Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverview: Acetaminophen vs. ParacetamolEfficacyAdministrationSide EffectsInteractionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview: Acetaminophen vs. Paracetamol
Efficacy
Administration
Side Effects
Interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
A common pain-relieving drug,acetaminophen, also known asparacetamol, treats mild to moderate muscle aches, headaches, colds, menstrual periods, and reactions to vaccinations (shots) and is used for fever reduction, amongst other conditions.
Paracetamol is another name for acetaminophen. Specifically, the term paracetamol is used in European countries, Australia, India, and New Zealand. While in the USA, Canada, and various other countries, it is called acetaminophen.
Despite the difference in name, there are no significant differences in the chemical structure or indications of acetaminophen and paracetamol. Acetaminophen and paracetamol are categorized as bothnon-opioidanalgesics(pain relievers)andantipyreticagents (fever relievers).
However, there may be some differences between recommended doses and available strengths of the known brands.
This article will highlight the primary characteristics of each drug, considering dosing guidelines, potential side effects, storage information, and more.
Getty Images / Jorge Martinez.
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are available in various combinations under different brand names.
The following outlines basic information, both shared and specific, to each drug.
How They Work
As mentioned, acetaminophen and paracetamol are classified as non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic agents. Within the scientific community, they are referred to as N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP).
Non-opioid analgesics are a class of drugs used to manage and treat pain. They includenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants,anti-epileptics, andlocal anesthetics.
In comparison, antipyretic agents treat the symptoms associated with bodily pain and fever, includingcorticosteroids (steroids).Acetaminophen is not carcinogenic (carrying the potential to cause cancer).
What They Treat
Acetaminophen and paracetamol relieve mild to moderate pain, including headaches, menstrual periods, muscle soreness, colds, vaccination (shot) pain, and fever reduction.
Everyday branded products that contain either acetaminophen or paracetamol include:
Combination products that contain either acetaminophen or paracetamol, alongside other active ingredients, include some of the following:
How Effective Are Acetaminophen and Paracetamol?
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are among the most popular and most commonly used analgesic and antipyretic drugs worldwide.
They are available without a prescription in mono- and multi-component preparations. Acetaminophen/paracetamol is the drug of choice in people that cannot be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
These include salicylate-sensitized people, peptic ulcer disease, people with bronchial asthma, hemophilia, children under 12, and pregnant or breastfeeding people.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hundreds of approved prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products contain acetaminophen as an acetaminophen/paracetamol ingredient.
When used as directed, acetaminophen/paracetamol is very safe and effective. In addition to pain relief and fever reduction, recent laboratory and pre-clinical studies showed many off-label benefits of acetaminophen.
How are Acetaminophen and Paracetamol Taken?
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are available under many brand names, each with its administration and dosing specifications.
Some standard dosing regimens are as follows:
Acetaminophen for minor aches and pains:
Take all the doses every four hours for up to 10 days.
Acetaminophen for fever reduction:
Take oral liquid or tablet every four to six hours for up to three days.
Another commonly used brand is Panadol, which contains paracetamol and a combination of paracetamol and caffeine. This branded product contains 500 mg of paracetamol and 65 mg of caffeine. Take two tablets every four to six hours as needed.
Acetaminophen/paracetamol for kids:
Duration of Effect: Acetaminophen vs. Paracetamol
Oral paracetamol has excellent bioavailability (the ability of a drug to be absorbed in the body to produce a therapeutic effect).
Specifically, oral paracetamol reaches its peak plasma concentrations within 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion, known as a half-life (when half of the drug is expelled from the body) is about 120 minutes. Some 90% to 100% of the drug may be discharged in the urine within 24 hours of administration.
In comparison, acetaminophen has a high oral bioavailability of 88%. It absorbs well and reaches the peak blood concentrations within 90 minutes after ingestion.
Acetaminophen distributes widely throughout most body tissues except in fats. It has a 1.5 to 2.5 hours plasma half-life at the recommended doses.
