[LeoPanthera]

This seems to be a uniquely American problem. I’m a Brit who now lives in the USA, but back in the UK, calling things by their generic drug name was the default, and while brand names were also still common, there was usually more than one to choose from.

Aside: It took me far too long to figure out that “paracetamol” is called “acetaminophen” in the USA. You would think that at least the generic names would be universal.

[nostrademons]

Technically, the true generic name is para-acetylaminophenol, from which both paracetamol and acetaminophen are derived (and Tylenol, for that matter). That nobody ever calls it para-acetylaminophenol (and that I needed to copy/paste that because I can neither spell nor pronounce it) is a good indication why brand names are preferred over chemical names.

[dreamcompiler]

Pharmacists and doctors just write it APAP. Way shorter and unambiguous. Likewise aspirin is ASA.

[garaetjjte]

.."APAP" is brand name too.

[yardie]

I'm still trying to convince my wife, who's French, they are the same thing. She's convinced the medicines in France are stronger.

[em10fan]

My girlfriend is French, and they sort of are I suppose.

Their over the counter paracetamol are usually 1000mg per tablet whereas ours are limited to 500mg per tablet.

In an average dose, thy only take one, whereas we take two.

[dreamcompiler]

Yikes. Twice as easy to destroy your liver by accident with 1000mg tablets.

[LeoPanthera]

I know that in the UK painkillers that contain codeine as an additive are common, which makes them stronger. I don’t believe it’s possible to get it in the USA.

To make up for it, it’s very difficult to buy painkillers in the UK in quantities of more than about 8, while Costco sells jars of literally hundreds of tablets.

[watersb]

US person here: I am familiar with codeine-(acetaminophen) mix everyone calls "Tylenol-3". It requires a prescription.

[DanBC]

In the UK you can buy 16 tablets of paracetamol off the shelf. You can buy 32 tablets over the counter. You can have a discussion with a pharmacist if you want to buy more - up to about 100.

This is a useful suicide prevention measure and we've seen deaths by suicide from paracetamol reducing a bit as a result.

[kurthr]

You are correct, any acetaminophen with codeine would require a prescription. Careful what you carry in your luggage. :^\

[namdnay]

I think it’s common in many countries, including the UK. Take Calpol for example, parents will rarely ask for a bottle of oral paracetamol solution

[gumby]

...but that most people in the UK call it “Panadol”