![\"Cheap](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-1238159300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMaking this ‘smarter swap’ could have people feeling better quicker<\/p>\n
11:18, 11 Feb 2026Updated 11:18, 11 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Affordable paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets are available ‘for pennies’ in the UK (stock image)(Image: \u00a9 Bloomberg via Getty)<\/p>\n
A common sight in medicine cabinets across many UK homes, paracetamol<\/a> is a staple form of pain relief that millions take daily for a variety of reasons. But studies have found that taking it with a specific drink could help people feel its effects faster.<\/p>\n Paracetamol is available in most UK shops<\/a> and can help with a variety of minor aches and pains. The majority of people aged 16 and over can take paracetamol, including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.<\/p>\n The NHS website<\/a> claims that this medication “can take up to an hour to work”, so people may not feel the benefit for a little while after taking their first dose. But some have claimed a common drink<\/a> could help speed up the process.<\/p>\n A Which? spokesperson said: “Big brands won’t tell you this, but you can supercharge cheap painkillers<\/a> using a simple secret hidden in your kitchen. Taking your painkillers with caffeine can boost their effectiveness, according to studies.<\/p>\n “Big brands sell combination products<\/a>, but you’ll pay extra for this.” Which? ran a price check and found that affordable own-brand tablets, for example, from the likes of Boots, were less than half the cost of these combined pills.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n The spokesperson added: “You don’t need to splash out on pricey combined meds to get the effect. The smarter swap [is to] buy generic painkillers for pennies – it’s the same medicine – and wash it down with a strong cup of coffee.”<\/p>\n The Which? spokesperson claimed that “it’s cheaper and provides the caffeine hit you need”. People can choose whatever brand or version of coffee they prefer to drink at home.<\/p>\n For something even more cost-effective, shoppers could grab one of the supermarket’s own-brand versions<\/a>, with prices that depend on the individual brands. Cheap options are available at the likes of Asda<\/a>, Tesco<\/a>, Aldi<\/a> and Lidl<\/a> to name a few.<\/p>\n The caffeine hit from coffee could ‘supercharge’ your paracetamol(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-1754479601.jpg\")
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