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are widely used and are safe when taken in recommended doses. However, potential side effects/safety hazards associated with their use are listed below.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects associated with the use of acetaminophen and paracetamol include:
Severe Side Effects
More severe effects associated with the use of acetaminophen and paracetamol include:
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any symptoms that cause discomfort or seem to worsen your existing condition.
When to Avoid Acetaminophen or Paracetamol
Acetaminophen and paracetamol carry an FDA-designatedboxed warningthat warns against consequential dosing errors, particularly when administering acetaminophen or paracetamol to anyone under 18.
As such, be sure that the total daily dose of acetaminophen or paracetamol does not exceed the recommended maximum amount.
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are also linked to liver failure, sometimes leading to liver transplants or death. The hepatotoxicity occurring with acetaminophen is caused due to high doses of acetaminophen that exceed the daily limit.
Use acetaminophen or paracetamol with caution if any of the following applies:
Interactions: Acetaminophen vs. Paracetamol
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are some of the most widely used drugs worldwide.
Nonetheless, acetaminophen and paracetamol may interact negatively with the following drugs:
Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of your medications when taken with acetaminophen or paracetamol or monitor you for adverse effects.
This may be a partial list of medicines that interact with acetaminophen or paracetamol.
Summary
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are among the most commonly used pain and fever management drugs.
Specifically, these active ingredients are present within hundreds of OTC and prescription medicines for pain, flu, cold, and fever.
Notably, acetaminophen and paracetamol are the same in chemical structure and pharmacological activity.
However, the two drugs may differ in brand names, strengths, combination products, and dosage forms.
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are first-choice analgesics for many adults with pain and are generally well tolerated at recommended doses.
These drugs may be preferable to NSAIDs but can cause undesirable gastrointestinal (GI), kidney, and heart effects.
Therefore, always use this medicine within recommended daily amounts to avoid adverse effects.
Frequently Asked QuestionsStore at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F) in a cool, dry place.Moreover, keep all medicines locked away from the reach of children and pets. If you need to discard your medication(s), contact your community drug take-back program or pharmacist and ask how to discard unwanted medicines safely.Acetaminophen and paracetamol come with an FDA-boxed warning regarding dosing errors and liver disease. The liver disorders occurring with acetaminophen/paracetamol are caused due to high doses that exceed the daily limit.
Store at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F) in a cool, dry place.Moreover, keep all medicines locked away from the reach of children and pets. If you need to discard your medication(s), contact your community drug take-back program or pharmacist and ask how to discard unwanted medicines safely.
Acetaminophen and paracetamol come with an FDA-boxed warning regarding dosing errors and liver disease. The liver disorders occurring with acetaminophen/paracetamol are caused due to high doses that exceed the daily limit.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ayoub SS.Paracetamol (acetaminophen): a familiar drug with an unexplained mechanism of action.Temperature (Austin). 2021;8(4):351-371. doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1886392New England Journal of Medicine: Knowledge+.Non-opioid analgesics role in pain management.Plaisance KI, Mackowiak PA.Antipyretic therapy: physiologic rationale, diagnostic implications, and clinical consequences.Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(4):449-456. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.4.449Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ghanem CI, Pérez María J, Manautou JE, Mottino AD.Acetaminophen; from liver to brain: new insights into drug pharmacological action and toxicity.Pharmacol Res. 2016;109:119-131. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.020Jóźwiak-Bebenista M, Nowak JZ.Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety concern.Acta Pol Pharm. 2014;71(1):11-23.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen.Prescriber’s digital reference.Feverall.DailyMed.Label: Panadol- acetaminophen suspension.Mazaleuskaya LL, Sangkuhl K, Thorn CF, FitzGerald GA, Altman RB, Klein TE.PharmGKB summary: pathways of acetaminophen metabolism at the therapeutic versus toxic doses.Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2015;25(8):416-426. