About acetaminophen
Non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic
Used for
- Short-term treatment of moderate pain, especially after surgery
- Short-term treatment of fever when intravenous treatment is needed
Usual adult dose
Usually 1 g intravenously every 4–6 hours; maximum 4 g daily. Lower doses may be needed for low body weight or liver risk.
Usual dose in children
For children over 10 kg: usually 15 mg/kg every 6 hours or 7.5 mg/kg every 4 hours; maximum 60 mg/kg daily.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Low blood pressure
- Raised liver enzymes
- Rare severe allergic reactions
Important warnings
- Avoid taking other medicines containing paracetamol; overdose can cause fatal liver damage.
- Use lower doses or longer intervals with liver disease, malnutrition, dehydration, or heavy alcohol use.
- Intravenous doses must be calculated carefully by body weight, particularly in children.
- Infusion is administered by healthcare professionals.
Pregnancy
Can be used when clinically needed; use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time.
Breastfeeding
Generally compatible with breastfeeding at recommended doses.
Interactions
- Warfarin: regular use may increase bleeding risk.
- Probenecid may increase paracetamol exposure.
- Enzyme-inducing medicines, including some seizure medicines, may increase liver-damage risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.