Panadol Rapid

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Panadol Rapid

500 mg, effervescent tablets
Paracetamol

Read the package leaflet carefully before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

This medicine should always be taken exactly as described in this package leaflet for the patient or as directed by a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

• Keep this package leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you need advice or additional information, consult a pharmacist.
• If the patient experiences any side effects, including those not listed in this package leaflet, tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. See section 4.
• If after 3 days there is no improvement or the patient feels worse, consult a doctor.

Table of Contents of the Package Leaflet

• 1. What is Panadol Rapid and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Panadol Rapid
• 3. How to take Panadol Rapid
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Panadol Rapid
• 6. Contents of the package and other information

What is Panadol and what is it used for

Panadol Rapid effervescent tablets contain paracetamol, a substance with analgesic and antipyretic effects. Due to faster absorption, the effect of paracetamol in effervescent tablets may occur faster compared to regular paracetamol tablets.
The indication for the use of Panadol Rapid is pain of various origins of moderate severity, e.g.: headache, including migraine and tension headache, toothache, neuralgia, back pain, rheumatic and muscular pain, menstrual pain, sore throat, and fever and pain associated with colds or flu.

2. Important information before taking Panadol Rapid

When not to take Panadol Rapid:

• if the patient is hypersensitive to paracetamol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),
• in case of alcoholism,
• in case of severe liver or kidney failure.

Warnings and precautions

The medicine contains paracetamol.Do not take a dose higher than recommended.
Overdose of paracetamol may lead to severe liver damage.
Do not take this medicine simultaneously with other medicines containing paracetamol, such as pain relievers, antipyretics, used to treat flu and cold symptoms.
Read the package leaflet before taking the medicine and follow the instructions contained therein.
Before taking the medicine, consult a doctor if:

• there is liver or kidney failure,
• there is a deficiency of certain enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and methemoglobin reductase),
• the patient is underweight or malnourished, suffering from anorexia,
• the patient regularly consumes alcohol (it may be necessary to completely stop taking this product or reduce the dose),
• there is a severe infection (sepsis) that may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis include:
• deep, rapid, and difficult breathing,
• feeling of nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite,
• general poor condition. Consult a doctor immediately if the patient experiences the above symptoms simultaneously. Consult a doctor if the patient suffers from chronic headaches.

Do not drink alcohol while taking the medicine due to the increased risk of liver damage. There is a particular risk of liver damage in patients who are fasting and regularly drink alcohol. Existing liver disease increases the risk of liver damage associated with paracetamol use.
If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.
Keep the medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Do not take a dose higher than recommended.

Children

It is not recommended to use in children under 12 years of age or with a body weight below 50 kg, as Panadol Rapid 500 mg effervescent tablets cannot be divided.

Panadol Rapid and other medicines

Inform your doctor about all medicines taken recently, even those that are available without a prescription.
Do not take other medicines containing paracetamol at the same time.
Consult a doctor when taking the following medicines:
metoclopramide, domperidone (used against nausea and vomiting), cholestyramine (used to reduce high cholesterol levels in the blood), anticoagulant medicines in case of a need for long-term use of pain relievers, sedatives, antiepileptics, antitubercular medicines, MAO inhibitors (medicines used in depression), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (including acetylsalicylic acid).
Taking paracetamol may cause false results in some laboratory tests (e.g., glucose level measurement in the blood).
Paracetamol taken with MAO inhibitors may cause excitement and high temperature.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to have a child, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Panadol Rapid can be used during pregnancy if it is clinically justified. Take the smallest possible dose that reduces pain and/or fever, for the shortest time and as infrequently as possible.
Consult a doctor if pain and/or fever do not decrease or if you need to take the medicine more frequently. Like other medicines, this medicine should be used during pregnancy only if necessary.
Paracetamol passes into breast milk in amounts that are not clinically significant. Available data do not indicate any contraindications to breastfeeding during the use of this medicine. Like other medicines, this medicine should be used during breastfeeding only if necessary.

Driving and using machines

Panadol Rapid has no influence or insignificant influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

The medicine contains sorbitol and sodium

Sorbitol

The medicine contains 50 mg of sorbitol in each tablet. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If the patient (or their child) has previously been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars or has a rare genetic disease, hereditary fructose intolerance, in which the patient's body does not break down fructose, the patient should consult a doctor before taking the medicine or giving it to their child.

