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El Reg reports:
Reported in The Lancet, the study [on paracetamol also known as acetaminophen] funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Australia ran for over three years and involved "a multicentre, double-dummy, randomised, placebo controlled trial across 235 primary care centres in Sydney."
The study saw some patients given regular doses paracetamol, others told to take the drug when in pain and a third group handed placebos. Those given paracetamol, in either mode, reported no less pain than those taking placebos. Nor did sugar-pill-poppers recover from their ailments more slowly.
The authors therefore "question the universal endorsement of paracetamol in this patient group."
In this interview the study's leader Professor Chris Maher even questions whether Paracetamol can be considered a pain-killer.
"The jury is out" on whether the drug lessens pain, Professor Maher says about two minutes into the interview.
So, what does work? Don't just lay there; for starters, get up and MOVE AROUND.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25 2014, @04:11PM
A friend of mine has severe back problems due to injuries sustained while working for the police department, to the point where he was projected to be unable to stand up ever again. He's tried various pills, none of which seem to really work.
However, for him marijuana does an excellent job of reducing his pain to the point where he's up and about, able to work on small-scale projects and raise his kids. If only it were legal for him to do what works.