A while ago, a message circulated on social media that resonated with many readers:
“Acetaminophen has more empathy for relieving pain than many people do!”
But is acetaminophen truly an empathetic or “smart” drug? In reality, acetaminophen doesn’t even relieve the inflammation that causes pain. Instead, it prevents the brain from releasing compounds that generate the sensation of pain. As a result, without addressing the root cause, the pain is simply silenced. Yet the ability of all drugs isn’t limited to merely suppressing pain. Medications that actually treat the underlying cause demonstrate a higher level of what we might call “intelligence” or sophistication.