Cheaper painkillers offer an alternative to pricey cold and flu remedies

A BBC comparison found that a 16-pill pack of Lemsip All-In-One Max Strength cost £7.30, while some supermarkets sold packs of paracetamol for 35p. Both contained 500mg of paracetamol per pill, but the Lemsip product also contained other active ingredients.

The prices were drawn from a survey of six major retailers on 11 November, excluding discounts and special offers. The BBC did not specify the size of the 35p paracetamol pack, so the figures are not a comparison of equal-sized packs or equivalent doses.

In a separate check on 14 October, consumer group Which? found a pack of 16 paracetamol tablets, each containing 500mg, for 29p. Prices can change, and the two surveys were conducted at different times.

Paracetamol can relieve pain and reduce fever, but it does not treat the underlying infection. Combination remedies can contain additional ingredients intended to address other symptoms, so shoppers should check what is in each product rather than assume they are identical.

Prof Jayne Lawrence, head of pharmacy at the University of Manchester, told the BBC that, in her view, there was little difference between the options and that she would personally choose the cheaper ones.

Reckitt, which owns Lemsip and Nurofen, said its products use regulator-approved ingredients and are formulated for multiple symptoms. The consumer healthcare trade association PAGB said familiar brands could make choices simpler and give shoppers confidence.

Doctors warn against taking paracetamol alongside a cold and flu remedy that also contains it, because this can cause an accidental overdose. A pharmacist can advise on ingredients, suitability and cheaper alternatives.