Paracetamol 500mg Capsules

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or your pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
  See section 4.

1. What paracetamol is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take paracetamol
3. How to take paracetamol
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store paracetamol
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• You are allergic to the active substance or any of the other ingredients in your medicine (listed in section 6)
  Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash and breathing problems. There can also be swelling of the legs, arms, face, throat or tongue

Paracetamol 500mg Capsules must not be given to children under 10 years of age

Do not take paracetamol if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking paracetamol.

Take special care and check with your doctor before taking paracetamol if:

• You have severe kidney or liver problems
• You have a liver problem caused by alcohol

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because paracetamol can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way paracetamol works.

While taking paracetamol you should not take any other medicines which contain paracetamol.

This includes some painkillers, cough and cold remedies. It also includes a wide range of other medicines available from your doctor and more widely in shops.

Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• flucloxacillin (antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (high anion gap metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment and which may occur particularly in case of severe renal impairment, sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, and if the maximum daily doses of paracetamol are used.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin.
• Metoclopramide or domperidone - used to stop you feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting).
• Colestyramine - for lowering blood cholesterol levels.

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking paracetamol.

You should not drink alcohol whilst taking these capsules. Taking paracetamol with alcohol can increase your chances of getting side effects.

Talk to your doctor before taking these capsules if:

• You are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or plan to get pregnant
• You are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.

If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible. Contact your doctor or midwife if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take the medicine more often.

This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.

• The usual dose of paracetamol is 2 capsules
• Wait at least 4 hours before taking another dose
• Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water
• Do not take more than 4 doses in any 24-hour period

Take one capsule every four to six hours when necessary to a maximum of four doses in 24 hours.

Paracetamol 500mg Capsules should not be given to children under 10 years of age.

• Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.
• Remember to take any remaining capsules and the pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken

If you forget to take a dose at the right time, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Remember to leave at least 4 hours between doses.

• You get swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. You could also notice an itchy, lumpy rash (hives) or nettle rash (urticaria)
  This may mean you are having an allergic reaction to paracetamol
• You get serious skin reactions. Very rare cases have been reported

• You get infections or bruise more easily than usual. This could be because of a blood problem (such as agranulocytosis, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia). This side effect has only happened in a few people taking paracetamol.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card on the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

• The active substance is paracetamol. Each capsule contains 500mg of paracetamol.

The other ingredients are: maize starch and magnesium stearate. The capsule is made of gelatine and sodium lauryl sulfate coloured with titanium dioxide (E171), erythrosine (E127), yellow iron oxide (E172) and indigo carmine (E132).

The ink used to print on the capsules contains shellac, dehydrated alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, povidone and titanium dioxide.

The capsules are blue and white in colour with “S174” printed in white ink on the capsule. It contains white powder. Paracetamol 500mg Capsules come in cartons of 48, 60, 96 and 100 capsules. Not all pack sizes may be sold.

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