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Last updated: October 2024
Do not exceed indicated doses, especially in children and older patients. Paracetamol intoxications are severe (hepatic cytolysis).
Therapeutic action
- Analgesic, antipyretic
Indications
- Mild pain
- Fever
Forms and strengths
- 100 mg and 500 mg tablets
- 100 mg dispersible tablet
- 120 mg/5 ml oral suspension
Dosage
- Child under 1 month: 10 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily (max. 40 mg/kg daily)
- Child 1 month and over: 15 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily (max. 60 mg/kg daily)
- Adult: 1 g 3 or 4 times daily (max. 4 g daily)
|
Age |
Weight |
120 mg/5 ml susp. |
100 mg tablet |
500 mg tablet |
|
< 1 month |
< 4 kg |
1.5 ml x 3 |
− |
− |
|
1 to < 3 months |
4 to < 6 kg |
2.5 ml x 3 |
½ tab x 3 |
− |
|
3 months to < 1 year |
6 to < 10 kg |
4 ml x 3 |
1 tab x 3 |
− |
|
1 to < 3 years |
10 to < 15 kg |
6 ml x 3 |
1½ tab x 3 |
− |
|
3 to < 5 years |
15 to < 20 kg |
8 ml x 3 |
2 tab x 3 |
− |
|
5 to < 9 years |
20 to < 30 kg |
12 ml x 3 |
3 tab x 3 |
− |
|
9 to < 14 years |
30 to < 50 kg |
– |
– |
1 tab x 3 |
|
≥ 14 years and adult |
≥ 50 kg |
– |
– |
2 tab x 3 |
Duration
- According to clinical response
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment.
- Reduce the dose in:
- children with severe acute malnutrition: 10 mg/kg up to 3 times maximum per 24 hours
- patients with dengue with warning sign(s):
- Child: 10 mg/kg 3 to 4 times daily
- Adult: 500 mg 3 to 4 times daily
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- For mild pain, paracetamol is used alone or in combination with an NSAID.
- For moderate pain, paracetamol is used in combination with an NSAID and codeine or tramadol.
- For severe pain, paracetamol is used in combination with an NSAID and morphine.
- Paracetamol is particularly recommended for patients allergic to aspirin, patients with a history of gastric problems and for pregnant and breast-feeding women and children.
- Paracetamol has no anti-inflammatory properties.
- N-acetylcysteine IV is the antidote for paracetamol poisoning.
Storage
– Below 25 °C