Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used drugs in the UK, known for its pain-relieving qualities as well as its ability to lower a high temperature. Some 200 million packets of this painkiller are sold over the counter each year in the UK alone.

However, many people might be surprised to learn that the medicationisn't always suitable for them to take, as it could affect the way other medications work. To help, one NHSGP named Dr Abdul has urged patients to be cautious about what other medications they take alongside paracetamol, as it could have some serious consequences.

Taking to social media, Dr Abdul warned people who take co-codamol, another common painkiller medication, to stop taking paracetamol, due to one fact that many might not realise.

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"What is the difference between Co-codamol and Paracetamol - this one is an important one to know because of a common mistake that patients can make," he said at the start of the video.

He went on to explain that paracetamol is a common over the counter pain medication that come in 500mg tablets, naming it a 'GP's best friend'. It's a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug that relieves mild-to-moderate pain, such as headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, and toothaches, and can also help to reduce a fever.

One of the reasons why it's so common is because of how accessible it is, while also not having that many side effects, with some rare ones including rashes or allergic reactions. However, excessive intake can cause severe liver and kidney damage, especially when combined with alcohol.

Meanwhile, co-codamol also contains paracetamol, which can be noted in the 'mol' in its name. It's a combination pain killer that contains both paracetamol and codeine, and is used to treat moderate to severe pain, such as headaches, migraines, muscle pain, and toothache.

These also generally contain 500mg of paracetamol per tablet, alongside varying amounts of codeine, which is an opioid medication that's also used to treat moderate pain.

"And here's where the mistake comes," the doctor said. "People would take Co-codamol, for example, maximum dosage, so that's tends to be two tablets every six to eight hours.

"But if that is not working for their pain, they may actually end up taking paracetamol on top of that, not knowing that the co-codamol already contains paracetamol."

This usually leads to patients overdosing on the paracetamol, as the max dosage is four grams per day. This is considered a medical emergency that can cause severe liver damage or liver failure, which could be fatal.

But if you're on co-codamol and feel like you need something more to help sooth your pain, the NHS recommend taking other over the counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen and aspirin. These are considered safe to take with co-codamol.

They also warn against using other medications containing paracetamol, including painkillers like Tramacet and co-dydramol, migraine remedies, and some cough and cold remedies like Lemsip and Night Nurse.

Meanwhile, the NHS also warn that some other medication can affect the way co-codamol works, while the co-codamol can also stop some other medicines working as well as they should. Because of this, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you're taking in order to make sure they are compatible with co-codamol.