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Paracetamol

Generic name: paracetamol
Brand names: Panadol, Calpol, Tylenol, Alvedon
Dosage form: effervescent tablet, intravenous (infusion) injection, orally disintegrating tablet, oral capsule, oral powder, oral suspension, oral tablet, suppository
Drug class: Miscellaneous analgesics

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is paracetamol?

Paracetamol (Panadol, Calpol, Alvedon) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used to temporarily relieve mild-to-moderate pain and fever. It is commonly included as an ingredient in cold and flu medications and is also used on its own.

Paracetamol is exactly the same drug as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Paracetamol is the drug's name assigned using the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) generic name system. Paracetamol is the name used for the drug in places such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. Acetaminophen is the generic name assigned using the United States Adopted Names (USAN) system. Acetaminophen is the name used in countries such as the US, Canada and Japan. Usually the INN and USAN generic names for a drug are the same and don't differ between countries.

It is not clear exactly how paracetamol works. However, it is thought to work by blocking chemical messengers in the brain that let us know when we're in pain and by affecting the chemical messengers that regulate our body temperature. The evidence suggests that paracetamol inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which are made by the body to deal with illness and injury. It's also thought to act on the serotonergic, opioid, nitric oxide and cannabinoid pathways.

Paracetamol was first made in 1878, but only became more widely used in the 1950s. Today paracetamol is one of the most widely used painkillers in the world. Branded and generic versions of this drug are available.

What is paracetamol used for?

Paracetamol is available over-the-counter (OTC) and also as a prescription medication. It is used for the relief of:

Important information

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is found in many different OTC cold and flu medications. Do not take paracetamol if you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medications containing paracetamol or acetaminophen.

Who should not take paracetamol?

Do not take medications containing paracetamol if you are allergic to it or any of the other ingredients in the paracetamol product you are taking.

What should I tell my doctor before taking paracetamol?

Before you take paracetamol, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including:

How should I take paracetamol?

Paracetamol 500mg tablets and capsules

Paracetamol 500 mg tablets and capsules dosing- Adults and children 10 years of age and older

Age How much How often (in 24 hrs)
10 to 15 years 1 Tablet Up to 4 times
Adults and children 16 years and over 1 to 2 Tablets Up to 4 times 

Paracetamol 120 mg/5 ml, 250 mg/5 ml oral suspension

Paracetamol 120 mg/5 ml oral suspension dosing - Children from 3 months to 6 years

Age How much How often (in 24 hours)
2-3 months 2.5ml* Up to 2 doses
3-6 months 2.5 ml Up to 4 times
6-24 months 5 ml Up to 4 times
2-4 years 7.5 ml (5 ml + 2.5 ml) Up to 4 times
4-6 years 10 ml (5 ml + 5 ml) Up to 4 times

* Only for use of relief of fever after the 2 month immunizations in children weighing more than 4 kg who were born after 37 weeks. If your child still has a fever after 2 doses consult your doctor.

Paracetamol 250 mg/5 ml oral suspension dosing - Adults and children 6 years of age and older

Age How much How often (in 24 hours)
6 to 8 years 5 ml Up to 4 times
8 to 10 years 7.5 ml (5 ml + 2.5 ml) Up to 4 times
10 to 12 years 10 ml (5 ml + 5 ml) Up to 4 times
12 to 16 years 10 to 15 ml Up to 4 times
Adults and children over 16 years 10 to 20 ml Up to 4 times

Paracetamol 60 mg, 125 mg and 250 mg suppositories

Paracetamol suppository dosing - Children from 3 months to 12 years

Age How much# How often (in 24 hours)
Infants under 3 months 1 x 60 mg Suppository Once*
3 months to 1 year 1 to 2 x 60 mg Suppositories Up to 4 times
1 to 5 years 1 to 2 x 125 mg Suppositories Up to 4 times
6 to 12 years 1 to 2 x 250 mg Suppositories Up to 4 times

#Check with your doctor or pharmacist about the correct dose for your child, which will be based on their age and weight. Do not guess the dose.

*One dose can be given to babies who develop a fever after their immunizations at 2 months of age. Otherwise do not use in babies less than 3 months old unless your doctor tells you to.

