Paracetamol

Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2007.

This factsheet is for people who would like information about paracetamol and how to use it safely.

Paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the USA) is a painkiller that lowers a high temperature. Provided that you take the correct dose at the right intervals, paracetamol is relatively safe. An overdose is dangerous.

Why would I take it?How does paracetamol work?How to take paracetamolAvoiding accidental overdoseChildren and paracetamolSpecial careSide-effectsInteractions with other medicinesParacetamol productsFurther informationQuestions and answersSourcesWhy would I take it?

Paracetamol can be taken to relieve a variety of common aches and pains including headache, muscle and joint pain, backache and period pains.

Paracetamol brings down a high temperature caused by a cold or flu. It can be given to children after they have had vaccinations to prevent a high temperature after immunisation. It's often included in cough, cold and flu remedies, which you can buy in pharmacies and shops (see Paracetamol products).

How does paracetamol work?

No one is sure how paracetamol works. It probably acts by blocking the way in which pain signals are processed in the brain. It doesn't have the anti-inflammatory action of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin. You can't get addicted to paracetamol.

How to take paracetamol

The recommended dose for adults is 500mg to 1000mg - that's usually one or two tablets (depending on tablet size) - every four to six hours with a maximum of 4000mg (usually eight tablets, but make sure you check the size of your tablets) in 24 hours.

However, just twice this dose can be dangerous and you should never exceed the recommended dose. Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.