Paracetamol is a common medicine used to bring down fever and relieve mild to moderate pain. It is generally safe at recommended doses, but overdose seriously damages the liver.
- Generic name
- Paracetamol
- Active ingredient
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- Common brands in India
- Dolo 650, Crocin, Calpol, Metacin, Pacimol
- Available as
- Tablet, Syrup, Suspension, Oral drops, Suppository, Injection
- Common strengths
- 500 mg tablet, 650 mg tablet, 125 mg/5 mL syrup, 250 mg/5 mL syrup
- How it is sold
- Commonly available without a prescription
No dosage information on this page
The correct dose depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other medicines and medical history. Follow the dose your doctor prescribed, or the instructions on the pack. Never copy a dose from a website or from someone else's prescription.
What Paracetamol is used for
- Bringing down fever
- Headache
- Body ache and muscle pain
- Toothache
- Period pain
- Pain after minor injuries
- It is usually the preferred fever medicine in dengue, because it does not increase bleeding risk the way some other painkillers can
How it works
Paracetamol acts mainly in the brain, reducing the signals that produce pain and raise body temperature. Unlike medicines such as ibuprofen, it has very little anti-inflammatory effect, so it does not reduce swelling.
How to take Paracetamol
- It can be taken with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it after a meal.
- Swallow tablets with a full glass of water.
- Leave the full gap between doses printed on your pack. Taking the next one early is the most common way people end up with too much.
- For children, use the measuring cup or dropper that comes with the bottle. A kitchen spoon is not an accurate measure.
Precautions
- For children, the dose is based on body weight, not age. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to work it out for your child's current weight.
- Never take more than the maximum daily amount printed on the pack. In adults this is commonly 3 to 4 grams a day, but follow your own pack and your doctor's advice.
- Check the ingredients of every other medicine you are taking. Many cold, flu and pain combination products already contain paracetamol, and it is easy to double the dose without realising.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, drink alcohol regularly, are significantly underweight or are undernourished — the safe amount is lower.
- If fever continues beyond three days, or pain beyond five days, see a doctor rather than continuing on your own.
Common side effects
Not everyone gets side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these are troublesome or do not settle.
- Most people have no side effects at recommended doses
- Occasionally nausea or stomach discomfort
- Skin rash, uncommonly
Important warnings
- Overdose causes severe, sometimes fatal liver damage. This is the single most important risk with paracetamol.
- In the first hours after an overdose a person may feel completely normal. Liver damage develops silently over the following days. Do not wait for symptoms.
- If you or someone else has taken too much paracetamol, go to a hospital emergency department immediately — even if there are no symptoms at all. An effective antidote exists, and it works best when given early.
- Avoid regular alcohol use while taking paracetamol.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much paracetamol is too much?
Exceeding the maximum daily amount stated on your pack — commonly 3 to 4 grams for adults — risks liver damage. The most frequent way people overdose accidentally is by taking a plain paracetamol tablet alongside a cold or flu combination product that already contains it.
Can I take paracetamol on an empty stomach?
Yes. Paracetamol does not usually irritate the stomach lining, unlike painkillers such as ibuprofen, so it can generally be taken without food.
Is paracetamol safe in dengue?
Paracetamol is normally the fever medicine of choice in dengue because it does not increase bleeding risk. Aspirin and ibuprofen-type painkillers are usually avoided. Always follow the advice of the doctor treating you.
Is Dolo 650 the same as paracetamol?
Yes. Dolo 650 is a brand name for a tablet containing 650 mg of paracetamol. Crocin, Calpol and several other brands contain the same medicine, in some cases at a different strength.
What are the side effects of paracetamol?
At recommended amounts most people have none at all, which is why it is the first-choice painkiller for so many people. Occasionally it causes nausea or stomach discomfort, and uncommonly a skin rash. The real danger with paracetamol is not side effects but taking too much, which damages the liver.
What this costs, and what is free
Commonly available free at government hospitals and health and wellness centres when prescribed there.
Generic versions are sold at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at substantially lower prices than branded packs of the same medicine.
The same molecule is sold under many brand names at very different prices. Ask your doctor to write the generic name, and compare at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra — the saving on a medicine taken daily is often substantial over a year. You can look up any medicine's official ceiling price on NPPA's Pharma Sahi Daam app.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.
Looking for Paracetamol locally?Aswini Medicals is a pharmacy that stocks everyday medicines and can advise on availability.
Visit Aswini Medicals