Paracetamol 650 mg oral powder

Paracetamol 250 mg orally disintegrating tablets

Paracetamol 250 mg orally disintegrating tablets - Adults and children 6 years of age and older

Age How much How often (in 24 hrs)
6 to 9 years 1 Tablet Up to 4 times
9 to 12 years 2 Tablets Up to 4 times
12 to 16 years 2 to 3 Tablets Up to 4 times
Adults and children over 16 years 2 to 4 Tablets Up to 4 times

Paracetamol 500 mg effervescents tablets

Paracetamol 500 mg effervescent tablets - children 12 years and over and adults

Age How much How often (in 24 hrs)
12* to 15 years
(41 to 50 kg)
1 Tablet Up to 4 times
16 to 18 years
(50 kg+)
Same as adults  
Adults 1 to 2 Tablets Up to 4 times#

* Do not give to children younger than 12 years old.

#Maximum 2 tablets per dose. Maximum 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Paracetamol 10 mg/ml solution for infusion

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of paracetamol, give the next dose when needed as long as it's been more than 4 hours since your last dose. Do not give a double dose or exceed the maximum daily dose.

What happens if I overdose?

If you or your child takes too much paracetamol, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away (1-800 222-1222). Quick medical attention is critical for adults and children even if they seem well.

Paracetamol can caused delayed, serious liver damage. There may be no symptoms of overdose during the first 24 hours although paleness, nausea, sweating, vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal pain may occur.

Dosing information

See "How should I take paracetamol?" above for information about paracetamol dosing. For further details read the full prescribing information.

What are the side effects of paracetamol?

Serious side effects of paracetamol include:

Common side effect of paracetamol suppositories include:

Everyday, long-term use (several months or more) of paracetamol can cause liver or kidney damage. People taking this medication in the usual way for shorter periods of time have not had these problems.

These are not all of the possible side effects of this medication.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including prescription and OTC medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements before taking this medication. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Paracetamol may affect the results of laboratory tests for uric acid and blood sugar levels.

Paracetamol can be taken with oral contraceptives, but it may not work as well to lower your pain or fever.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. Paracetamol can be taken if you are breastfeeding. Small amounts of paracetamol pass into breast milk.

Use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or fever and use it for the shorted time possible. Contact your doctor or midwife if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take this medicine more often.

Storage

What are the ingredients in paracetamol?

Active ingredient: paracetamol

Inactive ingredients:

Inactive ingredients will vary among the different brands and formulations. Check the product label for your formulation and strength of paracetamol for the list of inactive ingredients.

Zentiva paracetamol capsules: maize starch and magnesium stearate. The capsule is made of gelatine and sodium lauryl sulfate coloured with titanium dioxide (E171), erythrosine (E127), yellow iron oxide (E172) and indigo carmine (E132). The ink used to print on the capsules contains shellac, dehydrated alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, povidone and titanium dioxide.

Panadol original tablets: maize starch, potassium sorbate (E 202), purified talc, stearic acid, povidone, starch pregelatinised, hypromellose, triacetin and carnauba wax.

Effervescent tablets: anhydrous citric acid, Sodium hydrogen carbonate, Sorbitol E420, Sodium carbonate anhydrous, Povidone K25 (E1201), Simethicone, Saccharin sodium, Lemon flavour (containing maize maltodextrin, acacia gum (E 414), alpha-tocopherol (E 307), Macrogol 6000

Accord intravenous (IV) infusion: cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate, disodium phosphate dihydrate, hydrochloric acid (1M) (for pH-adjustment), sodium hydroxide (1M) (for pH-adjustment), mannitol, water for injections.

Calpol SixPlus Fastmelts orally disintegrating tablets: mannitol (E421), crospovidone, aspartame (E951), magnesium stearate, basic butylated methacrylate copolymer, polyacrylate dispersion 30% and colloidal anhydrous silica. The flavoring is strawberry (containing benzyl alcohol and glucose).

Boots Cold & Flu Relief Powders - Lemon flavor: sucrose, sodium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, sodium cyclamate, ascorbic acid, starch, natural colour (E100), spray dried lemon juice, lemon aroma

Calpol 120 mg/5 ml infant oral suspension: sucrose, sorbitol liquid (E420), glycerol, polysorbate 80, asulfame potassium, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), microcrystalline cellulose and carmellose sodium, xanthan gum and purified water. The flavoring is strawberry (containing propylene glycol (E1520)) and coloring is carmoisine (E122). Each 5 ml of this product contains 2.2 g of sucrose.

Alvedon paracetamol suppositories: hard fat (Witepsol H12)

Panadol is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited, Brentford, TW8 9GS, U.K. Calpol is marketed by McNeil Products Limited, 50-100 Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 4EG, UK. Alvedon is marketed by Intrapharm Laboratories Ltd, The Courtyard Barns, Choke Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6PT, UK.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.