Advil/ paracetamols

[hatgray]

Is it ok to say

”2 advils or 2 paracetamols”or should it be “2 advil or 2 paracetamol”?

Thanks

 

[Roman55]

I use the plural for paracetamol. I would for Advil, too. It is more than likely that not everyone would agree.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't use the plural for paracetamol or any other drug name. I would use it if I were using the words "painkiller", "tablet" or "pill".

I have a headache. I'm going to take two paracetamol.
I have backache. I'm going to take two aspirin.
He has neckache. I suggested he take two ibuprofen.
She has stomachache. I think she should take two tablets.
I took two painkillers three hours ago so I shouldn't have any more yet.

 

[SoothingDave]

I had to look up "paracetamol." It's "acetaminophen" here. "Tylenol" is the brand name.

I can't think of any pills I would use the plural with.

 

[emsr2d2]

In the UK, with the exception of Nurofen (which is ibuprofen but lots of people use the term for many painkillers as if it's the name of the drug rather than a brand name), we hardly ever use brand names in place of the name of the actual drug. In fact, with the exception of Nurofen, I couldn't tell you the brand name of any painkiller. The most common painkillers are just referred to as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin.

 

[Raymott]

In Australia, and throughout my medical career, I often used the plural - probably because patients do. I don't think it matters. It's more important to know that paracetamol is acetaminophen is Tylenol is Panadol, etc. It's also N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, but I had to look that up.

 

[GoesStation]

Aspirin started as a brand name for acetylsalicylic acid. Bayer introduced it a few years before another brand name that had a more varied trajectory: Heroin.