Panadol is the GlaxoSmithKline brand name of the phamaceutical paracetamol (para-acetylaminophenol), which is administered to reduce pain and fever. There are many similar products marketed under other names. For example, in India, paracetamol is sold as Crocin and in Colombia it is marketed as Dolex. It is sold in more than 85 countries.[1] However, in North America, Johnson and Johnson's Tylenol is the leading brand of paracetamol.[2]

In 1955, Panadol was introduced to hospitals in the United Kingdom.[3] It was first marketed by Phillips, Scott & Turner, which was acquired by Frederick Stearns & Co, a subsidiary of Sterling Drug Inc.[4] It was advertised as being "gentle to the stomach," since other analgesic agents of the time contained aspirin, a known stomach irritant.

Panadol was originally available only by prescription in the UK. It is currently an over the counter drug. In 1988 Sterling Winthrop was acquired by Eastman Kodak which sold the over the counter drug rights to SmithKline Beecham in 1994.[5]