IF you are in pain, you may be wondering how long it takes the acetaminophen to start working.
The over-the-counter pain relievers work for the most common ailments, from: headache until menstrual pain†
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Once you take a standard dose, it can take up to an hour to work, the NHS says.
But it can only be half an hour.
The effects can last for several hours, peaking around two hours after digestion.
A usual dose is one or two 500 mg tablets.
You don’t have to worry about when was the last time you ate or drank? something when taking paracetamol.
And it’s safe to drink a small amount of alcohol with the painkiller, the NHS says.
However, some research has suggested that what you drink when you take a pill may affect how quickly it is digested.
once a medicine If swallowed, it is broken down by stomach acids before passing through the liver and then entering the bloodstream.
The researchers said that “gastric emptying” — the process by which something moves from the stomach to the small intestine to become waste — normally takes about 15 minutes without food.
But regular drinks – such as orange juice and Coca-Cola – may slow the breakdown of pills, results of lab-controlled experiments published in the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal showed.
Experts said you should only drink a glass of water if you are taking medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to get the full effect.
If you are taking acetaminophen throughout the day, the doses should be spaced four hours apart.
You should not take more than eight 500 mg tablets (four doses) in any 24 hours.
The NHS website states: “Overdose of paracetamol can cause serious side effects. Don’t be tempted to increase the dose or take a double dose if your pain is very severe.”
The medicine is available in tablet form, which you can swallow with water.
For those who have trouble swallowing whole tablets, acetaminophen is also available in syrup form or as a soluble tablet.
It is important to read the directions on the package and talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking.