Meaning & use
Panadol
Last updated
Meaning
proper noununcountabletrademark
A brand name for a common painkiller and fever reducer whose active ingredient is paracetamol.
Grammar: Used like a product name, without 'a' or 'the' when talking about the medicine in general: take Panadol for a headache.
Patterns
- take Panadol
- a dose of Panadol
- Panadol tablets
She took two Panadol tablets and lay down for an hour.
The doctor said it was safe to give him Panadol for the fever.
You can buy Panadol at most supermarkets and pharmacies.
Common combinations
- take Panadol
- Take Panadol every four hours if the pain continues.
- Panadol tablets
- The nurse handed him a strip of Panadol tablets.
- a dose of Panadol
- A dose of Panadol brought her temperature down.
- Panadol Extra
- Panadol Extra contains caffeine as well as paracetamol.
Synonyms and how they differ
- paracetamol
- The generic name for the same drug, used in the UK and many other countries; it is not a brand, so it can be used for any manufacturer's product.
- acetaminophen
- The American and Canadian generic name for the same drug; use this in the US instead of paracetamol.
- Tylenol
- A different brand of the same drug, common in the US; like Panadol, it is a trademark, not a generic term.
Commonly confused: Panadol or paracetamol?
Panadol vs paracetamol
Panadol is a brand name, while paracetamol is the generic name of the drug. In the UK, people often say Panadol when they mean any paracetamol product, but in the US the generic is acetaminophen.
Practice
In the UK, which word is a brand name for a painkiller?
Choose one answer.
Panadol is a trademarked brand name for paracetamol. Paracetamol and acetaminophen are generic names, and ibuprofen is a different drug.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Panadol”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.