Adults can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (500mg) every 4-6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 4g (8 x 500mg tablets) in the space of 24 hours. Children under 16 need to take a lower dose, depending on their age or weight – check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice.
Taking too much paracetamol can lead to yellow eyes and skin (jaundice), loss of coordination, liver damage and even death. It's important to get medical help as quickly as possible if you think you or your child have taken too much paracetamol, as the damage can happen even before you notice any symptoms.
The usual dose for paracetamol is 1-2 tablets (500-1000mg) four times a day. You should not take more than 2 tablets at a time. A gap of at least 4 hour should be left between doses. A maximum of 8 tablets (4000mg or 4g) should be taken in a 24 hour period.
Adult dosing of paracetamol
The recommended paracetamol dosing for adults and children 12 years and over is 500 to 1000mg every four to six hours as necessary, with a maximum of 4000mg in any 24 hour period.
Ibuprofen and paracetamol can be safely taken together, though this combination is not recommended for long-term use in chronic pain. This particular combination is sometimes used as an alternative to opioid-based painkillers, such as codeine, for the management of short-term moderate pain.
Giving paracetamol with other painkillers
Ibuprofen is the only safe painkiller to give children alongside paracetamol. However, do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. You need to give these medicines 1 at a time (unless your child's doctor or nurse gives you different instructions).
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor.
Adults can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (500mg) every 4-6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 4g (8 x 500mg tablets) in the space of 24 hours. Children under 16 need to take a lower dose, depending on their age or weight – check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice.
Paracetamol dosage
Each tablet of paracetamol contains 500 milligrams so this equates to two tablets four times a day with a maximum daily dose of 4 grams or eight tablets. At least four to six hours should be left between doses. You should not take more than this recommended dose.
It is important to remember that, when used at therapeutic levels, paracetamol is usually safe and effective. However, taking >100mg/kg or >4 g per day for a few days has been known to result in hepatotoxicity.
Sales: Sales of medicines for pain relief should be restricted to a maximum of two packs in any one transaction. Explanation: This limit is a reasonable balance between meeting a customer's immediate need for pain relief while helping to minimise stockpiling and accidental or impulsive overdose.
5. Can I take painkillers on an empty stomach? Ibuprofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can irritate the stomach lining, so it is best to take them with food, or a glass of milk. Paracetamol doesn't irritate the stomach lining so it won't matter if you haven't eaten.
Does paracetamol make you sleepy? Yes. One of the most frequent side effects of paracetamol is exhaustion and fatigue, which causes one to fall asleep more frequently. The acetaminophen or the antihistamine content in the product can provide aid for sleep during nighttime specifically.
There may be no symptoms for the first day. A feeling of sickness (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) may occur a few hours after taking the overdose. After 24 hours there may be pain under the ribs on the right side (where the liver is) and there may be yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin (jaundice).
Abdominal (stomach) pain, nausea, vomiting (sickness). Yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice). Severe headache, confusion or drowsiness. Passing no urine at all for the past eight hours.
Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.
However, repeatedly taking more than the recommended dose or overdosing on paracetamol can cause serious injury to the liver and even death. The recommended maximum dose of paracetamol for an adult (or child over 12 years) is 4g in any 24-hour period (equivalent to 8 x 500mg tablets).
The damage to your liver can take several days to take effect, so even if you do not feel unwell but have taken an overdose of paracetamol, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Paracetamol is used for pain relief. Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects. Paracetamol is commonly called Panadol.
So that your child's pain is well controlled, it is OK to alternate giving paracetamol and ibuprofen, or even to give both at the same time. If you do this, it can be easy to accidentally give too much of either medicine.
Paracetamol is known as acetaminophen in the USA. Acetaminophen relieves mild-to-moderate pain, headache and fever. It is available as brand names such as Tylenol, Mapap or Panadol, and also as generics and store-specific brands.
Paracetamol works similarly to ibuprofen by blocking the production of prostaglandins and COX enzymes in the body - chemicals that promote pain, inflammation and fever. However, unlike ibuprofen that is primarily metabolised in the kidneys, paracetamol is processed in the liver.
Taking ibuprofen and codeine with other painkillers
Do not take combined ibuprofen and codeine with ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Swallow paracetamol tablets or capsules with a drink of water. You can take it with or without food.
An easy pill to swallow for the one in three who don't know the difference anyway, but ibuprofen's anti-inflammatory firepower blows paracetamol out of the pharmacy. Just use the lowest effective dose, and use sparingly.