Defining paracetamol, its most common uses and precautions to consider (2025)

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen or APAP (which is the active ingredient), is a commonly used medication for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and fever. Paracetamol thus belongs to the medication class known as analgesics (non-opioid / non-narcotic pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). Paracetamol may be recommended by medical doctors but is widely available in a range of products available over the counter. It is generally taken as needed for treatment but can sometimes be recommended as part of a dosing schedule over a more extended period of time.

Such symptoms may be experienced during bouts of colds and flu (influenza)and various other illnesses, as well as reactions following vaccinations. Some individuals may also find some relief for mild pain associated with osteoarthritis. Paracetamol is not, however, a preferred pharmacological treatment for this condition as it does not treat the underlying swelling and inflammation which causes the characteristic symptoms of this condition (paracetamol is considered to have weak anti-inflammatory properties and thus cannot appropriately control such symptoms).

In general, paracetamol is regarded as having a very good safety profile (i.e. a low risk of side-effects) when taken at the recommended therapeutic dosages. A commonly taken medication with such a sound safety profile in comparison to many other pain-relieving medications, paracetamol can easily be underestimated when it comes to the potential risks of its use. Despite the fact that it is sold over-the-counter, like any other medication, there are still risks associated with its use and misuse.

Misuse can result in an array of side-effects, some of which may require medical monitoring. Overdosage of paracetamol is possible and can result in hepatotoxicity and severe liver damage, which can be life-threatening. Overdosage can easily occur as many over-the-counter medications contain paracetamol as an ingredient. If such medications are taken concurrently, more than the recommended daily dose may be absorbed into the system, resulting in overdosage.

Taken at low or recommended dosages, paracetamol does not result in the kinds of gastrointestinal side-effects that other pain-relieving medications, like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) are associated with. These include the likes of bleeding problems, ulcerations or perforations in the gastrointestinal system.

Available at a relatively low cost, paracetamol can sometimes be safely combined with other medications, like NSAIDs and opioids, for the treatment of more severe pain. Drug interactions and dosages should be carefully taken into account, however, to avoid unwanted effects.

Paracetamol targets the hypothalamus in the brain in order to help reduce fever and pain symptoms. This region of the brain is situated beneath the thalamus and above the pituitary gland, playing a fundamental role in the nervous and endocrine systems. The medication works to block pain impulses and inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandin (lipid compounds) in the central nervous system. Prostaglandins naturally assist with healing in the body when injury occurs. However, excessive production of these lipids can lead to unwanted inflammation and chronic pain. Blocking the production of these thus eases these symptoms.

The time it takes for paracetamol to achieve peak concentration levels in the blood is normally between 10 and 60 minutes (in both orally taken immediate release medications and intravenous infusions). Extended-release varieties can peak at between 60 and 120 minutes. Orally taken tablets at quantities of 500mg or 650mg (extended-release) can take longer (6 and 8 hours respectively).

Paracetamol has a half-life (i.e. the period of time it takes for the concentration level of the drug to be halved) of about 7 hours (in new-borns), 4 hours (in infants), 2 to 5 hours (in children), 3 hours (in adolescents) and 2 hours (in adults).

Paracetamol is metabolised by the microsomal enzyme system of the liver which consists of two protein components - cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, as well as the lipid, phosphatidylcholine. The conjugation of glucuronic and sulfuric acid in this process helps to make the medication more soluble in water. This helps to achieve easier elimination of the medication through urine. Paracetamol is mainly absorbed in the small intestine.

AAceta-Gesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Actifed Plus® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine, Triprolidine)

Acuflex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Ali Flex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus® (Acetaminophen, Phenylephrine)

Allay® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Alpain® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Anabar® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Anacin® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Anexsia® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Anolor DH5® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Apapgesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Axocet® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

BBackprin® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Magnesium Salicylate)

Bancap HC® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Bucet® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Butapap® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Butex Forte® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

CCafgesic® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Cephadyn® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Ceta Plus®
(Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Cetazone T® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Co-Apap® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)

Codimal® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Co-Gesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Combiflex® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Comtrex Cold and Cough® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Phenylephrine)

Contac Sinus® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Coricidin® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine)

DDayquil® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)

