don't believe Alice realised the severity of what she'd done, or that taking that many paracetamol could kill her. We believe that Alice thought that by being sick she was getting them out of her system. 'I've done something silly' By the time any of us, including her, realised something serious was wrong, she wasn't talking properly or making any sense. Even in those conscious moments, she still didn't tell us what she'd done. She told one of her boy friends, "I've done something silly" - we don't believe she meant to end her life. As time went on, I did more research and was shocked. People saw paracetamol as harmless and readily available, but thousands were admitted to hospital with overdoses every year. I wanted everyone to know the dangers, that medicines should be locked away, even if parents thought they had sensible children. I've started a petition to call for the medication to be taken from supermarket shelves and placed behind the counter at a pharmacy, where it can be dispensed by a pharmacist. I also want to raise awareness of the symptoms and the importance of speaking up if you know someone has taken too many tablets, even if it feels as if you're betraying their trust. My beautiful, smiley Alice never appeared to be in a dark place and her struggles with mental health escalated so quickly, it came as a horrendous shock to us all. My life's purpose now is to raise awareness of her death and prevent this from happening to anyone else. In the name of my gorgeous girl, I'm determined to save others. 10 10
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into medicine
Scientists have discovered a way to turn plastic waste into painkillers using bacteria. One of the most widely used medicines worldwide is paracetamol. It is made from fossil fuel by-products, often through cheap and polluting methods. A team of British researchers wanted to reduce plastic waste and climate change. They looked at the bacteria which is usually known for making people sick if they eat contaminated food. First, the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic – which is used in bottles and many other plastic products – to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of This created a new molecule, according to the study in Nature Chemistry. The chemists were able to transform their molecule into paracetamol. This work shows that PET plastic can be transformed into valuable new products, the study's lead, Stephen Wallace, said.
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Ibuprofen vs paracetamol: Which is better for you?
Which painkiller do you reach for when you've got a throbbing headache or a stiff, achy knee? Chances are it's paracetamol, if you live in Britain. We buy 6,300 tonnes of this cheap, easy-to-find medication every year, according to an estimate from the University of Oxford, and most of us have a packet in the bottom of our bags, or the back of our cupboards. Pharmacists often recommend paracetamol to treat minor ailments, yet some clinical trials indicate that it's no better than a placebo when it comes to treating back pain or arthritis. Step forward ibuprofen, the other cheap, white painkilling pill on our shelves that we're less likely to pick up: this less-loved treatment does in fact take the edge off in a real way, evidence suggests, at least when it comes to pain in your lower back – and it could even lower your risk of dementia and Parkinson's. The truth is, 'both paracetamol and ibuprofen are good for treating different things,' says Aldrin Gomes, a professor at the medical school at the University of California, Davis. Ibuprofen is 'an anti-inflammatory drug', and therefore works on issues to do with inflammation, such as joint pain and toothaches. Paracetamol has its place too: it is a more effective weapon against sore heads and throats, as well as fevers. Prof Gomes recently published a book about all of the unexpected effects of ibuprofen, called The Comprehensive Guide to Ibuprofen: The Good, The Bad and The Unexpected. There is so much more to both of these drugs than meets the eye, he says. Here is how they differ, which is best for what, and why they should only be taken when you absolutely need them. The surprising benefits of ibuprofen One recent study from the University of Cambridge has found that taking ibuprofen could lower the risk that someone develops dementia by at least 14 per cent, while it has been shown in multiple studies that it can also lower your risk of Alzheimer's, a form of dementia. 'One piece of research, with participants who were all veterans, found that those who used ibuprofen rather than paracetamol for more than five years, were 40 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's,' says Prof Gomes. Those in the study were engaging in occasional use rather than habitual use, but were taking it at least once a month. 'It's not a smoking gun, but it's a pretty strong correlation,' Prof Gomes adds. Recent findings also indicate that people who take ibuprofen have a significantly lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, and that paracetamol might actually have an adverse effect on cognitive performance, whereas no such impact was seen in people who take paracetamol. Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are linked to inflammation in the body, and it's by working on this same mechanism that ibuprofen is a much more effective treatment for joint pains and strains than paracetamol is. The risks It's not that there are no downsides to ibuprofen, however. Taking it, and taking it regularly in particular, can reduce the diversity of your gut microbiome, and a vibrant gut is important to preventing Alzheimer's in itself (as well as bowel cancer, cardiovascular disease and mood disorders). More information is needed to fully understand the costs and benefits that come with painkillers. There are also other side effects – and you may find them surprising. 