Paracetamol works as a painkiller by affecting chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are substances released in response to illness or injury.

It blocks the production of prostaglandins, making the body less aware of the pain or injury.

Paracetamol reduces temperature by acting on the area of the brain responsible for temperature control.

When two or more medicines are taken at the same time, the effects of the medicines are sometimes different to when they are taken separately. This is known as an interaction. Paracetamol does not interact with many other medicines.

If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with paracetamol, you can ask your GP or local pharmacist (chemist) or read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Warfarin

If you take warfarin (a blood thinning medicine), prolonged regular use of paracetamol may increase its blood-thinning (anticoagulant) effect. This can increase the risk of bleeding.

This effect is not thought to happen with occasional doses of paracetamol in people taking warfarin.

Other paracetamol-containing medicines

You should not take paracetamol with other products that contain paracetamol, such as co-dydramol, co-codamol and Tramacet. This is because of the risk of overdosing on paracetamol.

Interactions with food & alcohol

There are no known interactions between paracetamol and moderate alcohol intake.

There are no known interactions between paracetamol and specific foods.

You can use paracetamol to:

• Ease mild to moderate pain, for example headaches, sprains, toothache or the symptoms of a cold.
• Control a fever (also known as pyrexia), for example, when you have the flu (influenza).

Use in children:

Babies and children can take paracetamol from the age of three months.

Occasionally, your GP or doctor may advise that your child take paracetamol when they are under three months old.

For example, one dose of paracetamol may be given to children two to three months of age if they have a high temperature following vaccinations. This dose may be repeated once after four to six hours, but any further doses should be on the advice of your GP or doctor.

Up to two doses may also be given to babies two to three months of age for other causes of fever or mild pain, as long as the baby weighs over 4kg and was not born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, if the high temperature does not get better or your baby is still in pain, speak to your GP.

Take paracetamol as directed on the packet or patient information leaflet, or as directed by your GP or pharmacist (chemist).

Missed doses

If you forget to take your dose of paracetamol, the general advice is as follows:

If the dose is less than two hours late

If the dose is more than two hours late

You can also check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine as this should give you advice about what to do if you miss a dose.

Extra doses

If you accidentally take an extra dose of paracetamol, miss out the next dose so that you do not more than eight tablets in 24 hours. Then carry on as normal. If you feel unwell or are concerned, contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

If you have taken more than the recommended dose of paracetamol, you must contact your GP or go to accident and emergency (A&E) immediately.

If you need further advice about missed or extra doses of paracetamol, contact your GP or pharmacist or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Paracetamol is made by lots of different pharmaceutical manufacturers and each one will give their product a different brand name. The packaging should state whether the product contains paracetamol or not.

In some products, paracetamol is combined with other ingredients - for example with decongestant, and sold as a cold and flu remedy.

Paracetamol may also be combined with other painkillers in medicines such as:

• co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine),
• co-dydramol (paracetamol and dihydrocodeine) and
• Tramacet (paracetamol and tramadol).

Paracetamol is also available as a suspension (liquid medicine). Brand names include Calpol, Disprol and Medinol.

Paracetamol is known as "acetaminophen" in some countries.

Side effects from paracetamol are rare but can include:

• a rash,
• blood disorders,
• hypotension (low blood pressure) - when given by injection into the vein (in hospital), and
• liver and kidney damage - when taken at higher than recommended doses.

Ability to drive

Paracetamol, taken at recommended doses, is not known to cause any adverse effects that might interfere with your ability to drive safely.

Paracetamol should be used with caution in people with:

• liver problems,
• kidney problems,
• alcohol dependence.

You must not exceed the maximum paracetamol dose stated on the packet.

You must not take paracetamol with other paracetamol-containing products.

Use in pregnancy

Paracetamol has been used routinely through all stages of pregnancy to reduce high temperatures and for pain relief. Overall there seems to be no clear evidence of harmful effects on the baby.

As with any medicine in pregnancy, paracetamol should be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

Use when breastfeeding

Paracetamol is considered to be the best choice of pain relief for use in breastfeeding as the amount of paracetamol likely to pass into breast milk is thought to be too small to be harmful.

Learn about the medicines used to treat or manage this condition - preparations, benefits and side-effects are all covered.

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Medicine guides: Painkillers, paracetamol

You can use paracetamol to:

• Ease mild to moderate pain. For example, to ease headaches, sprains, toothache or the symptoms of a cold.
• Control a fever (also known as pyrexia). For example, when you have the flu (influenza).

Use in children:

Babies and children can take paracetamol from the age of three months.

Occasionally, your GP or doctor may advise that your child can take paracetamol when they are under three months' old.

For example, one dose of paracetamol may be given to children 2-3 months of age if they have a high temperature following vaccinations. This dose may be repeated once after 4-6 hours . But any further doses should be on the advice of your GP or doctor.

Up to two doses may also be given to babies 2-3 months of age for other causes of fever or mild pain, as long as the baby weighs over 4kg and was not born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, if the high temperature does not get better or your baby is still in pain, speak with your GP.

You can use paracetamol to:

• Ease mild to moderate pain. For example, to ease headaches, sprains, toothache or the symptoms of a cold.
• Control a fever (also known as pyrexia). For example, when you have the flu (influenza).

Use in children:

Babies and children can take paracetamol from the age of three months.

Occasionally, your GP or doctor may advise that your child can take paracetamol when they are under three months' old.

For example, one dose of paracetamol may be given to children 2-3 months of age if they have a high temperature following vaccinations. This dose may be repeated once after 4-6 hours . But any further doses should be on the advice of your GP or doctor.

Up to two doses may also be given to babies 2-3 months of age for other causes of fever or mild pain, as long as the baby weighs over 4kg and was not born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, if the high temperature does not get better or your baby is still in pain, speak with your GP.