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Trusted, medically reviewed health information • Not a substitute for medical advice
Important: The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Generic Name: Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
Overdose symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, severe right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness, confusion, diaphoresis. Antidote is N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
First-line therapy for the symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain (tension headache, toothache, musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea) and reduction of pyrexia (fever) in viral or bacterial infections.
Fever, Tension Headache, Osteoarthritis, Toothache, Dysmenorrhea, Post-vaccination pyrexia
500 mg to 1000 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Maximum 4000 mg (4 grams) in 24 hours. In underweight adults (<50 kg) or hepatic impairment, limit to 2000-3000 mg daily.
10 to 15 mg/kg per dose orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Maximum 5 doses (or 60-75 mg/kg) in 24 hours. Do not exceed adult maximum.
Same as adult; in frail elderly patients with malnutrition or hepatic impairment, 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours (max 2-3 g/day).
4000 mg (4 grams) per 24 hours for healthy adults.
CrCl 10-50 mL/min: administer every 6 hours. CrCl <10 mL/min: administer every 8 hours.
Contraindicated in severe acute hepatic failure or active decompensated liver disease. Reduce dose in chronic mild/moderate liver impairment.
Nausea, mild epigastric discomfort, pruritus, transient constipation.
Hepatotoxicity (centrilobular hepatic necrosis in overdose), acute liver failure, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (rare), thrombocytopenia.
Severe active hepatic impairment, hypersensitivity to paracetamol.
Accidental overdose can occur when taking multiple over-the-counter cold/cough formulations containing paracetamol concurrently.
Warfarin (chronic daily use >2g/day may enhance anticoagulant effect and increase INR), Isoniazid, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin.
High-pectin or high-carbohydrate meals may slightly delay gastric absorption.
Chronic heavy alcohol consumption markedly increases hepatotoxicity risk due to CYP2E1 induction and glutathione depletion.
Elevated risk of severe, irreversible hepatotoxicity even at standard or slightly supratherapeutic paracetamol doses.
Widely considered the safest analgesic and antipyretic of choice in all trimesters of pregnancy at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.
Compatible with breastfeeding; excreted in breast milk in negligible amounts with no adverse effects observed in nursing infants.
Always check labels of all cold, flu, and cough medications to avoid accidentally doubling your paracetamol dose.
Take when needed. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a forgotten dose.
In long-term or high-dose therapy: Liver function tests (ALT, AST, total bilirubin), serum creatinine.
Content for Paracetamol was synthesized and fact-checked against standardized regulatory monographs, official pharmacopoeias, and national health authorities:
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.