Taking too much paracetamol, known as an overdose, can be very dangerous. If you've taken more than the recommended maximum dose, go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible. It can be helpful to take any remaining medicine and the box or leaflet with you to A&E if you can.
If you take too much Paracetamol your liver may not be able to metabolise it efficiently and this could make you extremely unwell. Paracetamol overdose can lead to liver failure in some people and this is why you need to take careful note of this advice.
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.
Just a few paracetamol tablets over the recommended dose can potentially cause fatal liver damage, and there may be no symptoms until it is too late for treatment to help. There is an antidote for paracetamol poisoning and it is most effective within eight hours of the overdose, so getting help early is essential.
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.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be given together, but you can stagger them so that every few hours, if needed, the child can have some medication. For example, you can give paracetamol at 8am, ibuprofen at 11am and paracetamol again at 2pm (i.e. six hours after the first dose of paracetamol).
NSAID overdoses
It is possible to accidentally exceed the recommended dosage for NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and combined formula painkillers like paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine. This is why you should always read the label before using any medication to avoid accidental pill overdoses.
If you take too much
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets is unlikely to harm you. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous and you may need treatment. Too much paracetamol can cause liver damage.
Doses of paracetamol should be taken at least 4 hours apart. Don't take more than the recommended dose over a 24-hour period.
If you develop any of the following symptoms, you must seek medical advice immediately. Abdominal (stomach) pain, nausea, vomiting (sickness). Yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice). Severe headache, confusion or drowsiness.
Paracetamol Dosage
It is always strongly advised that you leave at least 4 hours between doses as a paracetamol overdose can cause serious side effects. As paracetamol can be taken without food, you can generally start your dosage when the pain starts.
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.
Paracetamol tablets and syrup take about 30 minutes to work. Suppositories take around 60 minutes to work.
Potential toxicity should be assessed and a toxicologist consulted when: >200 mg/kg (or 10 g) ingested over a 24 hour period. >150 mg/kg/day (or 6 g) ingested over a 48 hour period.
Acetylcysteine IV (N-acetylcysteine, Parvolex®, NAC) is the treatment of choice. It has near 100% efficacy in preventing paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity if given within the first 8 hours from ingestion of overdose.
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.
From 1 February 2025, new restrictions on paracetamol will: reduce the maximum size of packs available for general sale (e.g. supermarkets and convenience stores) from 20 to 16 tablets or capsules.
Panadol – The GlaxoSmithKline brand name for 500g of Paracetamol . This 500g of Paracetamol is common among all of the panadol range and acts as an analgesic (pain relief) and anti-pyretic (decreases temperature). It contains no anti-inflammatory substances.
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.
Paracetamol overdose is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure. Adults can usually take one or two 500mg tablets every 4-6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 4g (eight 500mg tablets) in the space of 24 hours.
Adults (including the elderly), and children aged 16 years and over: Two tablets up to four times daily. The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every 4 hours. Do not exceed 8 tablets in 24 hours.
Taking ibuprofen with other painkillers
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.
Is it safe to give paracetamol and ibuprofen together at the same time? The quick answer is yes, you can.
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.