What is Tylenol, is it sold in the UK and key info as Netflix doc shows chilling case

A new Netflix documentary delves into a chilling case that sparked public concern over medication safety.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders is a three-part docuseries exploring the events leading to several deaths.

In 1982, in Chicago, at least seven people tragically lost their lives after consuming cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules.

The documentary probes the lingering questions surrounding the case, which dramatically altered the safety measures companies adopt when selling over-the-counter medication.

However, UK viewers may be curious if Tylenol is even available in Britain? Is there a British equivalent? What safety precautions are in place? Here's everything you need to know.

Tylenol is essentially the American brand name for paracetamol, a type of painkiller. It's a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic agent used for treating fever and mild to moderate pain, reports .

According to online information, it's marketed for reducing pain, fever, and alleviating symptoms of allergies, colds, coughs, headaches, and flu.

The brand name Tylenol is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Kenvue. As of 2017, the brand was available in countries including Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Lebanon, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

In the UK, the medication is more commonly known as Paracetamol, with other brand names including Panadol and Calpol.

Following the Tylenol poisoning incidents, manufacturers in the US implemented new regulations surrounding security and anti-tampering measures. The recent Netflix documentary features a clip of James Burke, the then CEO of Johnson and Johnson, explaining these methods.

Similar safety precautions are also taken in the UK. As per the gov.uk website, retailers are advised to limit the number of tablets sold to consumers.

Best practice guidance on the sale of pain relief medicines suggests that stores should not sell more than two packs in a single transaction.

This is aimed at reducing the number of hospital admissions and deaths from accidental overdose. You'll also notice that paracetamol most commonly comes in the form of capsules, within a blister pack that you have to force out of.

This is an anti-tampering measure making it easy for consumers to tell if the packaging containing the medication has been opened in any way prior to purchase. Other methods could include stickers, glued end flaps with perforations, or bottle caps with plastic seals.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders is streaming on Netflix.