Patient leaflet - Panadol Actifast
1. What Panadol ActiFast does
Panadol ActiFast is used for fast pain relief of headaches, including migraine and tension headaches, toothache, backache, rheumatic and muscle pains, and period pain.
It also relieves sore throat and the feverishness, aches and pains of colds and flu. The active ingredient is paracetamol which is a painkiller and also reduces your temperature when you have a fever.
2. Check before you take Panadol ActiFast
<x symbol> Do not take Panadol ActiFast:
- if you have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol or to any of the other ingredients (listed in Section 6)
- if you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medicines containing paracetamol to treat pain, fever, symptoms of cold and flu, or to aid sleep.
<! symbol> Ask your doctor before you take this medicine:
- if you are on a controlled sodium diet. Each tablet contains 173 mg of sodium.
- if you have liver or kidney problems
- if you are underweight or malnourished
- if you regularly drink alcohol
if you have a severe infection as this may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis. Signs of metabolic acidosis include:
- deep, rapid, difficult breathing
- feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting)
- loss of appetite
Contact a doctor immediately if you get a combination of these symptoms. You may need to avoid using this product altogether or limit the amount of paracetamol that you take.
<! symbol> If you are taking other medicines
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets if you are taking any prescribed medicines; particularly metoclopramide or domperidone (for nausea [feeling sick] or vomiting [being sick]) or colestyramine (to lower blood cholesterol). If you take blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants e.g. warfarin) and you need to take a pain reliever on a daily basis, talk to your doctor because of the risk of bleeding. But you can still take occasional doses of Panadol ActiFast at the same time as anticoagulants.
<! symbol> Pregnancy and breast feeding
Talk to your health care professional before taking Panadol ActiFast Tablets if you are pregnant. You can take this product whilst breast feeding.
3. How to take Panadol ActiFast
<✓ symbol> Adults and children aged 16 years and over:
Swallow 2 tablets with half a tumbler of water (100 ml), every 4 hours as needed.
Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. To obtain fast action pain relief, the dose must be 2 tablets and must be taken with half a tumbler of water (100 ml). For fastest pain relief, this should be on an empty stomach.
Children aged 12-15 years:
Swallow 1 tablet with half a tumbler of water (100 ml), every 4 hours as needed. Do not give more than 4 tablets in 24 hours.
<! symbol> • Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours.
- Do not take more than the recommended dose.
- Do not give to children under 12 years.
If you take too many tablets
Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.
If your symptoms continue or your headache becomes persistent, see your doctor.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Panadol ActiFast can have side effects but not everybody gets them. A small number of people have had side effects. Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
Stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Allergic reactions which may be severe such as skin rash and itching sometimes with swelling of the mouth or face or shortness of breath
- Skin rash or peeling, or mouth ulcers
- Breathing problems. These are more likely if you have experienced them before when taking other painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Panadol ActiFast
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the ‘EXP’ date shown on the pack.
Do not store above 25°C.
6. Further information
Active ingredient: Each tablet contains Paracetamol 500 mg.
Other ingredients: Sodium bicarbonate, starch pregelatinised, povidone, maize starch, potassium sorbate (E 202), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide (E 171), polydextrose, hypromellose, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycol.
Contains no animal derived ingredients.
Packs of Panadol Actifast contain 10 or 14 tablets.
The marketing authorisation holder is Haleon UK Trading Limited, The Heights, Weybridge, KT13 0NY, U.K. and all enquiries should be sent to this address.
The manufacturer is GlaxoSmithKline Dungarvan Ltd., Co. Waterford, Ireland.
This leaflet was last revised in February 2025.
Trade Marks are owned by or licensed to the Haleon group of companies.