Should I use this page, or skip it?
Use this page if you want to take paracetamol safely for everyday pain or fever in the UK. Skip it and call 111 or 999 now if you think anyone has taken more than the pack allows, even if they feel fine. Skip it and call 999 if there is collapse, severe breathing difficulty, or another emergency. This page cannot give you a personal dose.
Follow the pack or the prescription in your hand. Do not copy a milligram figure from a website, including this one.
How do I take paracetamol safely?
Take the dose written on the pack or prescription, leave the gap between doses that it states, and do not exceed the maximum in 24 hours. That is the whole safety rule. Extra tablets will not make a headache vanish faster, and they can harm the liver.
Swallow tablets with water. Soluble and liquid forms still count as paracetamol. If pain is not controlled, do not add another paracetamol product. Ask a pharmacist whether ibuprofen is suitable, or see a GP if pain keeps returning.
Keep medicines in the original pack, out of children’s reach. Do not share leftover tablets from someone else’s prescription.
Can I take it with cold remedies or ibuprofen?
Check every label. Many cold and flu remedies, period-pain capsules and night-time drinks already contain paracetamol. Taking those plus standard tablets is the usual way people accidentally overdose. If the ingredients list includes paracetamol, do not add more.
Adults can often take paracetamol and ibuprofen together if one is not enough, because they work differently. That is not the same as taking two paracetamol products. Ask a pharmacist if you have stomach, kidney, heart or asthma problems, or if you are pregnant.
Do not take paracetamol with other medicines a clinician has not checked if you already take regular tablets. A pharmacist can look at the full list in a few minutes.
Who should check before using paracetamol?
Most people can use it. Check first if you have liver or kidney disease, drink a lot of alcohol, are very underweight, or already take medicines that affect the liver. The NHS also flags some people who need a lower dose — that decision belongs with a pharmacist or GP, not a search result.
In pregnancy, paracetamol is usually the first-choice painkiller, at the lowest amount that works, for the shortest time. Still ask if you are unsure. For children, use an age-appropriate product and the pack instructions. Never give adult tablets by splitting them “to make a child dose” unless a clinician has told you to.
If you have a common cold, rest and fluids matter as much as a painkiller. Antibiotics do not treat a cold.
What if I have taken too much?
Treat it as urgent even if you feel well. Call NHS 111 or 999. Say how much was taken, when, and which products. Take the packets with you. Do not wait for nausea, vomiting or tummy pain — those can come later, after the liver is already in trouble.
Do not try to “sleep it off”. Do not take more tablets to see if symptoms appear. Early hospital treatment can prevent serious harm.
If someone is unconscious, having a seizure, or struggling to breathe, call 999.
Who is this page not for?
This page is not a dosing calculator. It is not advice to treat chest pain, a hot swollen joint, or unexplained weight loss with paracetamol and wait. Those need proper assessment. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet in the box.
If your pain is a migraine or a headache that is sudden and severe, or comes with a stiff neck, rash, or confusion, do not self-treat — get urgent help.
Common questions about paracetamol
- What is paracetamol used for?
- It eases mild to moderate pain such as headache, toothache, period pain, and aches from a cold or flu, and it can bring down a high temperature. It is often a first choice because it suits most people. It does not treat the cause of the pain.
- Is paracetamol safe in pregnancy?
- The NHS says paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you are pregnant, but you should still take the lowest amount that works, for the shortest time, and check with a pharmacist or midwife if you are unsure. Do not take extra, and do not combine it with another paracetamol product.
- Can I take paracetamol with ibuprofen?
- Adults can often take them together if one is not enough, because they work in different ways. Do not combine paracetamol with another product that also contains paracetamol. Ask a pharmacist before mixing painkillers if you have other health problems or take regular medicines.
- What should I do if I take too much?
- Get medical help straight away — NHS 111 or 999 — even if you feel completely well. Liver damage can start before you feel ill. Do not wait for vomiting or abdominal pain. Take the packets with you if you can.
- Why do cold remedies make overdose more likely?
- Many powders, capsules and night-time drinks already contain paracetamol. Taking those plus plain paracetamol tablets can push you over the safe daily amount without noticing. Read the ingredients every time, including supermarket own-brands.
- Can I give paracetamol to a child?
- Use a product made for their age, and follow the pack or the dose a clinician gave you. Do not guess from an adult tablet. Do not give aspirin to anyone under 16. If you are unsure, a pharmacist can check the right product.
- Does paracetamol treat inflammation?
- It eases pain and fever. It is not an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. For a swollen sprain or inflammatory arthritis, a pharmacist may suggest ibuprofen instead if it is safe for you. See the ibuprofen page before mixing or switching.