Paracetamol 500mg Capsules
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Paracetamol 500mg Capsules
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each capsule contains 500mg of paracetamol For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Hard capsule.
Size 0 capsule marked ‘S174’ with blue cap and white body containing a white granular powder.
4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Paracetamol capsules are recommended for the treatment of headaches, including migraine and tension headaches; also for backache, rheumatic and muscle pains, ‘nerve pains’, toothache, dysmenorrhoea, sore throat and for relieving the fever, aches and pains of colds and flu.
4.2 Posology and method of administration Posology
Adults, Elderly and Children over 16 years
Two capsules up to 4 times a day. Do not take for more than 3 days without consulting your doctor.
These doses should not be repeated more frequently than every 4 hours and not more than 4 doses should be given in any 24 hour period.
Paediatric population
Not recommended for children under 10 years of age.
Children aged 10 to 15 years
One capsule every four to six hours when necessary to a maximum of four doses in 24 hours. Do not take for more than 3 days without consulting your doctor.
Method of administration
For oral administration
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use Paediatric population
Not recommended for children under 10 years of age.
Care is advised in the administration of paracetamol to patients with severe renal or severe hepatic impairment. The hazard of overdose is greater in those with noncirrhotic alcoholic liver disease.
Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Do not take with any other paracetamol-containing products.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
Keep out of the reach of children.
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.
4.5 Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
The speed of absorption of paracetamol may be increased by metoclopramide or domperidone and absorption reduced by cholestyramine. The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular daily use of paracetamol with increased risk of bleeding; occasional doses have no significant effect.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
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. A large amount of data on pregnant women indicate neither malformative, nor feto/neonatal toxicity. Paracetamol can be used during pregnancy if clinically needed however it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible frequency.
Breastfeeding
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
Paracetamol has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8 Undesirable effects
The information below lists reported adverse reactions, ranked using the following frequency classification:
Very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Not known: blood dyscrasias including thrombocytopenia and
agranulocytosis
Immune system disorders
Hypersensitivity including skin rash may occur.
Not known: anaphylactic shock, angioedema
Skin and subcutaneous disorders
Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
Absorption of neutralised sodium bicarbonate can cause alkalosis - this is usually transient and clinically insignificant in people with normal renal function. The release of carbon dioxide from bicarbonate containing antacids can cause belching, occasional nausea, abdominal distension and flatulence.
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 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:
• is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St. John’s Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes, or
• regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts, or
• 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, gastrointestinal bleeding 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 of paracetamol, 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 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit.
5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
ATC Code: N02B E01, Other analgesics and antipyretics Paracetamol is an antipyretic analgesic. The mechanism of action is probably similar to that of aspirin and dependent on the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. This inhibition appears, however, to be on a selective basis.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Paracetamol is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The concentration in plasma reaches a peak in 30 to 60 minutes and the half life in plasma is 1 to 4 hours after therapeutic doses. Paracetamol is relatively uniformly distributed throughout most body fluids. Binding of the drug to plasma proteins is variable; 20 to 50% may be bound at the concentrations encountered during acute intoxication. Following therapeutic doses 90 to 100% of the drug may be recovered in the urine within the first day. However, practically no paracetamol is excreted unchanged, and the bulk is excreted after hepatic conjugation.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction and development.
6.1 List of excipients
Maize starch Magnesium stearate Titanium dioxide E171 Erythrosin E127 Yellow Iron Oxide (E172)
Indigo Carmine (E132)
Gelatin
Shellac
Dehydrated alcohol Isopropyl alcohol Butyl alcohol Propylene Glycol Sodium hydroxide Povidone
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable
6.3 Shelf life
5 years.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
White opaque PVC 250pm/aluminium foil 20pm or white opaque PVC (250pm)/20pm Aluminium foil / 15pm PVC blister strip packed in a cardboard carton.
Pack sizes: 6, 8, 12 and 16 capsules.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Instruction for use/handling
No special requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Winthrop Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
One Onslow Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4YS
United Kingdom
Trading as
Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, PO Box 611, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS Or
Zentiva, One Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS, UK 8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER
PL 17780/0201
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE
AUTHORISATION
30 / 11 / 2002
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
11/11/2016