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Comment by Timpy

4 years ago

I don't think 1000mg is a small dose, I'm not a doctor but that seems like an extra-strength portion to me

The standard size of a Paracetamol (as it is known in the UK[0]) tablet in the UK is 500mg.

The normal dose is 2 tablets (i.e. 1000mg in total).

Wait at least 4 hours between doses.

Don't have more than 4 doses in a 24-hour period.

Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used medicines in the UK.

[0] - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/

  • Seems the UK has higher dosages. The UK recommended limit is 4000mg in 24 hours.

    Tylenol Extra Strength (acetaminophen, aka paracetamol) is also 500mg, but the recommended limit is 6 tablets (3000mg) in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen has an active dose very close to the lethal dose, and is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. While the daily limit is 4000mg, 1000mg is not un-common in formulations like extra-strength Tylenol.

The "standard dosage unit" in Canada is 325 mg (for adults), with extra-strength pills containing 500 or 650 mg.

1000 mg is pushing the daily limit (4000 mg, but it's got a halflife of ~6 hrs, so...)

  • 1,000 milligrams is not "pushing the daily limit". That is a normal adult dose and by a wide margin within what is considered safe for even chronic daily use.

    Like many people, when I have a headache or a sore muscle I take the dose recommended on the Tylenol bottle: 1,000 milligrams. It is not even remotely dangerous.

    Furthermore, if the original commenter is using acetaminophen to reduce rare psychological pain the margin of safety is even larger because she's using it only rarely.