Active ingredients (generic names)
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PARACETAMOL (para-ceet-a-mol)
Paracetamol combinations
Not included in this monograph — see individual monograph for information:
Paracetamol is in lots of commonly available mixtures and tablets, alone or in combination.
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What it is used for
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Doses
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How it works
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- Reduces pain by blocking some pain pathways
- Lowers fever by reducing production of prostaglandins (hormone-like substances)
- Can be combined with stronger pain medicines (analgesics) — so less of the stronger
pain medicine is needed
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Side effects
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Warnings
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- Do not give tablets closer together than 4 hours for regular tablets or 6 hours for
slow release tablets (can cause liver damage)
If needed for more than a few days for adults or 48 hours for children
if a lot of tablets taken at once (overdose) — call doctor or ambulance straight away
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Tell the patient
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- Make sure children are given correct dose
- Children's paracetamol comes in different strengths
- Use specially marked medicine cup or dropper
- Taking more than 6 slow-release or 8 regular tablets containing paracetamol in one
day can damage your liver
- If taking paracetamol for pain or fever — make sure there is no paracetamol in other
medicines you are taking (eg cold medicines, osteoarthritis medicines)
if needed for more than a few days for adults or 48 hours for children OR you take too much
Warning stickers: 19a, A (slow-release tablets)
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Check
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- Children's paracetamol comes in different strengths — check the dose carefully
- Do person's other medicines contain paracetamol OR dosing aid contains paracetamol
- If also taking warfarin — monitor INR and decrease warfarin dose if needed
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