'Of a 100 people who take ibuprofen, three will get diarrhoea,' says Prof Gomes. For paracetamol, 'the figure is somewhere between one and ten,' he says, but with either drug, 'you'd be much more likely to blame a symptom like that on what you've eaten, even though they're both known to commonly cause diarrhoea,' he adds. Long-term paracetamol use, meanwhile, has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. One 2015 study found that people who take at least 15 paracetamol pills a week were at a 68 per cent higher risk of a cardiovascular event – in other words, a heart attack. Ibuprofen is not in the clear either. Taking it regularly can also lead to an increased risk of heart attacks 'by a small amount', according to a University of Oxford study. Both pills are considered safe to take in their recommended doses for up to a fortnight at a time, Prof Gomes says. 'But once you start taking ibuprofen every day for three weeks or a month, the evidence suggests that you're increasing your risk of a stroke by at least 30 per cent.' Of those who take it consistently for months on end, '25 per cent will get chronic high blood pressure,' Prof Gomes adds. Regularly taking paracetamol, meanwhile, 'can lead to major liver damage', and this is 'especially bad when someone is also drinking alcohol', says Prof Gomes. It can also cause anaemia, 'as it interferes with the body's production of red blood cells'. There is increasing evidence that paracetamol used in pregnancy 'can cause neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD in children,' Prof Gomes says. Paracetamol's effects last for a shorter period of time, he adds, making it less suitable for children (who may be more prone to waking up in the night with coughs and colds), and more likely to be taken more frequently than is considered safe. How do ibuprofen and paracetamol work? Both paracetamol and ibuprofen work to kill pain by blocking the signals from your body that tell your brain that you're in pain. 'Ibuprofen blocks two very important enzymes, called COX-1 and COX-2. These break down lipids [fats in your body] into prostaglandins, which are chemicals that are involved in pain,' Prof Gomes explains. If you block these enzymes then you block pain, 'as well as inflammation,' he says. Paracetamol doesn't block prostaglandins in the same way, which means that the drug isn't anti-inflammatory. It does interfere with the chemical signals involved in feeling pain, however, as well as with the part of your brain that handles temperature regulation, which is why it can also be helpful for fevers. 'Another difference is that paracetamol is processed by the liver, while ibuprofen is processed by the kidneys,' Prof Gomes adds. Given its anti-inflammatory properties, ibuprofen works best on pain that involves inflammation, such as back pain, period pain, arthritis and toothaches. Paracetamol works best for 'simple pain without inflammation,' says Dr Gomes: cuts, scrapes, headaches and stomach aches, as well as high temperatures. Both can be used in combination – for example, you might want to take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time to handle the aches and pains as well as the fevers that can come with a bad cold. It's important not to take both unnecessarily, however. So which is best – ibuprofen or paracetamol? On the whole, 'I would generally recommend that people take ibuprofen rather than paracetamol,' says Prof Gomes. However, even though its use has been associated with a reduced risk of diseases like Alzheimer's, 'you should only take either paracetamol or ibuprofen if you absolutely need it,' he says. 'Research shows that over time, taking painkillers can actually cause your body to produce more pain in the long term, even if it's eased for a while.' For that reason, as well as all the other side effects that can come with these drugs, Prof Gomes and experts like him now recommend that people take the smallest dose possible that works for them, rather than the dose stated on the packet. 'People who weigh 120lb [between 8 and 9st] or less might find that a dose of 100mg, or around half a standard ibuprofen pill or a fifth of a paracetamol tablet, might be enough to ease their symptoms.' Prof Gomes himself weighs around 160lb, or just over 11st, and 'I also take 100mg, because I find that it works for me too,' he says. 'It's worth experimenting and seeing how little you actually need.' Despite the protection against Alzheimer's that taking ibuprofen regularly might offer, 'I also wouldn't recommend that you take it unnecessarily for this reason either,' he adds. 'The benefits need more exploration, but we do know that taking painkillers regularly can worsen your health in the long run.' If possible, it's best to rely on alternatives to pain relief medications, such as hot water bottles, massages and deep breathing, Prof Gomes says. 'It's like going to the gym. If you can withstand the pain without taking painkillers, then you will become better at managing it in the long-term.' FAQs Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol together? 'Yes,' says Prof Gomes. He recommends that people take the smallest possible dose of both. 'It can be better to have smaller amounts of both than a larger amount of one, as they are processed in different parts of your body,' he says. Which one is better for back pain, ibuprofen or paracetamol? 'Ibuprofen will generally be better for back pain, due to its anti-inflammatory properties,' Prof Gomes says. Which painkiller is best if you have a cold or flu? Paracetamol is best for easing the high temperature or fever that comes with a cold, as well as for relieving any pain such as a headache or sore throat. You can also small amounts of both paracetamol and ibuprofen if you're suffering from sinus pressure or a sinus headache since ibuprofen specifically targets inflammation. However, don't take both unnecessarily. Is ibuprofen bad for your gut? Yes, taking ibuprofen regularly can reduce the diversity of your gut microbiome so it's important not to take ibuprofen unless you really need it. Which painkiller is best for period pain?
