Types of paracetamol content, dosage and users

The article is professionally consulted by Pharmacist, Dr. Phan Quynh Lan - Director of Pharmacy Department of Vinmec Health System - Head of Pharmacy Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Paracetamol is a very popular pain reliever and fever reducer. Many people have the habit of arbitrarily going to the pharmacy to buy Paracetamol effervescent tablets to drink every time they have pain, fever ... without anticipating the consequences of doing this. Using paracetamol incorrectly or in the wrong dose can cause adverse health effects as well as the effectiveness of treatment.

Paracetamol is a drug with the main effect of reducing pain and fever. Paracetamol will affect the hypothalamus, increasing the ability to generate heat and help lower body temperature in people with fever. The drug has almost no effect in people with normal body temperature. In addition, Paracetamol also has analgesic effect. Paracetamol is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with a half-life of 1-3 hours. Paracetamol is metabolized in the liver and then eliminated by the kidneys. In some cases, Paracetamol can be used as an alternative to ibuprofen for pain relief, but it is not able to reduce inflammation.

Paracetamol is usually taken orally. In case the patient cannot take the drug, it can be used as a rectal suppository. However, rectal administration will require a higher dose of the drug than oral administration. Only then can the plasma concentration be the same.

Paracetamol has many forms of use with many different strengths such as: Paracetamol 500mg tablets, 500mg effervescent tablets, Paracetamol 325mg tablets, 150mg Paracetamol powder packs, 300mg Paracetamol suppositories...
Depending on age and medical condition for which the doctor will prescribe the most suitable medicine.
Paracetamol for adults in case of pain relief is not allowed to take more than 10 days. If you exceed this time, you need to see a doctor to be checked to see if there is a problem. Note that you can only continue taking the medicine if prescribed by your doctor.
In case of using Paracetamol to reduce fever with a body temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher, it is not recommended to use it for more than 3 consecutive days. If after 3 days there are no signs of improvement, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Dosage of Paracetamol for children Paracetamol for children to relieve pain is not allowed to be used for more than 5 days. In particular, whether the purpose is to relieve pain or reduce fever for children, do not use more than 5 doses of Paracetamol/day. Specifically:
Dosage for young children: 10-15 mg/kg/dose. Doses are spaced at least 4-6 hours apart. Dosage for children 12 years and older: 325 - 650 mg at least 4-6 hours apart or 1000 mg 6 - 8 hours apart. Dosage for adults In case used to relieve pain, reduce fever, the dose is 325 - 650 mg 4-6 hours apart or 1000 mg 6 - 8 hours apart. Can be taken orally or rectally.

Do not arbitrarily use Paracetamol without the guidance of a doctor. Paracetamol is an ingredient in many medicines. Therefore, if you use certain drugs together, it may unintentionally cause the amount of Paracetamol to exceed the allowable limit. Before using any medicine, you need to carefully read the ingredients to see if the product contains Paracetamol or acetaminophen (or APAP) to determine the right dose. Do not use alcohol while taking Paracetamol because it will increase the risk of liver damage.

After using Paracetamol, if you notice any unusual symptoms, contact your doctor immediately for a quick check. Some cases of allergy to Paracetamol may appear symptoms such as: difficulty breathing, rash, swelling of the face, lips, throat, tongue...
In case of severe allergy, you need to stop using the drug and go to the hospital. Go to the hospital immediately if you see symptoms such as: mild fever, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain.
Above is information about Paracetamol dosage symptoms as well as notes when using. Hopefully the information we have just shared will help readers have more knowledge about how to use the best dose of Paracetamol.