IT IS a scenario many Malaysians are all too familiar with: it is durian season, you have just indulged in a few too many rich, creamy ulas (pieces) of Musang King, and suddenly you feel a headache coming on. You reach for a paracetamol to ease the throbbing, only for a well-meaning relative to slap it out of your hand.
"Don't take that! Didn't you read the WhatsApp forward? Durian and Panadol will turn into poison!"
For years, a persistent rumour has circulated on social media and family group chats claiming that combining the King of Fruits with common painkillers like paracetamol will trigger a highly toxic, and potentially fatal, chemical reaction in the body.
But is there any truth to this terrifying claim?
Verdict:
FALSE
Medical professionals and the Health Ministry have repeatedly debunked this long-standing urban legend. There is absolutely no scientific or medical evidence to suggest that consuming durian and paracetamol together creates a lethal toxin or causes sudden death.
The myth likely stems from a combination of traditional beliefs and a misunderstanding of how the body metabolises both substances. In traditional medicine, durian is famously considered a "heaty" food. Because it is incredibly dense in carbohydrates, sugars, and fats, digesting it causes your body's metabolism to kick into high gear, which can temporarily raise your core body temperature.
Paracetamol, meanwhile, is an analgesic and antipyretic - a drug specifically designed to lower body temperature and relieve pain, which is metabolised in the liver.
While taking paracetamol right after a heavy durian feast means your liver has to work to process both the drug and the rich food, they do not undergo a chemical reaction to form a deadly poison.
However, medical experts do caution against another combination: durian and alcohol. Durian contains high levels of sulphur compounds, which have been scientifically proven to inhibit the enzyme (aldehyde dehydrogenase) that your body uses to break down alcohol.
Consuming both together can lead to severe nausea, palpitations, and intense hangovers.
Saying that, it is rarely fatal for a healthy individual.
So, what should you do if you get a headache after a durian buffet?
While taking a paracetamol won't kill you, doctors generally advise against burdening your digestive system with medications when it is already working in overdrive to digest a heavy, rich fruit.
Your best bet? Drink plenty of water (perhaps from the durian husk, as tradition dictates!), rest, and let your body cool down naturally. Save the panic for when you see the bill for the Musang King instead.
