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Panadol ActiFast Tablets (GSL)

Active Ingredient:
paracetamol
Company:  
Haleon UK Trading Limited See contact details
ATC code: 
N02BE01
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About Medicine
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General Sales List
Healthcare Professionals (SmPC) Patient Leaflet (PIL)
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The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine.
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Last updated on emc: 13 Mar 2025
{pdf} View or print the patient leaflet as PDF

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet (ePIL).

The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on {phone} 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 44673/0082.

{printer} Print patient leaflet as text only

Panadol ActiFast

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Panadol ActiFast

Paracetamol

Please read right through this leaflet before you start using this medicine.

This medicine is available without prescription, but you still need to use Panadol ActiFast tablets carefully to get the best results from them.

  • Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
  • If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, ask your pharmacist.
  • Contains paracetamol.

In this leaflet:

1. What Panadol ActiFast does
2. Check before you take Panadol ActiFast
3. How to take Panadol ActiFast
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Panadol ActiFast
6. Further information

1. What Panadol ActiFast does

Panadol ActiFast is used for fast pain relief of headaches, including migraine and tension headaches, toothache, backache, rheumatic and muscle pains, and period pain.

It also relieves sore throat and the feverishness, aches and pains of colds and flu.

The active ingredient is paracetamol which is a painkiller and also reduces your temperature when you have a fever.

2. Check before you take Panadol ActiFast
Do not take Panadol ActiFast:
  • if you have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol or to any of the other ingredients (listed in Section 6)
  • if you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription medicines containing paracetamol to treat pain, fever, symptoms of cold and flu, or to aid sleep.

Ask your doctor before you take this medicine:
  • if you are on a controlled sodium diet. Each tablet contains 173 mg of sodium.
  • if you have liver or kidney problems
  • if you are underweight or malnourished
  • if you regularly drink alcohol
  • if you have severe infection or severe illnesses, including severe renal impairment or sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), or you suffer from malnutrition, chronic alcoholism or if you are also taking flucloxacillin (an antibiotic). A serious condition called metabolic acidosis (a blood and fluid abnormality) has been reported in patients in these situations when paracetamol is used at regular doses for a prolonged period or when paracetamol is taken together with flucloxacillin.

Signs of metabolic acidosis may include:

  • serious breathing difficulties with deep rapid breathing
  • drowsiness
  • feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting)
  • loss of appetite

During treatment with Panadol ActiFast, tell your doctor straight away if you get a combination of these symptoms. You may need to avoid using this product altogether or limit the amount of paracetamol that you take.

If you are taking other medicines

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets if you are taking any prescribed medicines; particularly metoclopramide or domperidone (for nausea [feeling sick] or vomiting [being sick]) or colestyramine (to lower blood cholesterol); flucloxacillin (antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (called metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment (see section 2). If you take blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants e.g. warfarin) and you need to take a pain reliever on a daily basis, talk to your doctor because of the risk of bleeding. But you can still take occasional doses of Panadol ActiFast at the same time as anticoagulants.

Pregnancy and breast feeding

Talk to your healthcare professional before taking Panadol ActiFast if you are pregnant. You can take this product whilst breast feeding.

3. How to take Panadol ActiFast

Adults and children aged 16 years and over:

Swallow 2 tablets with half a tumbler of water (100 ml), every 4 hours as needed. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

To obtain fast action pain relief, the dose must be 2 tablets and must be taken with half a tumbler of water (100 ml). For fastest pain relief, this should be on an empty stomach.

Children aged 12-15 years:

Swallow 1 tablet with half a tumbler of water (100 ml), every 4 hours as needed. Do not give more than 4 tablets in 24 hours.

  • Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours.
  • Do not take more than the recommended dose.
  • Do not give to children under 12 years.

If you take too many tablets

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.

If your symptoms continue or your headache becomes persistent, see your doctor.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Panadol ActiFast can have side effects but not everybody gets them.

A small number of people have had side effects. Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.

Stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience:

  • Allergic reactions which may be severe such as skin rash and itching sometimes with swelling of the mouth or face or shortness of breath
  • Skin rash or peeling, or mouth ulcers
  • Breathing problems. These are more likely if you have experienced them before when taking other painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin
  • Unexplained bruising or bleeding
  • Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin
  • A serious condition that can make blood more acidic (called metabolic acidosis), in patients with severe illness using paracetamol (frequency not known - see section 2).

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. 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 in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Panadol ActiFast

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the ‘EXP’ date shown on the pack.

Do not store above 25°C.

6. Further information

Active ingredient: Each tablet contains Paracetamol 500 mg.

Other ingredients: Sodium bicarbonate, starch pregelatinised, povidone, maize starch, potassium sorbate (E 202), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide (E 171), polydextrose, hypromellose, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycol.

Packs of Panadol ActiFast contain 10 or 14 tablets.

The marketing authorisation holder is

Haleon UK Trading Limited
The Heights
Weybridge
KT13 0NY
U.K.

and all enquiries should be sent to this address.

The manufacturer is

Haleon Ireland Dungarvan Limited
Knockbrack
Dungarvan
Co. Waterford
X35 RY76
Ireland

This leaflet was last revised in February 2025.

Trade Marks are owned by or licensed to the Haleon group of companies.

62000000216290

Haleon UK Trading Limited
Company image
Address
The Heights, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY, UK
Medical Information e-mail
[email protected]
Customer Care direct line
0800 783 8881
Medical Information Direct Line
0800 783 8881
WWW
https://www.haleon.com/