Paracetamol

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As pain and fever are common, no home should be without some paracetamol, particularly homes with children. It is often in the middle of the night when fever or pains such as earache occur.

• Liquids. There are various brands such as Calpol, Disprol, and Tixymol. They are usually flavoured to make them taste nice. 'Paracetamol mixture BP' works just as well, but is cheaper (although perhaps not tasting as nice). There is usually 120 mg in each 5 ml teaspoon. Calpol Six Plus is intended for older children and has 250 mg in each 5 ml.
• Tablets. Many companies make their own brand name. You pay a lot for packaging. Ask the pharmacist for the cheapest. Each tablet usually contains 500 mg. You can also get soluble tablets which may work more quickly.

You can take paracetamol up to four times a day, every 4-6 hours. It is a safe medicine and side-effects are rare if you do not take more than the maximum recommended dose. However, it can be very dangerous if you take a paracetamol overdose. Store paracetamol away from children. Contact a doctor immediately if you suspect a paracetamol overdose.

It is usually safe to take paracetamol with other medication. For example, if a child is taking antibiotics for an ear infection, keep giving paracetamol as well until the pain and fever ease. Be careful not to take too much paracetamol by taking paracetamol tablets or liquids in addition to other remedies that already contain paracetamol. (For example, some cold remedies contain several ingredients which include paracetamol.)

• Use a syringe to squirt paracetamol liquid slowly into the side of the child's mouth. You can get syringes from pharmacies. It is worth keeping a syringe in your medicine box for such occasions. Do not squirt into the back of the child's mouth as this may cause choking.
• Another option is to use soluble paracetamol mixed with a drink.

© EMIS and PIP 2004   Updated: July 2004   Review Date: August 2005   CHIQ Accredited   PRODIGY Validated