1. Why am I using Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets?

Panadol Rapid Caplets and Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets contain the active ingredient paracetamol.

Paracetamol works to stop the pain messages from getting through to the brain. It also acts in the brain to reduce fever.

Paracetamol is used for the fast effective temporary relief of pain and discomfort associated with various pain states including:

• Headache
• Muscular aches
• Period pain
• Toothache
• Migraine headache
• Colds and flu
• Tension headache

Paracetamol also reduces fever.

2. What should I know before I use Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets?

Warnings

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.

Do not take more than the recommended dose as it may cause serious harm to your liver.

Do not use Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets if:

• you are allergic to paracetamol, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
• 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.
• the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• have or have had any other medical conditions such as liver or kidney problems

• are underweight or malnourished
• regularly drink alcohol – you may need to avoid using this product altogether or limit the amount of paracetamol that you take.
• have a severe illness, severe infection including blood infection, are severely malnourished or are a chronic heavy alcohol user as this may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis (a blood and fluid abnormality). Signs of metabolic acidosis include:
  • deep, rapid, difficult breathing
  • feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting)
  • loss of appetite
  • drowsiness

Contact your doctor immediately if you think you may be affected.

Panadol Rapid Caplets

Two Panadol Rapid Caplets contain 352 mg sodium. If you are on a low sodium diet, ask your doctor about using these medicines before you take them.

Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets

Each Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablet contains 425.5 mg sodium. If you are on a low sodium diet, ask your doctor about using these medicines before you take them.

Each Panadol Rapid Soluble tablet contains 50 mg sorbitol. Do not take this medicine if you have fructose intolerance. This medicine may have a mild laxative effect and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Panadol Rapid Soluble tablets contains sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Panadol Rapid Soluble tablets contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine. Do not use it if you are a phenylketonuric.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

If you are not sure whether you should start using this medicine, talk to your pharmacist or doctor

Consider taking the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

This product is suitable for breastfeeding.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and paracetamol may interfere with each other. These include:

• Warfarin or similar medicines used to thin the blood
• Metoclopramide, a medicine used to control nausea and vomiting
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy or fits
• Chloramphenicol, an antibiotic used to treat ear and eye infections
• Alcohol
• Probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout or sometimes given with an antibiotic
• Cholestyramine, a medicine used to treat high cholesterol levels in the blood
• Flucloxacillin (an antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (metabolic acidosis)

Your pharmacist and doctor will have more information on these and other medicines to be careful with or avoid while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets.

4. How do I use Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets?

Follow all directions given to you by your pharmacist or doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your pharmacist or doctor for help.

Use the smallest dose that you need to treat your symptoms and use the medicine for the shortest period of time necessary.

Do not exceed the stated or recommended dose.

How much to take

Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours.

Panadol Rapid Caplets:

Swallow with water or other fluid

Adults and children aged 12 years and over: Take 2 tablets every four to six hours as needed. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Do not use in children under 12 years.

Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets:

Dissolve the tablets in a glass of water at room temperature then drink it.

Adults and children aged 12 years and over: Take 2 tablets every four to six hours as needed. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Do not use in children under 12 years.

How long to use it

• Adults: Only take paracetamol for a few days at a time unless your doctor tells you to take it for longer.
• Children 12-17 years: Only give paracetamol to children for up to 48 hours unless a doctor has told you to give it for longer.

If you use too much Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets

If you think that you have used too much Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets, you may need urgent medical attention.

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much PANADOL RAPID CAPLETS or PANADOL RAPID SOLUBLE TABLETS, you should IMMEDIATELY:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (by calling 13 11 26 for Australia, 0800 764 766 for NZ), or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage or failure if left untreated.

5. What should I know while using Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets?

Things you should do

See your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets.

Things you should not do

Do not use Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets to treat any other complaints unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.

Adults: Do not use for more than a few days at a time unless your doctor tells you to.

Children: Do not give Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets for more than 48 hours unless a doctor has told you to.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Panadol Rapid Caplets or Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets affects you.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you drink alcohol.

Only drink small quantities of alcohol (beer, wine or spirits) while using paracetamol.

Drinking large quantities of alcohol while taking paracetamol may increase the risk of liver side effects.

Looking after your medicine

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Keep away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep your medicine in the original pack until it is time to take it.

Keep out of sight and reach of children.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using PANADOL RAPID CAPLETS or PANADOL RAPID SOLUBLE TABLETS.

This medicine helps most people with various types of pain but it may have unwanted side effects. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask you pharmacist or doctor to answer any questions you may have.

If any of the following happen, stop using the product and tell your pharmacist or doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

Serious side effects

The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au or reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

7. Product details

This medicine is available over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription.

What Panadol Rapid Caplets contain

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets contain

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients

What Panadol Rapid Caplets looks like

Panadol Rapid Caplets are white to off-white capsule-shaped film coated tablets with flat edges. One face of the tablet is debossed with the letter "P" and "--" on the other side.

AUST R 332528 (Panadol Rapid Caplets (reformulation))

What Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets look like

Panadol Rapid Soluble tablets are round, white, flat tablets with bevelled edges. They have no markings on them.

AUST R 15509 (PANADOL Rapid Soluble Tablets)

Who distributes Panadol Rapid Caplets and Panadol Rapid Soluble Tablets

Haleon Australia

Level 48, 8 Parramatta Square,

10 Darcy Street, Parramatta NSW

2150 and Auckland, New Zealand

This leaflet was prepared in January 2026.