What is paracetamol tablets?
Paracetamol tablets is a medicine used for mild to moderate pain. It can be bought over the counter in pharmacies, supermarkets and other shops.
You can also take paracetamol tablets for:
Fever(high temperature)
Stronger pain - used with other pain relievers.
Paracetamol tablets doesn't treat the cause of your pain, it just eases the feeling of pain.
Paracetamol tablets can be used for:
Backache
Headache
Migraine
Muscle strains
Period pain
Toothache
Aches and pains due to colds and flu
How does paracetamol tablets work?
Paracetamol tablets has been in use for more than 70 years. The way it works to reduce pain and fever is not fully understood.
Paracetamol tablets begins to ease pain and lower a high temperature about 30 minutes after a dose is taken. Its effects usually last for about 4 to 6 hours.Types of paracetamolParacetamol comes in the following forms:
Can I use paracetamol tablets often?
You should talk to your doctor about using paracetamol tablets for a long time.
Long-term use of paracetamol tablets can cause:
Tiredness
Breathlessness
Your fingers and lips to go blue
Anaemia (low red blood cell count)
Liver and kidney damage
Heart disease and stroke if you have high blood pressure
What happens if I take too much paracetamol tablets?
If you have taken too much paracetamol tablets -Call local emergency center immediately and ask for an ambulance- even if you have no symptoms.
Liver failure can happen if you take too much paracetamol tablets and don't get help. This can lead to death.
Symptoms of paracetamol tablets overdose are:
Abdominal pain,nausea,vomiting
Liver problems
Seizures
Coma and death
These symptoms usually happen 24 hours after taking the drug.
You can be given an antidote if you get medical help soon after taking paracetamol tablets.
How can I avoid taking too much paracetamol tablets?
You can make sure that you don't take too much paracetamol tablets by:
Carefully following the directions for using paracetamol tablets-containing medicines
Learning how to identify paracetamol tablets as the active ingredient in medicines
Paracetamol tablets and life stages
Can paracetamol tablets be given to children?
You can give your child paracetamol tablets if they have a high temperature, and this is making them uncomfortable. Get medical advice if the fever does not get better.
You can give paracetamol tablets to your child after their vaccinations (shots) to treat pain and fever.
Don't give paracetamol tablets to babies younger than one month old.
How much paracetamol tablets should I give my child?
Paracetamol tablets comes in different strengths for different ages. It's important to choose the right paracetamol tablets product for your child's age.
Make sure that you:
Always read the medicine label and packaging before use
Know your child's weight - the recommended dose of paracetamol tablets is based on their body weight
When giving your child paracetamol tablets, never:
Give more than the maximum recommended dose
Give more doses than recommended in a 24-hour period
When giving your child medicines, you should:
Measure liquid medicines accurately using the syringe that comes with the medicine
Write down all the medicines your give them, and when you give them
Don't give your child paracetamol tablets for more than 48 hours unless told to do so by a doctor.
Always keep medicines in a safe place, out of the reach of children.
Paracetamol tablets is widely used during pregnancy. Paracetamol tablets readily crosses the placenta, but doesn't appear to raise the chance of birth differences or bad pregnancy outcomes. As with any medicine taken during pregnancy, you should get medical advice before taking paracetamol tablets. If you take paracetamol tablets when pregnant, make sure that you take it: At the lowest effective dose For the shortest possible time
If you take paracetamol tablets when breastfeeding, make sure you take the recommended dose, for the shortest possible time. It appears in breast milk in very small amounts which are very unlikely to harm your baby. Paracetamol tablets is the first choice of painkiller if you are breastfeeding.
Asking your doctor about your treatment or medicine is important. Read our guide of important questions to ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking a medicine. You can also check list of medicines that contain paracetamol tablets. This shows all drugs that contain paracetamol tablets as an active ingredient.