Sodium

1 tablet contains 427 mg of sodium, which corresponds to 21.4% (42.8% when taking 2 tablets) of the maximum daily dose of sodium recommended by the WHO for adults.

3. How to take Panadol Rapid

This medicine should always be taken exactly as described in this package leaflet for the patient or as directed by a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. In case of doubt, consult a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
For oral use only.
The medicine is taken orally, dissolved in half a glass of water.
Use in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age (with a body weight over 50 kg)

• 1-2 tablets, not more often than every 4 hours, not more than 4 doses in 24 hours. The maximum daily dose of paracetamol is 4000 mg (8 tablets) in divided doses.

Children aged 12 (with a body weight of 42 kg)

The dose of the medicine is determined based on the child's age and body weight.
A single dose is 10-15 mg/kg body weight:
for a child aged 12 (42 kg) - 1 tablet (500 mg)
not more often than every 4 hours, not more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
Maximum daily dose of paracetamol: 60 mg/kg body weight/24 hours in divided doses as above. Not more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
In case of any doubts about dosing, the child's caregiver should consult a doctor.

Children under 12 years of age or with a body weight below 50 kg

It is not recommended to use.
If necessary, Panadol suspension for children from 3 months of age should be administered.
In case of any doubts about dosing, consult a doctor.

Do not take a dose higher than recommended, not more often than every 4 hours.

Always use the lowest effective dose of the medicine, for the shortest time.

Without consulting a doctor, do not take the medicine regularly for more than 3 days.

Use of a higher dose of Panadol Rapid than recommended

In every case of taking a dose higher than recommended, immediately consult a doctor, even if the patient's condition is good and no symptoms of poisoning have been observed, due to the risk of delayed, severe liver damage, which may result in liver transplantation or death. In every case of taking paracetamol in a single dose of 5 g or more and if no more than an hour has passed since ingestion, vomiting can be provoked. Administer 60-100 g of activated charcoal orally, preferably mixed with water.
Overdose of paracetamol may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, drowsiness, and general weakness within a few or several hours. These symptoms may resolve the next day, despite the fact that liver damage is developing, which will then manifest as abdominal distension, return of nausea, and jaundice.

Missing a dose of Panadol Rapid

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Panadol Rapid can cause side effects.
Stop taking the medicine immediately and consult a doctor if:

• an allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) such as: skin rash or itching, sometimes accompanied by difficulty breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face,
• skin rash or severe skin reaction characterized by acute generalized pustular rash or blisters and erosions on the skin, in the mouth, eyes, and genitals, fever, and joint pain or large, bursting subcutaneous blisters, extensive skin erosions, and fever,
• breathing problems, if similar problems have occurred in the past when taking acetylsalicylic acid or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines,
• bruises or bleeding of unknown cause,
• liver function disorders. The above reactions are very rare, i.e., they occur in less than 1 in 10,000 patients.

Reporting side effects
If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this package leaflet, tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C
02-222 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 49 21 301
Fax: +48 22 49 21 309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
By reporting side effects, you can help gather more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Panadol Rapid

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging after EXP.
The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated.
Store in a temperature below 25°C.
Keep the medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the package and other information

What Panadol Rapid contains

• The active substance of the medicine is paracetamol. Each effervescent tablet contains 500 mg of paracetamol.
• The other ingredients are: sorbitol, sodium saccharin, sodium bicarbonate, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, dimethicone, anhydrous citric acid, anhydrous sodium carbonate.

What Panadol Rapid looks like and what the package contains

Panadol Rapid is a white effervescent tablet.
The package contains 12 or 24 effervescent tablets.

Marketing authorization holder

Haleon Poland Sp. z o.o.
ul. Rzymowskiego 53
02-697 Warsaw
phone: 800 702 849

Manufacturer

Haleon Ireland Dungarvan Limited
Knockbrack, Lisfennel,
Dungarvan,
Co. Waterford,
X35 RY76,
Ireland
FAMAR S.A.
7 Anthousa Av.
15344 Pallini
Attiki
Greece

Date of the last update of the package leaflet: February 2025

Detailed information about this medicine is available on the website of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products.