Paracetamol 500mg Capsules
Out of date information, search anotherSUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
PARACETAMOL 500mg CAPSULES
2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Paracetamol 500mg
For the full list of excipients see section6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
HARD GELATIN CAPSULES
Red cap, white body, hard gelatin capsule, containing a white free flowing powder.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
For relief of mild to moderate pain including headaches, migraine, aches and pains, symptomatic relief of rheumatic aches and pains and of influenza, muscular and back pain, neuralgia, toothache, sore throat and period pain and to relieve the symptoms of feverishness and colds and flu.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology:
Unless otherwise directed by a doctor
Adults and the elderly:
2 capsules up to 4 times a day, as required.
Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours and not more than 8 capsulesin any 24 hour period.
Children aged 12 - 15 years:
One to two capsules every 4-6 hours as required, to a maximum of 6 capsules daily in divided doses.
Do not take more than 6 capsules in any 24 hour period Children under 12:
Not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
Method of administration:
For oral administration
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to paracetamol or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Care is advised in the administration of paracetamol to patients with , severe renal or sever hepatic impairment. The hazards of overdose are greater in those with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease.
Do not take with any other paracetamol-containing products. Do not exceed the stated dose.
Leaflet or Label/leaflet
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
Label
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose even if you feel well,
If symptoms persist for more than 3 days or get worse consult your doctor.
Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Cholestyramine: The speed of absorption of paracetamol is reduced by cholestyramine. Therefore, the cholestyramine should not be taken within one hour if maximal analgesia is required.
Metoclopramide and Domperidone: The absorption of paracetamol is increased by metoclopramide and domperidone. However, concurrent use need not be avoided.
Warfarin: The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular use of paracetamol with increased risk of bleeding; occasional doses have no significant effect.
Chloramphenicol: Increased plasma concentration of chloramphenicol.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Epidemiological studies in human pregnancy have shown no ill effects due to paracetamol used in the recommended dosage, but patients should follow the advice of their doctor regarding its use.
Paracetamol is excreted in breast milk but not in a clinically significant amount. Available published data do not contraindicate breast feeding.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse events of paracetamol from historical clinical trial data are both infrequent and from small patient exposure. Accordingly, events reported from extensive post-marketing experience at therapeutic/labelled dose and considered attributable are tabulated below by system class. Due to limited clinical trial data, the frequency of these adverse events is not known (cannot be estimated from available data), but post-marketing experience indicates that adverse reactions to paracetamol are rare and serious reactions are very rare.
Post marketing data
|
Body System |
Undesirable effect |
|
Blood and lymphatic system |
Thrombocytopenia |
|
disorders |
Agranulocytosis |
|
Immune system disorders |
Anaphylaxis Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions including skin rashes, angiodema and Stevens Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis |
|
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
Bronchospasm* |
|
Hepatobiliary disorders |
Hepatic dysfunction |
* There have been cases of bronchospasm with paracetamol, but these are more likely in asthmatics sensitive to aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9. Overdose
Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).
Risk Factors:
If the patient
a) Is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St John’s Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes.
Or
b) Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts.
Or
C ) Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, haemorrhage, hypoglycaemia, cerebral oedema, and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, strongly suggested by loin pain, haematuria and proteinuria, may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.
Management
Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose.
Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see BNF overdose section.
Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable).Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion ofparacetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time.
If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24 hrs from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Analgesic and Antipyretic ATC code: N02B E01 Mechanism of Action/ Effect
Analgesic - the mechanism of analgesic action has not been fully determined. Paracetamol may act predominantly by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis in the central nervous system (CNS) and to a lesser extent, through a peripheral action by blocking pain- impulse generation.
The peripheral action may also be due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis or to inhibition of synthesis or actions of other substances that sensitise pain receptors to mechanical or chemical stimulation.
Antipyretic- paracetamol probably produces antipyresis by acting centrally on the hypothalamic heat - regulation centre to produce peripheral vasodilation resulting in increased blood flow through the skin, sweating and heat loss. The central action probably involves inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the hypothalamus.
5.2. Pharmacokinetic properties
Absorption: Paracetamol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Distrubution: Peak plasma concentrations occur about 10 to 60 minutes after oral doses. Paracetamol is distributed into most body tissues. It crosses the placenta and is present in breast milk. Plasma-protein binding is negligible at usual therapeutic concentrations but increases with increasing concentrations.
Metabolism: It is metabolised in the liver. A minor hydroxylated metabolite which is usually produced in very small amounts by mixed-function oxidases in the liver and which is usually detoxified by conjugation with liver glutathione may accumulate following paracetamol overdosage and cause tissue damage.
Elimination: It is excreted in the urine, mainly as the glucuronide and sulphate conjugates. The elimination half-life varies from about 1 to 4 hours.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Pregelatinised maize starch Magnesium stearate Sodium laurilsulfate
Capsule shell:
Titanium dioxide E171 Erythrosine E127 Quinoline yellow E104 Patent Blue V E131 Gelatin
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate E218 Propyl parahydroxybenzoate E216
6.2 Incompatibilities
None known
6.3 Shelf life
36 months
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package.
6.5. Nature and contents of container
Child resistant blister packs comprised of 20pm hard aluminium foil laminated to 15pm rigid PVC, and 250pm PVC. Pack size of 100 capsules.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
No special requirements.
MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
7
Bristol Laboratories Ltd, Unit 3, Canalside, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 1EG
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 17907/0245
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
13/10/2011
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
30/06/2015