PlainPill

Paracetamol

People mainly take Paracetamol for appetite, anxiety, sleep. Based on 5 first-hand reports and 475 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #521 of 1,974 overall.

26
User score
Mostly positive
60% positive0% mixed40% negative0% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 60% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
475
meta-analyses
1,800
RCTs
15,917
papers

What Paracetamol does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Osteoarthritis Cartilage · 2023 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines

Conclusion: Higher-quality guidelines for hip and knee osteoarthritis consistently recommend clinicians implement exercise, education, and weight management, alongside consideration of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and intra-articular corticosteroid injections (knee). Lack of consensus on some pharmacological options and adjunctive treatments creates challenges for guideline adherence. Future guidelines must prioritise providing implementation guidance, considering consistently low applicability scores.

PubMed 37394226 ↗
BMJ · 2021 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis: network meta-analysis

Conclusion: Etoricoxib 60 mg/day and diclofenac 150 mg/day seem to be the most effective oral NSAIDs for pain and function in patients with osteoarthritis. However, these treatments are probably not appropriate for patients with comorbidities or for long term use because of the slight increase in the risk of adverse events. Additionally, an increased risk of dropping out due to adverse events was found for diclofenac 150 mg/day. Topical diclofenac 70-81 mg/day seems to be effective and generally safer because of reduced systemic exposure and lower dose, and should be considered as first line pharmacologic

PubMed 34642179 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

No doses stated in the reports so far.

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

No side effects reported so far.

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“avoid paracetamol after drinking as it will not be friendly with your liver”
Source discussion ↗
“One cause of long covid is using paracetamol/acetominophen to relieve symptoms so avoid that.”
Source discussion ↗
“Many of us feel some general relief from everyday discomforts with ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin”
Source discussion ↗
“Some Buscopan and paracetamol and I don't even feel like I'm menstruating”
Source discussion ↗
“It’s also known to reduce panic and anxiety in some people”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for appetite

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate