Overview
- Health officials advise people on certain medicines, those with liver or kidney problems, regular drinkers above 14 units a week, adults under 50kg, and anyone with previous drug allergies to consult a clinician before using paracetamol.
- Adults are instructed to take no more than two 500 mg tablets per dose with at least four hours between doses and a maximum of eight tablets in 24 hours.
- Paracetamol is generally compatible with most prescriptions, but patients on warfarin or treatments for epilepsy or tuberculosis should seek medical advice, and it should not be taken alongside another product that also contains paracetamol.
- It is considered safe to combine with painkillers that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine, and 1 g tablets are available only on prescription.
- Coverage references University of Nottingham findings associating prolonged use in people aged 65+ with higher cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and kidney risks, prompting calls for careful review without reported changes to national prescribing guidance.