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000150DailyMed.Label: acetaminophen 250 mg Aspirin 250 mg caffeine 65 mg tablet.PubChem.Acetaminophen.MedlinePlus.Storing your medicines.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ayoub SS.Paracetamol (acetaminophen): a familiar drug with an unexplained mechanism of action.Temperature (Austin). 2021;8(4):351-371. doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1886392New England Journal of Medicine: Knowledge+.Non-opioid analgesics role in pain management.Plaisance KI, Mackowiak PA.Antipyretic therapy: physiologic rationale, diagnostic implications, and clinical consequences.Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(4):449-456. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.4.449Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ghanem CI, Pérez María J, Manautou JE, Mottino AD.Acetaminophen; from liver to brain: new insights into drug pharmacological action and toxicity.Pharmacol Res. 2016;109:119-131. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.020Jóźwiak-Bebenista M, Nowak JZ.Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety concern.Acta Pol Pharm. 2014;71(1):11-23.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen.Prescriber’s digital reference.Feverall.DailyMed.Label: Panadol- acetaminophen suspension.Mazaleuskaya LL, Sangkuhl K, Thorn CF, FitzGerald GA, Altman RB, Klein TE.PharmGKB summary: pathways of acetaminophen metabolism at the therapeutic versus toxic doses.Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2015;25(8):416-426. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000150DailyMed.Label: acetaminophen 250 mg Aspirin 250 mg caffeine 65 mg tablet.PubChem.Acetaminophen.MedlinePlus.Storing your medicines.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ayoub SS.Paracetamol (acetaminophen): a familiar drug with an unexplained mechanism of action.Temperature (Austin). 2021;8(4):351-371. doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1886392New England Journal of Medicine: Knowledge+.Non-opioid analgesics role in pain management.Plaisance KI, Mackowiak PA.Antipyretic therapy: physiologic rationale, diagnostic implications, and clinical consequences.Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(4):449-456. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.4.449Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420Ghanem CI, Pérez María J, Manautou JE, Mottino AD.Acetaminophen; from liver to brain: new insights into drug pharmacological action and toxicity.Pharmacol Res. 2016;109:119-131. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.020Jóźwiak-Bebenista M, Nowak JZ.Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety concern.Acta Pol Pharm. 2014;71(1):11-23.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen.Prescriber’s digital reference.Feverall.DailyMed.Label: Panadol- acetaminophen suspension.Mazaleuskaya LL, Sangkuhl K, Thorn CF, FitzGerald GA, Altman RB, Klein TE.PharmGKB summary: pathways of acetaminophen metabolism at the therapeutic versus toxic doses.Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2015;25(8):416-426. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000150DailyMed.Label: acetaminophen 250 mg Aspirin 250 mg caffeine 65 mg tablet.PubChem.Acetaminophen.MedlinePlus.Storing your medicines.
MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.
Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E.Paracetamol: a review of guideline recommendations.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. doi:10.3390/jcm10153420
Ayoub SS.Paracetamol (acetaminophen): a familiar drug with an unexplained mechanism of action.Temperature (Austin). 2021;8(4):351-371. doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1886392
New England Journal of Medicine: Knowledge+.Non-opioid analgesics role in pain management.
Plaisance KI, Mackowiak PA.Antipyretic therapy: physiologic rationale, diagnostic implications, and clinical consequences.Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(4):449-456. doi:10.1001/archinte.160.4.449
Ghanem CI, Pérez María J, Manautou JE, Mottino AD.Acetaminophen; from liver to brain: new insights into drug pharmacological action and toxicity.Pharmacol Res. 2016;109:119-131. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.02.020
Jóźwiak-Bebenista M, Nowak JZ.Paracetamol: mechanism of action, applications and safety concern.Acta Pol Pharm. 2014;71(1):11-23.
Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen.
Prescriber’s digital reference.Feverall.
DailyMed.Label: Panadol- acetaminophen suspension.
Mazaleuskaya LL, Sangkuhl K, Thorn CF, FitzGerald GA, Altman RB, Klein TE.PharmGKB summary: pathways of acetaminophen metabolism at the therapeutic versus toxic doses.Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2015;25(8):416-426. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000150
DailyMed.Label: acetaminophen 250 mg Aspirin 250 mg caffeine 65 mg tablet.
PubChem.Acetaminophen.
MedlinePlus.Storing your medicines.
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