Doctor’s Viral Post: “Indians Eating Dolo-650 Like Cadbury Gems” Sparks Debate on Pill-Popping Culture
April 16, 2025
Mumbai, India – A tweet by Dr. Palaniappan Manickam, a California-based gastroenterologist and comedian, comparing Indians’ casual use of Dolo-650 to eating Cadbury Gems, has gone viral, amassing thousands of likes and retweets since April 14, 2025. The post, blending humor with a critique of India’s over-the-counter drug culture, has ignited a mix of laughter, memes, and reflection on the widespread reliance on the paracetamol tablet, a household staple since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Pal’s observation, reported by Economic Times and Business Upturn, underscores concerns about self-medication and delayed diagnoses, while resonating with netizens who admit to popping Dolo-650 for everything from fevers to headaches. This article explores the viral phenomenon, its roots, and the broader implications for public health in India.
The Viral Tweet and Its Impact
Dr. Pal, known for his “med-com” (medical comedy) with over a million followers, tweeted, “Indians take Dolo-650 like it’s Cadbury Gems,” poking fun at the tablet’s ubiquity. The comparison to Cadbury Gems—a colorful, bite-sized chocolate—struck a chord, as X users like @lavanyadeepak echoed, “One for fever, one for a headache, and one… just because.” Economic Times reported the post’s rapid spread, with memes like “Dolo-650: the snack for every ache” flooding platforms. Netizens confessed to using it reflexively, with some joking about Disprin’s similar status, per @AskPerplexity on X.
The humor masks a serious point: Dolo-650’s overuse. Business Upturn noted that India consumed over 3.5 billion tablets from 2020–2022, making it the second-most-used fever drug after Calpol. Its pandemic-era fame, fueled by fever fears, turned it into a cultural icon, with sales hitting ₹567 crore by 2022, per The Hindu. Dr. Pal clarified in a follow-up, “It’s not candy,” warning that frequent use can mask symptoms, delay proper diagnosis, and risk liver damage if overdosed.
Roots of Dolo-650’s Popularity
Dolo-650, manufactured by Bengaluru-based Micro Labs, contains 650 mg of paracetamol, higher than competitors like Crocin (500 mg), making it a go-to for pain and fever, per WIONews. Its rise began in 2020, when COVID-19’s fever symptom drove demand, outpacing other brands. News18 reported that if stacked, the 3.5 billion tablets sold would tower 63,000 times taller than the Burj Khalifa. Micro Labs’ marketing, including doctor education programs, cemented its edge, per Times of India.
Cultural factors also play a role. India’s lax over-the-counter drug regulations and limited healthcare access push self-medication, with The Swaddle noting the absence of a trusted health information source like the UK’s NHS. Memes, like those shared by @aviralbhat in 2022, amplified Dolo’s “one-stop solution” image, embedding it in pop culture alongside Dalgona coffee. However, 2022 allegations of Micro Labs offering ₹1,000 crore in doctor freebies, investigated by the Supreme Court, briefly dented its reputation, per The Hindu.
Public Health Concerns
Dr. Pal’s post highlights a deeper issue: India’s pill-popping culture. Apollo Pharmacy warns that Dolo-650, while safe in prescribed doses (max 2,600 mg daily), risks nausea, stomach pain, or liver damage if overused, especially with alcohol. Pacehospital.com lists rare side effects like lung issues or diarrhea, stressing doctor supervision for those with liver or kidney conditions. Self-medication, driven by familiarity, often bypasses these risks, with Economic Times citing Dr. Pal’s concern that it delays critical diagnoses.
The meme frenzy, while humorous, fuels normalization. The Swaddle argues that branding drugs like Dolo as “casual commodities” encourages reckless use, akin to Alka-Seltzer’s 2000s glamour. X posts from @grok and @AskPerplexity note the trend’s revival, with users joking about Dolo’s “supremacy” for “every bimari” (disease). This echoes a 2022 CNBCTV18 report of memes hailing it as a “solution to many problems,” risking misinformation.
Public Reaction and Debate
The viral post has split sentiments. Many, like @MehulFanawala’s “Haan haan Indians take Dolo 650 like it’s Cadbury Gems 💀😂,” find it relatable, sharing anecdotes of medicine cabinet stockpiles. Others, per Business Upturn, question the obsession, with some asking AI tools like Grok about side effects. Doctors on X expressed frustration, one tweeting, “Patients demand Dolo without consultation—it’s a headache for us too,” per Business Upturn. Meanwhile, defenders argue its affordability (₹33.5 for 15 tablets, per Apollo Pharmacy) and accessibility make it a lifeline in underserved areas.
The debate touches on systemic gaps. India’s doctor-patient ratio (1:834, per WHO) and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs (55% of expenses, per The Hindu) drive reliance on cheap drugs like Dolo. Yet, the lack of regulation—unlike stricter U.S. FDA rules—lets pharmacies dispense it freely, amplifying risks.
Critical Perspective
The establishment narrative cheers Dr. Pal’s wit as a wake-up call, but it sidesteps accountability. Pharma giants like Micro Labs exploit loose regulations, with 2022’s freebie scandal suggesting deeper collusion, yet no convictions followed, per Economic Times. The media’s meme obsession, while engaging, trivializes a public health crisis, ignoring how poverty and illiteracy fuel self-medication. Conversely, blaming individuals for “pill-popping” overlooks systemic failures—like underfunded clinics—that leave Dolo as the only option for millions. The Cadbury Gems analogy, though clever, risks glamorizing a dangerous habit unless paired with education.
Conclusion
Dr. Pal’s viral “Dolo-650 like Cadbury Gems” post has spotlighted India’s love affair with the paracetamol tablet, blending humor with a sobering critique of self-medication. Its pandemic-driven rise, cultural entrenchment, and meme stardom reflect both accessibility and overuse risks, from delayed diagnoses to liver damage. While netizens laugh and debate, the trend underscores urgent needs: stricter drug controls, better healthcare access, and public awareness. For now, Dolo remains India’s “favorite snack,” but at what cost? For more, visit www.economictimes.indiatimes.com or www.news18.com.
