Calpol
✅ Fever reduction
✅ Pain relief
✅ Headache alleviation
✅ Muscle pain management
✅ Minor aches control
Calpol contains Paracetamol.
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
⚡ Quick Answer — What is Calpol?
Calpol is a paracetamol 500 mg tablet, part of one of the best-known paracetamol brand families in the world (GlaxoSmithKline). It is used for mild-to-moderate pain and fever — headache, dental pain, menstrual pain, muscle ache, cold and flu symptoms, and any cause of fever. Usual adult dose: 500 mg to 1 g every 4 to 6 hours, maximum 4 g (eight tablets) per 24 hours. Calpol is available as tablets, liquid suspension, drops, and suppositories — making it the go-to paracetamol brand for children as well as adults.
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Calpol 500 mg is a GlaxoSmithKline brand of paracetamol (acetaminophen), familiar in the UK and many other markets as the classic paracetamol brand for fever and mild-to-moderate pain. Although Calpol is best known for its paediatric suspension (used by generations of parents for childhood fever and vaccination-related pain), the 500 mg tablet is the standard adult formulation.
Paracetamol is the most commonly used analgesic in the world. It is on the WHO Essential Medicines List and is the first-line pain and fever medicine in children, pregnancy, older patients, and anyone at risk of NSAID side effects.
What Is Calpol Used For?
- Headache, including tension-type headache and migraine
- Dental pain, post-extraction pain
- Fever from any cause — viral, bacterial, post-vaccination, post-operative
- Muscle aches, mild back pain, cold and flu symptoms
- Menstrual pain (as first-line or alongside NSAIDs)
- Osteoarthritis pain (mild-to-moderate)
- Post-surgical pain — as part of multimodal analgesia
- Paediatric fever and pain (at weight-based dose)
How Does Calpol Work?
Paracetamol acts mainly on the central nervous system. It weakly inhibits cyclooxygenase (particularly a COX-3 variant) in the spinal cord and brain, modulates endogenous cannabinoid pathways, and may enhance descending serotonergic pain-inhibition. The net effect is reduced pain perception and a lower hypothalamic temperature setpoint. Paracetamol has essentially no anti-inflammatory effect in peripheral tissues, which is why it spares the stomach, kidneys, and platelets that NSAIDs can affect.
Calpol Dosing
- Adults and children > 12 years: 500 mg to 1 g (1–2 tablets) every 4–6 hours as needed
- Maximum: 4 g (4,000 mg) per 24 hours from all sources combined
- Children 6–12 years: 250–500 mg every 4–6 hours, maximum 60 mg/kg/day
- Children under 6 years: use Calpol paediatric suspension with weight-based dosing (120 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL strengths)
- Elderly, low body weight, chronic liver disease, regular alcohol use: reduce the daily ceiling to 2–3 g
Calpol tablets can be taken with or without food. Swallow with a full glass of water. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless your next scheduled dose is due within 2 hours — then skip. Never double up.
Paracetamol and the liver. Paracetamol is extremely safe at recommended doses but is the single most common cause of acute liver failure worldwide at higher doses. Do not exceed 4 g (4,000 mg) per day from all sources combined. That is 8 tablets of 500 mg. Be careful not to double-dose by combining branded paracetamol (Calpol, Anacin, Panadol, Crocin, Tylenol) with cold/flu preparations that often also contain paracetamol. Liver risk rises with regular alcohol use, chronic liver disease, and prolonged fasting — reduce the daily limit to 2 g in those cases.
Who Should Not Take Calpol?
- Known hypersensitivity to paracetamol
- Severe hepatic impairment (advanced cirrhosis, active hepatitis)
- Concurrent use of another paracetamol-containing product that would exceed 4 g/day
- Chronic heavy alcohol use without prior medical review
Side Effects
At recommended doses paracetamol is among the safest systemic medicines.
- Uncommon: mild skin rash, pruritus, nausea
- Rare: severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, TEN), thrombocytopenia, liver injury at supra-therapeutic doses
- Overdose: acute hepatotoxicity — the most important risk. Symptoms may be delayed 24–48 hours; any suspected overdose is a medical emergency.
Ordering & Delivery
MedsBase offers worldwide shipping on every order. Orders are dispatched in discreet packaging and arrive in branded manufacturer packs. If your preferred pack size is out of stock, contact customer support for an ETA.
Medical disclaimer. The information on this page is provided for general education only. It is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor or pharmacist. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing therapy, especially if you have a history of ulcer disease, heart disease, kidney disease, asthma, liver disease, or are pregnant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calpol used for?
Calpol (paracetamol 500 mg) is used for mild-to-moderate pain and fever — headache, dental pain, muscle ache, menstrual cramps, cold and flu, and fever from any cause. It is suitable for adults and, at weight-based doses, for children.
How is Calpol different from ibuprofen?
Calpol is paracetamol — a central pain and fever medicine with no anti-inflammatory effect. Ibuprofen is an NSAID that works on inflammation. Paracetamol is gentler on the stomach, kidneys, and platelets; ibuprofen is more effective when pain is inflammation-driven.
How fast does Calpol work?
Onset of pain and fever relief is usually within 30 minutes of an oral dose; peak effect at 1 hour.
Can I take Calpol with ibuprofen or diclofenac?
Yes. The combination is safe and commonly used for moderate pain.
Can I give Calpol to my child?
Yes, at correctly-weighed paediatric doses. For children under 6 years, the Calpol paediatric suspension is preferred to splitting adult tablets. Always measure with the supplied syringe or measuring cup — never with a household spoon.
Is Calpol safe in pregnancy?
Yes — paracetamol is the first-line pain and fever medicine in pregnancy. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Calpol?
Occasional light drinking at standard doses is acceptable. Regular or heavy drinking increases liver risk — reduce the daily ceiling to 2 g or avoid paracetamol altogether.
How much Calpol is too much?
Adults should not exceed 4 g (8 tablets of 500 mg) per 24 hours from all sources. Doses above 150 mg/kg can cause severe liver injury and are a medical emergency, even if you feel well initially.
Is Calpol the same as Crocin, Panadol, or Tylenol?
Yes — all are brands of paracetamol (acetaminophen). At the same strength they are clinically equivalent. Be careful not to take more than one paracetamol brand at the same time.
Can I take Calpol every day for chronic pain?
Short-term daily use is safe. For chronic daily use (e.g. osteoarthritis), stay well within the 4 g/day ceiling, avoid combining with other paracetamol-containing products, and review with your doctor.
What if my child vomits after Calpol?
If vomiting occurs within 30 minutes, the dose can be repeated. If vomiting occurs more than 30 minutes after the dose, do not repeat — most absorption has already happened.
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| Strength | 500 mg |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 30 Tablet/s, 60 Tablet/s, 90 Tablet/s, 180 Tablet/s |
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