The year 2020 brought the world to a standstill. In India, homes turned into quarantine zones as the invisible threat of Covid-19 loomed large. With high-grade fever being one of the virus’s most common symptoms, people were left with three choices—step out for a test, book a home visit, or pop a Dolo and hope for the best. Unsurprisingly, crores chose the third option.
Dolo-650 became the go-to medicine for everything from fevers to headaches. Despite being just one of many paracetamol-based tablets available over the counter, its appeal skyrocketed during the pandemic.
More Than Just a Fever Pill
Dolo-650 contains paracetamol, a generic salt that helps reduce body temperature and pain. It works no differently than Crocin, Calpol, or Sumo. But its branding made all the difference. The “650mg” printed boldly on the packaging convinced many that it was more powerful and effective than the usual 500mg alternatives.
In reality, clinical evidence does show that the 650mg dose is more effective in certain fever and pain cases, which only fueled the pill’s popularity.
“Dolo Was Like Cadbury Gems”
A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) by Palaniappan Manickam, a self-proclaimed wellness advocate, summed up India’s relationship with Dolo during the pandemic: “Indians popped Dolo like it was Cadbury Gems.” The internet couldn’t help but agree.
One user commented, “Crazy how I just took one and this tweet popped up (sic).”
Another added, “It’s safe, It’s good, it’s healthy no need to bite to get the taste, reduces fever and headache which Cadbury Gems cannot provide.”
Others recalled the cultural shift: “I am still wondering about the time when we switched from Crocin / Calpol to Dolo as a generic name for Paracetamol.”
Another wrote, “Indians take medicine every day without consulting doctor like it’s a candy.” One more simply summed it up: “Side effect of Covid.”
Google Trends and Sales Surge
Searches like “what happens if I take 2 Dolo 650 tablets” and “how many Dolo 650 can be taken in a day” trended on Google throughout the pandemic. According to IQVIA, a research firm, more than 350 crore tablets were sold in India. Before the pandemic, about 7.5 crore strips were sold annually. By November 2021, that number had jumped to a staggering 14.5 crore strips.
The manufacturer of Dolo-650, Micro Labs, a Bengaluru-based pharma company, saw its flagship pill become synonymous with Covid-era self-medication.
