Paracetamol is a common painkiller used to treat aches and pain.
It’s available to buy without a prescription from shops and pharmacies as tablets, capsules, suppositories, a syrup, or soluble or effervescent tablets. You can also get it on prescription if you have long-term pain.
Brand names in Ireland for paracetamol include:
- Panadol
- Calpol
- Paralief
- Paralink
- Rowalief
Paracetamol is also an ingredient in a wide range of cold and flu remedies and is available combined with other painkillers and anti-sickness medicines.
Uses of paracetamol
You can use paracetamol to:
- treat headaches, stomach ache, toothache or period pain
- treat muscle pain and cold symptoms
- reduce a high temperature (fever)
Check if you can take paracetamol
Most people can take paracetamol safely. But some people need to take extra care.
Tell your GP or pharmacist if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol or any other medicine
- have liver or kidney problems
- regularly drink more than the maximum recommended amount of alcohol (11 units a week for women and 17 units a week for men)
- have a severe infection
Warning
Do not give paracetamol to babies younger than 2 months old, unless it is prescribed by a GP.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and paracetamol
Paracetamol is safe to take in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, at recommended doses.
Take the lowest dose of paracetamol that works for you for the shortest possible time.
Contact your GP or pharmacist if the pain or fever do not improve or if you need to take paracetamol more often.
Paracetamol and fertility
There's no good evidence to suggest that taking paracetamol reduces fertility in either men or women.
Paracetamol is a commonly used medicine, but it can be dangerous if you take too much.
Mixing alcohol and paracetamol can be dangerous.
If your symptoms get worse or last for more than a few days, talk to your GP. Taking paracetamol for a long time without talking to a doctor may be harmful.
Children
Keep paracetamol out of sight and reach of children.
You should not give paracetamol to children under the age of 16 for more than 3 days without talking to your GP.
When and how to take paracetamol
You can usually take a maximum of 4 doses (eight 500mg tablets in total) in 24 hours if you’re an adult. Wait at least 4 hours between doses.
Check the instructions carefully if you are giving your child paracetamol. The strength and dosage of paracetamol for children depends on their age (and sometimes weight).
Tablets or capsules
Swallow paracetamol tablets or capsules with a drink of water. You can take it with or without food.
Syrup
If you're taking the liquid or syrup version, use the plastic syringe or spoon that comes with your medicine to measure the dose. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon. If you do not have the spoon that came with your medicine, ask your pharmacist for one.
Check the medicine packet for more information.
Suppositories
- Go to the toilet beforehand if you need to.
- Wash your hands before and after using the medicine.
- Clean around your anus with mild soap and water, rinse and pat dry.
- Unwrap the suppository.
- Gently push the suppository into your anus with the pointed end first - it needs to go in about 3 centimetres (1 inch).
- Sit or lie still for about 15 minutes.
The suppository will melt inside your anus - this is normal.
Powder to add to a hot drink
If you are taking paracetamol as a powder you add to a hot drink, check the leaflet that comes with the medicine carefully. This will tell you the maximum number of sachets you can take in a day.
This will depend on the strength of the medicine. If you are still not sure, ask a GP or pharmacist.
Taking too much paracetamol can cause serious side effects. Do not be tempted to increase the dose or to take a double dose if your pain is very bad.
Paracetamol takes up to an hour to work. It keeps on working for about 5 hours.
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets by accident is unlikely to be harmful, as long as you do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.
Wait at least 24 hours before taking any more paracetamol.
If you forget to take paracetamol
Take the paracetamol as soon as you remember if you take it regularly.
Skip the missed dose if it's nearly time for your next dose.
Never take double doses of paracetamol. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.
Set an alarm to remind you if you forget doses often.
If you take too much paracetamol
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to an emergency department (ED) immediately if:
- you or someone else takes an overdose of paracetamol on purpose (self-harm)
- you are vomiting, have tummy pain or the whites of your eyes and skin appear yellow (jaundice)
Get medical advice even if you feel well. This is because there may be a risk of delayed and serious liver damage.
If you need to go to your nearest ED, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you, or call for an ambulance.
Bring the paracetamol packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine.
Contact a GP or the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) immediately if:
- you take more than 8 tablets of paracetamol in 24 hours
- your child takes 2 or more extra doses of paracetamol
Get advice even if they feel well. There may be a risk of delayed liver damage.
Phone NPIC: 01 809 2166
Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm
If the information line is closed, contact a GP or go to an emergency department
Taking paracetamol with other medicines
Tell your GP or pharmacist if you are taking any prescribed medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements
Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you:
- take medicine for epilepsy or tuberculosis (TB)
- take warfarin - paracetamol can increase the risk of bleeding if you take it regularly
- take St John's wort - you may need to reduce your paracetamol dose
- weigh less than 50kg (7 stone 12 pounds) - your GP might recommend a lower dose than the standard packet dose
Do not take paracetamol with other medicines containing paracetamol.
These include some:
- cough and cold medicines
- prescription medicines
- medicines that contain paracetamol combined with other painkillers - for example, co-codamol (Solpadeine, Codipar, Solpadol) and paracetamol and tramadol (Ixprim)
Check the ingredients carefully. You could take too much paracetamol by mistake.
Do not take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time unless your GP tells you to to. Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice on how to use these 2 medicines together.
Side effects
Paracetamol very rarely causes side effects if you take it at the right dosage.
Talk to your GP if you're worried about a side effect or notice anything unusual.
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
Serious allergic reaction
A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to paracetamol is rare.
Emergency action required: Go to an emergency department (ED) or call 112 or 999 if:
- you get a skin rash that is itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling
- you're wheezing
- you get tightness in the chest or throat
- you have trouble breathing or talking
- your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Report side effects
You can report any suspected side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hpra.ie
Fact check
This content was fact checked by a pharmacist, a GP, and the National Medication Safety Programme (Safermeds).
