PARACETAMOL 500 MG TABLETS - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Patient leaflet - PARACETAMOL 500 MG TABLETS

2. what you need to know before you take paracetamol tablets

Some people must not take these tablets.

Do not take Paracetamol Tablets:

If you are allergic to paracetamol or to any other of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Paracetamol Tablets

If you suffer from any liver or kidney problems
If you suffer from alcoholic liver disease
If you suffer from mild arthritis and need to take painkillers every day
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Other medicines and Paracetamol Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This means medicines you have bought yourself as well as those you have on prescription from doctor.

Paracetamol Tablets and other medicines you may be taking may affect how each other work. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking/using any of the following: Anticoagulants to thin the blood (e.g. warfarin) Colestyramine (used to lower the amount of fats in your blood). Should not be taken at least one hour before and after taking paracetamol
Metoclopramide or domperidone (used to treat nausea and vomiting)
Chloramphenicol (used to treat conjunctivitis).
Imatinib (used to treat leukaemia and some stomach tumours).

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If necessary, Paracetamol Tablets can be used during pregnancy. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible. Contact your doctor if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take the medicine more often.

Other special warnings

If you are suffering from a headache and it becomes persistent, consult your doctor.

Driving and using machines

Paracetamol Tablets should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

3. how to take paracetamol tablets

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water

Adults, the elderly and children 16 years and over: One or two tablets to be taken up to four times daily. Maximum dose of 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Children 10 to 15 years of age: One tablet to be taken up to four times a day

Children under 10 years of age: Not recommended.

Alternative presentations of paracetamol are recommended for paediatric usage in order to obtain suitable doses of less than 500mg

The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every 4 hours and not more than 4 doses should be taken in any 24 hour period.

Dosage should not be continued for more than 3 days without consulting a doctor.

Do not take more medicine than the label tells you to.

If you do not get better, talk to your doctor.

If you take more Paracetamol Tablets than you should

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 you forget to take Paracetamol Tablets

If you miss a dose don’t worry. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose, just carry on with the normal routine.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some side effects can be serious. Stop taking the tablets and tell your doctor straight away if you notice the following effects:

Swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty in breathing or dizziness. These may be signs of a serious allergic reaction
Allergic skin reactions including rash, blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals
Breathing problems or wheezing. These effects are more likely if you have asthma and have experienced them before when taking aspirin or other medicines called NSAIDs e.g. ibuprofen
Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin
Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
Changes in blood which may lead to bruising or bleeding gums. If you have an increase in number of nose bleeds or notice that you bruise more easily or have more infections talk to your doctor

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:.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store paracetamol tablets

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package in order to protect the tablets from moisture.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Paracetamol Tablets contains

Each tablet contains 500mg of the active ingredient, paracetamol. The other ingredients are Pregelatinised maize starch, Povidone, Stearic Acid. This product dose NOT contain Lactose.

What Paracetamol Tablets looks like and contents of the pack

The tablets are white and capsule shaped with a break line on one side. The tablets are available in blister packs and container as below:

Blister packs: 24 and 32 tablets.

Not all the pack sizes may be available.

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

RIA Generics Limited

36 Ingleby Way, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9LR, United Kingdom.

Manufacturer: