Paracetamol 500mg 2 x 16 Tablets

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. The amount you can take depends on your age (1-3).

Adults and children aged 16 and over:

• Take 1 or 2 tablets (500mg to 1,000mg) per dose when needed

• Leave at least 4 hours between doses

• Do not take more than 8 tablets (4,000mg) in 24 hours

• Do not take more than four doses in 24 hours

Children aged 10–15:

• Take 1 tablet (500mg) per dose when needed

• Leave 4 to 6 hours between doses.

• Do not give more than 4 tablets (2,000mg) in 24 hours

Do not give these tablets to children under 10 years old (1,3).

Never take more than the recommended dose. If you need to take paracetamol for more than three days at a time, speak to your doctor.

Do not take these tablets with any other medicine containing paracetamol, including some cold and flu remedies or combination painkillers.

Do not drink alcohol while taking paracetamol 500mg tablets. Alcohol may increase the risk of side effects and liver damage. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking paracetamol if you drink alcohol heavily or have alcohol-related liver problems (4).

What should you do if you take too much paracetamol?

If you've taken more paracetamol than recommended, contact NHS 111, even if you feel well (2,3).

Taking too much paracetamol is unlikely to cause problems but it can damage your liver, and you may not notice any symptoms straight away. NHS 111 can advise whether you need further treatment based on how much paracetamol over the maximum dose you've taken.

Keep the packaging handy so you can tell them exactly what you've taken.

How should you store Paracetamol 500mg Tablets?

• Keep out of the sight and reach of children

• Store in the original packaging to protect the tablets from moisture

• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the packaging

Side effects of paracetamol 500mg tablets are uncommon, especially when taken at the recommended dose, but some can be serious (1,4).

Call 999 if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as difficulty breathing or swelling of your tongue or throat.

Stop taking paracetamol and call NHS 111 if you notice:

• Signs of liver problems: Feeling sick (nausea), or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). Yellowing may be harder to notice on darker skin.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding: Bruising more easily than normal, frequent nosebleeds or getting infections more often. These may be signs of a problem with your blood cells.

• Serious skin reactions: A severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.

In people who are very unwell or taking the antibiotic flucloxacillin, paracetamol can cause metabolic acidosis, where the blood becomes too acidic. Symptoms include deep, rapid breathing, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting. Seek urgent medical attention if you develop these symptoms.

This page does not list every possible side effect. Read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine for the full list of side effects, warnings and precautions (4).

You can report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme (5).

Advisory information

Some medicines can affect how paracetamol works or increase the risk of side effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking paracetamol if you also take (1):

• Other medicines containing paracetamol: Do not take these together. Some cold and flu remedies and combination painkillers already contain paracetamol.

• Flucloxacillin: Taking paracetamol with this antibiotic may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis, particularly in people with certain risk factors.

• Warfarin and other blood thinners: Regular paracetamol use may increase the risk of bleeding in people taking warfarin.

• Metoclopramide and domperidone: These anti-sickness medicines may affect how quickly paracetamol is absorbed.

• Colestyramine: This cholesterol-lowering medicine may reduce paracetamol absorption.

If you're unsure whether paracetamol is safe to take alongside your other medicines, ask your pharmacist before taking it.