Loading
If this is the first time anyone has visited this substance, we may be fetching live data from TGA Product Information, PBS, and state framework sources — that can take up to a minute. Cached substances load in a second or two.
A plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Paracetamol works by blocking the production of certain chemicals in the brain and spinal cord that cause pain and fever. It is used for fast relief of acute pain, to reduce fever, and to manage chronic joint conditions like arthritis. The body eliminates paracetamol relatively quickly, with most of it cleared within one to three hours.
Paracetamol should not be given to anyone who has previously had an allergic reaction to it or to any ingredient in the formulation. Serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which is a severe, life-threatening response. Other serious but uncommon reactions include Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which are severe skin conditions; liver dysfunction; a serious change in blood chemistry called high anion gap metabolic acidosis; and bronchospasm (sudden narrowing of the airways), particularly in people who are sensitive to aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines.
If your family member develops a rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or unusual tiredness, seek medical attention immediately.
Persistent pain Clinical criteria: The condition must be associated with osteoarthritis.
Analgesia or fever Clinical criteria: Patient must be receiving palliative care, AND Patient must be intolerant to alternative therapy.
Curated subset. The full adverse-effect list is in the TGA Product Information; click any citation above to open it.
“Its mechanism of action is believed to include inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily within the central nervous system.”
“The elimination half-life varies from about one to three hours.”
A plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Paracetamol is an anilide analgesic and antipyretic whose mechanism of action is believed to include inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily within the central nervous system. It is TGA-approved for fast relief of acute pain, reduction of fever, and chronic arthropathies. The elimination half-life varies from about one to three hours.
Contraindications include patients with a previous history of hypersensitivity to paracetamol or to any of the excipients. Serious adverse effects include anaphylaxis, Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, hepatic dysfunction, high anion gap metabolic acidosis, and bronchospasm, especially in patients sensitive to aspirin and other NSAIDs.
Working under the parallel aged-care framework? Aged-care equivalent →