How many 500mg paracetamol to take

Asset Expiration Date: 31 December Terms and Conditions. Privacy Policies. Cookie Policy. Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours. Two caplets taken three times a day, every 6 to 8 hours as required.

On this page: Adult dosing of paracetamol Child dosing of paracetamol Requirements for medicines containing paracetamol Paracetamol monitoring Report a problem Adult dosing of paracetamol The recommended paracetamol dosing for adults and children 12 years and over is to mg every four to six hours as necessary, with a maximum of mg in any 24 hour period. Child dosing of paracetamol Labels on liquid paracetamol products contain clear dosing instructions. Requirements for medicines containing paracetamol In Australia, medicines containing paracetamol must: contain clear dosing instructions contain warnings for safe use a warning not to take with any other medicine containing paracetamol instructions to patients on what to do in the event of overdose stress the risk of paracetamol overdose with clear advice: not to take more than recommended on the medicine label not to take the medicine for longer than recommended on the label without medical advice be in child-resistant containers be in packs of limited quantity packs containing 21 or more tablets or capsules can only be sold in pharmacies These are Australian requirements, and not all apply in the United States, United Kingdom, or other countries.

Paracetamol monitoring The TGA monitors use and misuse of products that contain paracetamol in Australia, as well as the actions of international medicines regulatory authorities on paracetamol-containing products. Talk to your doctor if you take:.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking St John's wort a herbal remedy taken for depression as you may need to reduce your paracetamol dose. Otherwise, paracetamol isn't generally affected by also taking herbal remedies or supplements. For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. Paracetamol seems to work by blocking chemical messengers in the brain that tell us we have pain.

Paracetamol also reduces fever by affecting the chemical messengers in an area of the brain that regulates body temperature. Paracetamol takes up to an hour to work. It keeps on working for about 5 hours. The type of medicine you need to treat your pain depends on what type of pain you have. Paracetamol and ibuprofen work in different ways. So paracetamol is better than ibuprofen for some types of pain. Paracetamol is usually best for most types of pain, including headaches and stomach ache.

Ibuprofen may be better for period pain or toothache. Some people find ibuprofen better than paracetamol for back pain. If paracetamol doesn't work, there are other types of painkiller you can try, including:. Ibuprofen and ibuprofen-like painkillers are sometimes available as creams or gels that you rub on to the part of your body that's painful. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options that might be more suitable for you, such as exercise or physiotherapy.

It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years as long as you don't take more than the recommended dosage. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking paracetamol will reduce fertility in either men or women.

Paracetamol doesn't affect any type of contraception including the contraceptive pill or emergency contraception. Drinking a small amount of alcohol while taking paracetamol is usually safe. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. It may not be safe for you to drink alcohol with paracetamol if you have certain health conditions, such as liver problems.

Check the leaflet in your medicine packet to find out whether it's safe to drink alcohol when taking paracetamol.

Page last reviewed: 23 May Next review due: 23 May If you need to use paracetamol for longer than a few days three days for a child , or if the pain or fever doesn't get better despite taking paracetamol, then you should get advice from your doctor or pharmacist. For babies under six months of age, you should see a doctor if your baby's symptoms haven't got better after 24 hours. If you get persistent headaches you should see your doctor for advice.

Taking a painkiller like paracetamol for headaches too often or for too long can actually make your headaches worse. If you have more long-term or ongoing pain, for example because you are recovering from an injury or you have arthritis, your doctor may ask you to take paracetamol on a regular long-term basis. This avoids the painkilling effect wearing off, which can provide better pain relief.

Parenting Mental health Healthy eating Conditions Follow. Type keyword s to search. Getty Images. How do you take paracetamol? The following are some basic instructions for taking paracetamol by mouth : Paracetamol can be taken either with or without food. Paracetamol tablets, caplets and capsules should be swallowed with a drink of water. Soluble paracetamol tablets should be dissolved in a small glass of water before taking.