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists engineer bacteria to turn plastic waste into painkillers
Tales of turning water into wine or weaving straw into gold are one thing, but a new study shows that scientists can transform trash into . . . Tylenol? No tax on tips or overtime, with a catch: What to know as Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' passes the Senate The housing market is shifting—here's where it's happening most rapidly Scaling content production: Marketers meeting rising demand with generative AI Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to convert plastic waste into paracetamol, aka acetaminophen, the active ingredient in the pain reliever Tylenol. Stranger yet, they pulled off the alchemical feat using the bacteria E. coli. 'We're able to transform a prolific environmental and societal waste into such a globally important medication in a way that's completely impossible, using chemistry alone or using biology alone,' says study coauthor Stephen Wallace, a chemical biotechnologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The research team began with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic found in food packaging and polyester clothing. Using established chemical methods, they broke down the PET plastic into a precursor molecule and then added it into a cell culture of E. coli that was genetically modified. Enzymes in the modified E. coli bacteria were able to convert the plastic precursor into paracetamol 92% of the time. The transformation relies on a chemical process known as a Lossen rearrangement, which can convert one kind of molecule into a different kind of molecule. Scientists have known about the Lossen rearrangement for more than 100 years, but generally observe the phenomenon in a flask or a test tube. The research group is now working with pharmaceutical makers including AstraZeneca, one of the study's sponsors, to replicate the same chemical transformations on a larger scale. The new research isn't the first to observe the way that bacteria can be deployed to usefully break down plastic. Researchers have previously studied how wastewater bacteria found in urban waterways use a special enzyme to chew up plastic trash and convert it into carbon-based food. As we grapple with the cascading environmental and health effects that decades of proliferating plastics have wrought on the planet, bacteria capable of converting plastic into harmless or even useful molecules is a promising area of research. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Plastic to paracetamol: Scientists engineer E. coli to turn waste into painkillers, but doubts remain
LONDON, June 29 — Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller, a study said Monday, though outside experts doubted the technique would make a dent in the fight against plastic pollution. Paracetamol, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, is made from the derivatives of fossil fuels, often by Asia-based subcontractors using cheap, polluting methods that contribute to climate change. The world is also facing an escalating crisis of plastic pollution, with countries set for another bruising round of negotiations in August in the hope of sealing an international treaty to reduce plastic waste. The British team of researchers behind the new study sought to find a solution to the two problems by roping in a third — which is normally known for making people sick when they eat contaminated food. First the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic, which is used in bottles and many other plastic products the world over, to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of This created a molecule they called PABA, according to the Nature Chemistry study, which was partly funded by drug firm AstraZeneca. By genetically modifying the bacteria, the chemists were able to transform their molecule into acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. 'This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic — it can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease,' lead study Stephen Wallace said in a statement. Singaporean researchers not involved in the study praised how it combined synthetic and biological chemistry. But 'several practical considerations remain' to take this idea beyond the proof-of-concept stage, they wrote in a linked commentary in the journal Nature Chemistry. The chemical reaction produces only a limited amount of PABA molecules, which 'may be insufficient for industrial applications', they wrote. Melissa Valliant, communications director of the Beyond Plastics project of Bennington College in the United States, expressed scepticism. 'A new 'plastic-eating bacteria' pops up in the news every few months and has been doing so for years,' she told AFP. 'These discoveries never scale up to anything significant enough to tackle the massive plastic pollution problem.' This 'crisis needs to be stopped at the source,' she added, which means 'companies and policymakers must reduce the amount of plastic being produced and used in the first place'. — ETX Studio