Dimetapp Cold and Fever® (Acetaminophen, Brompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Dolacet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Dolagesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Dolgic® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Dologesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Dolorex Forte® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Dristan Cold Non-Drowsy® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Drixoral Sinus® (Acetaminophen, Dexbrompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine Extended Release Tablet)

Dryphen® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine)

DuoCet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Duogesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Durabac® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Durabac Forte® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Magnesium Salicylate, Phenyltoloxamine)

Duraflu® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Pseudoephedrine)

Duratuss A® (Acetaminophen, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine)

EEmagrin Forte® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine)

Endocet® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Excedrin® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Excedrin Back & Body® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin)

Excedrin PM® (Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine)

FFlextra® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Frenadol® (Acetaminophen, Salicylamide)

GGenace® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Genasec® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Gendecon® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine)

Goody's Extra Strength® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Goody's PM® (Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine)

HHycet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Hycomed® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Hycomine Compound® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine)

Hydrocet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Hydrogesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Hyflex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Hy-Phen® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

KKolephrin® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)LLevacet® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine, Salicylamide)

Liquicet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Lobac® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine, Salicylamide)

Lorcet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Lorsin® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Lortab® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Lurline PMS® (Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Vitamin B6)

Lynox® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

MMagnacet® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Major-gesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Margesic-H® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Marten-Tab® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Masophen PM® (Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine)

Maxidone® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Maxiflu DM® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Pseudoephedrine)

Midol PMS® (Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine)

Migralam® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Isometheptene)

MigraTen® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Isometheptene)

Migrend® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Isometheptene)

NNarvox® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Norco® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Novagesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

NyCair® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine)

NyQuil Cold/Flu Relief® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine)

OOncet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Ornex® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

PPamprin® (Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine)

Panacet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Panlor® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Panritis Forte® (Acetaminophen, Salicylamide)

Percocet® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Percogesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Perisine® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Perloxx® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Phenagesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Phenapap® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Phenflu DM® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine)
Phenylgesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Phlemgesic® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Pseudoephedrine)
Phrenilin® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)
Polygesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Premesyn PMS® (Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, Pyrilamine)

Primlev® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Procet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Prodrin® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Isometheptene)

Promacet® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Prominol® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Protid® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine)

QQ-Gesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)RRelagesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Repan CF® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Rhinoflex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Rhinogesic® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide)

Robitussin Cold Cough and Flu® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Pseudoephedrine)

Roxicet® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

SSaleto® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine, Salicylamide)

Sedapap® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Simplet® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Sinarest® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Sine-Aid® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Sine-Off Sinus and Cold® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine)

Singlet® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Sinumed® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Sinus Aid® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Sinutab® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Sominex Pain Relief® (Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine)

Staflex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Stagesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Sudafed PE Cold & Cough® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine)

Sudafed PE Sinus Headache® (Acetaminophen, Phenylephrine)

Sudogest® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Supac® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Suphedrin Sinus® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

TTalacen® (Acetaminophen, Pentazocine)

Tavist Allergy/Sinus/Headache® (Acetaminophen, Clemastine, Pseudoephedrine)

Tavist Sinus® (Acetaminophen, Pseudoephedrine)

Taxadone® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

Tencon® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

T-Gesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Theraflu Sore Throat® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Triaminic Cold and Fever® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)

Triaprin® (Acetaminophen, Butalbital)

Tricom® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine)

Tylefon® (Acetaminophen, Chlorzoxazone)

Tylenol Cold® (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)

Tylox® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)

UUgesic® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Ultracet® (Acetaminophen, Tramadol)

Uni-Case® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Uni-Perr® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Unisom With Pain Relief® (Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine)

VValorin Extra® (Acetaminophen, Caffeine)

Vanacet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Vanquish® (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine)

Vendone® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Vicks 44 Cold, Flu and Cough® (Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)

Vicodin® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Vidone® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Vistra® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Vitoxapap® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

XXodol® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)
Xolox® (Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)ZZamicet® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Zflex® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Zgesic® (Acetaminophen, Phenyltoloxamine)

Zydone® (Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone)

Defining paracetamol, its most common uses and precautions to consider (2025)
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