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How often is Paracetamol taken

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Paracetamol is a drug known to almost everyone. It is an analgesic and antipyretic that serves to relieve mild or moderate pain and helps lower fever. However, in most cases we misuse it. We have made Paracetamol our bedside medicine and it is the most feasible solution for all our pain. We should not take any medicine lightly and we must always take into account the dosage and the indications of the leaflet or the doctor even when we know the effects it has. And, above all, we must not abuse any of them. However, as it is a drug present in almost all homes that is purchased without a prescription and that we will continue to use, in this FastlyHealarticle we tell you how often Paracetamol is taken .

Indications of Paracetamol

Although Paracetamol is present in almost all houses, it is not the remedy for all our ailments and many times we use it badly.

It is an analgesic , that is, it relieves pain and antipyretic , lowers fever, and these are its actions. Paracetamol is not an anti-inflammatory and therefore does not serve this purpose. In this case, perhaps the best known and also present in many homes is Ibuprofen , a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that, in addition to having analgesic properties, is also anti-inflammatory. In the most serious cases, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen can be combined by combining them from time to time, but as long as the ailment requires it or the doctor has indicated it.

Keep in mind that Paracetamol does not cure any disease and simply helps to relieve symptoms . Taking this into account we can take Paracetamol for the following symptoms:

  • Headache.
  • Muscle pain.
  • Back pain.
  • Fever.

Headache is the most common ailment for which Paracetamol is taken. This medicine relieves pain by acting on the nerves and receptors in the brain.

How often is Paracetamol taken: daily dose

The dosage of Paracetamol depends on whether it is an adult or a child and the type of presentation of the same. Among the different ways to take Paracetamol, we can find:

  • Paracetamol 650 mg tablets
  • Paracetamol in 1 g tablets
  • Granulated paracetamol (in sachets) of 1 g

In adults, the recommended dose of Paracetamol cannot exceed 4 g per day (in 24 hours). To do this, depending on the presentation in which you have purchased it, you must take it as follows:

1 g tablets

A whole tablet should be taken without chewing and with the help of water in three or four daily doses with a separation of 4 to 6 hours between one dose and another . The normal thing is to ingest it after each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner). If the tablet is too large you can break it in half, even take only half the tablet if the pain is not very severe and take the other half later. Although if this is the case perhaps it would be better to buy the 650 mg tablets. Since the amount of 4 g per day should not be exceeded, the maximum allowed dose will be four tablets a day, in this case you can take them every 4 hours.

1 g granulated sachets

As with the 1 g tablets, the dose is the same and therefore you can take three a day with a separation of 6 hours between taking and taking or four in 4-hour intervals. You should also not exceed the daily dose of 4 g unless the doctor indicates it. The sachets are taken with a little water and are effervescent so you should drink them immediately so they do not lose their action.

650 mg tablets

The 650 mg tablets, although they have less amount of medicine, are taken with the same frequency as the others, this being three to four tablets at intervals of 4 to 6 hours. However, you can take some more but without exceeding the daily dose, so do not take more than 6 tablets a day.

Paracetamol: daily dose for ages and conditions

Children under 15 years of age

They should not take 1 g Paracetamol, however, those over 12 years of age whose weight exceeds 43 kg can take half a tablet (500 mg) in 4-hour intervals with a maximum of 5 doses, that is, they will not be administered more than 2 tablets and a half (taking half each time) in 24 hours. Or they can take a 650 mg Paracetamol tablet every 4 or 6 hours, always without exceeding five daily intakes.

Children from 6 to 11 years old

For their part, they can take two and a half tablets a day of Paracetamol 650 mg at most. For this reason, they will take half a 650 mg pill at each dose at intervals of 4 to 6 hours.

Babies and children under 6 years

They will not take Paracetamol unless directed by the pediatrician. There are some drugs similar to Paracetamol with a lower composition established for these cases.

How to take paracetamol

The indicated dose should never be exceeded and in children under 15 years of age it is better to consult a doctor before giving them Paracetamol. If you have taken more Paracetamol than you should (in both adults and children) you should consult a doctor immediately or go to the emergency room , even if you do not notice any symptoms, since these can appear after 3 days. The symptoms of an overdose of Paracetamol may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Abdominal pain

If you forget a dose you should not double the dose to compensate, if you have pain or fever take Paracetamol when you have remembered and space the next taking into account this last dose, or wait for the next dose.

Precautions and possible adverse effects

Paracetamol, like any medicine, can cause adverse effects although they are rare, such as hypotension ( low blood pressure ) or malaise. In addition, it can cause allergies . If when taking Paracetamol you have allergy symptoms such as red eyes and itchy eyes, ears or throat, sneezing or even you notice a swelling in your throat, go to the doctor immediately, especially if the latter happens.

During pregnancy and lactation, it is advisable to consult your doctor or gynecologist if you should take Paracetamol. Any medication you take during pregnancy can affect it or the fetus, so you should consult your doctor before. The same happens with breastfeeding since Paracetamol will pass into breast milk.

People who regularly consume alcohol (three or more drinks a day, be it beer, wine, spirits …) should be careful with Paracetamol as it could cause liver damage. It must be borne in mind that patients with liver diseases should consult their doctor before taking Paracetamol and its interval between taking and taking should be greater, 8 hours. In any case, they should not exceed 2 g per day (one 1 g tablet each time). The same occurs with chronic alcoholics who should only take two 1g sachets, two 1g tablets or three 650mg tablets a day.

Patients with kidney disease should not take more than 2 g per day, if necessary divided into doses of 500 mg (half a 1 g tablet) and the doctor will indicate the interval of taking in each case.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How often Paracetamol is taken , we recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests .

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