When you're battling flu symptoms or dealing with general aches and pains, paracetamol is often the go-to remedy. Widely regarded for its effectiveness in relieving various ailments, approximately 200 millionpackets of this painkiller are purchased over the counter annually across the UK.

However, you might be surprised to discover that paracetamol isn't necessarily appropriate for everyone. In fact, certain people are recommended to speak with a healthcare professional before using this medication to prevent any potential adverse reactions.

The NHS advises that this particularly applies to anyone who has previously experienced an allergic reaction to medications, including paracetamol, as well as those with a history of kidney or liver conditions.

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Additional people who should seek medical guidance beforehand include:

Further advice from the NHS explains: "Paracetamol is a common painkiller used to treat aches and pain. It can also be used to reduce a high temperature. It's available to buy from a pharmacy or shop, but you may be able to get 1g tablets on prescription if you have long-term pain.

"It comes as tablets, capsules, syrup, powder that you mix with water, or suppositories. The 1g tablets are only available if prescribed by a doctor. Paracetamol is also available combined with other painkillers and anti-sickness medicines. It is used in a wide range of cold and flu remedies."

Paracetamol is typically safe to take alongside most prescription medicines and antibiotics, though there are certain exceptions. If you've been prescribed warfarin to prevent blood clots, or any medication for epilepsy or tuberculosis, it's best to speak with a doctor before using paracetamol.

When it comes to combining paracetamol with other painkillers, the NHS states: "It's safe to take paracetamol with other types of painkiller that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine. Do not take paracetamol alongside other medicines that contain paracetamol. If you take two different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose."

For most adults, the standard dose is two 500mg tablets taken four times within 24 hours, ensuring at least four hours between each dose. You shouldn't exceed eight tablets during this period.

Whilst paracetamol is generally considered safe for most people, this advice comes after research from the University of Nottingham revealed potential risks associated with long-term use. The study, published in November 2024, cautioned that repeated doses in older patients could heighten the risk of heart, gastrointestinal, and kidney complications.

During their investigation, researchers analysed medical records from 180,483 people aged 65 and above who had been prescribed paracetamol. These were compared against 402,478 people of similar age who hadn't taken the medication.

The findings were concerning, revealing that 'prolonged paracetamol usage' could significantly raise the risk of 'serious complications', including heart failure, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and chronic kidney disease.

As a result, the research team called for a 'careful reconsideration' of prescribing paracetamol as the first-line treatment for managing long-term pain.

Lead author Professor Weiya Zhang explained at the time: "Whilst further research is now needed to confirm our findings, given its minimal pain-relief effect, the use of paracetamol as a first-line pain killer for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully considered."

For more information on paracetamol, visit the NHS website. Always read the packaging for specific instructions on taking drugs like Disprol, Hedex, Medinol, Panadol, and others containing paracetamol as an active ingredient, as instructions may vary.