Paracetamol

Generic name: Paracetamol
Dosage form: effervescent tablet, intravenous (infusion) injection, orally disintegrating tablet, oral capsule, oral powder, oral suspension, oral tablet, suppository
Drug class: Miscellaneous analgesics

Usage of Paracetamol

Paracetamol (Panadol, Calpol, Alvedon) is an analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used to temporarily relieve mild-to-moderate pain and fever. It is commonly included as an ingredient in cold and flu medications and is also used on its own.

Paracetamol is exactly the same drug as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Paracetamol is the drug's name assigned using the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) generic name system. Paracetamol is the name used for the drug in places such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. Acetaminophen is the generic name assigned using the United States Adopted Names (USAN) system. Acetaminophen is the name used in countries such as the US, Canada and Japan. Usually the INN and USAN generic names for a drug are the same and don't differ between countries.

It is not clear exactly how paracetamol works. However, it is thought to work by blocking chemical messengers in the brain that let us know when we're in pain and by affecting the chemical messengers that regulate our body temperature. The evidence suggests that paracetamol inhibits the production of prostaglandins, which are made by the body to deal with illness and injury. It's also thought to act on the serotonergic, opioid, nitric oxide and cannabinoid pathways.

Paracetamol was first made in 1878, but only became more widely used in the 1950s. Today paracetamol is one of the most widely used painkillers in the world. Branded and generic versions of this drug are available.

Paracetamol side effects

Serious side effects of paracetamol include:

Allergic reactions, which may be severe and include:

Skin rashes, itching or hives

Swelling of the throat, tongue or face

Shortness of breath or wheezing

Skin rash or peeling, or mouth ulcers

Breathing problems. This is more likely if you have experienced them before when taking other painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin

Unexplained bruising or bleeding or becoming unusually tired. Getting more infections than usual.

Liver problems. Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin can occur If you get any of the rare side effects listed above, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately.

Common side effect of paracetamol suppositories include:

Redness or soreness in or around the rectum

Everyday, long-term use (several months or more) of paracetamol can cause liver or kidney damage. People taking this medication in the usual way for shorter periods of time have not had these problems.

These are not all of the possible side effects of this medication.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Paracetamol

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. Paracetamol can be taken if you are breastfeeding. Small amounts of paracetamol pass into breast milk.

Use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or fever and use it for the shorted time possible. Contact your doctor or midwife if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take this medicine more often.

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How to use Paracetamol

See "How should I take paracetamol?" above for information about paracetamol dosing. For further details read the full prescribing information.

Warnings

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is found in many different OTC cold and flu medications. Do not take paracetamol if you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medications containing paracetamol or acetaminophen.

What other drugs will affect Paracetamol

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including prescription and OTC medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements before taking this medication. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Blood thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as warfarin and you need to take a pain reliever daily. Occasional doses of paracetamol can be taken with anticoagulants

Medications to help relieve nausea (metoclopramide or domperidone)

Medications to treat high cholesterol (cholestyramine)

Medications to treat epilepsy (lamotrigine)

Medications to treat tuberculosis (isoniazide)

Medication to treat fever or mild pain (aspirin, salicylamide)

Barbiturate and tricyclic antidepressants to treat depression (amitriptyline)

A medication to treat gout called probenecid

A medication used to treat bacterial infections called Chloramphenicol

A medication used in HIV infections and AIDS called zidovudine

Flucloxacillin (antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (high anion gap metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment, and which may occur particularly in case of severe renal impairment, sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, and if the maximum daily doses of paracetamol are used.

Paracetamol may affect the results of laboratory tests for uric acid and blood sugar levels.

Paracetamol can be taken with oral contraceptives, but it may not work as well to lower your pain or fever.

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