Panadol

Panadol is GlaxoSmithKline brand name of Paracetamol (para-acetylaminophenol). In India it is sold as Crocin and in Colombia it is marketed as Dolex.

In 1956 paracetamol went on sale in the United Kingdom produced by Frederick Stearns & Co, a subsidiary of Sterling Drug Inc. Panadol was originally available only by prescription, for the relief of pain and fever, and was advertised as being "gentle to the stomach," since other analgesic agents of the time contained aspirin, a known stomach irritant. Now it is an over-the-counter drug. In 1988 Sterling Winthrop was acquired by Eastman Kodak which sold OTC drugs rights SmithKline Beecham in 1994.

Panadol is sold in three sorts:
 * 1) plain
 * 2) Rapid
 * 3) Extra – with Coffein ~ Tylenol Ultra (500 mg of acetaminophen and 65 mg of caffeine); caffeine has vasoconstricting effects, for which there is some disputed evidence for additional efficacy.

The GSK claims that it sells 6 billion Panadol tablets a year. (PDF)