Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Paraserts contain a medicine called paracetamol. This belongs to a group of medicines called pain-killers (analgesics). A suppository is a small, torpedo-shaped medicine which is inserted into the back passage (rectum). Paraserts are used to treat pain and high temperature (fever) in children from 6 to 12 years of age e.g. headache, toothache, earache, sore throat, and aches and pains associated with colds and influenza. They can be used in children having difficulty taking paracetamol as tablets, capsules or syrup such as when nausea and/or vomiting is present.
You must talk to a doctor or pharmacist if your child does not feel better or if your child feels worse after 3 days.
Do not give Paraserts to your child if your child is: allergic to paracetamol, soya, peanuts, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6). taking any other medicines containing paracetamol.
OA RwWN =
If you are not sure of the cause of your child's illness or it is accompanied by a rash, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea or excessive tiredness or lethargy, speak to your doctor straight away. Do not give Paraserts until you get medical advice.
Warnings and precautions
During treatment with Paraserts, tell your child's doctor straight away if:
Your child has severe illnesses, including severe renal impairment or sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), or your child suffers from malnutrition, chronic alcoholism or if your child is also taking flucloxacillin (an antibiotic). A serious condition called metabolic acidosis (a blood and fluid abnormality) has been reported in patients in these situations when paracetamol is used at regular doses for a prolonged period or when paracetamol is taken together with flucloxacillin. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis may include: serious breathing difficulties with deep rapid breathing, drowsiness, feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting).
Before giving Paraserts, talk to your child's pharmacist or doctor if: = your child has problems with their liver or kidneys. your child is taking any of the following: - Medicines to treat nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick), such as metoclopramide and domperidone. - Colestyramine, used to reduce the level of cholesterol (fat) in the blood. - Medicines called anticoagulants, such as warfarin, used for treating blood clots or "thinning the blood". - Medicines called anticonvulsants used for treating epilepsy or fits (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine). - The antibiotic rifampicin. - Flucloxacillin (antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (called metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment (see section 2). If you are not sure what medicine your child is taking, show the bottle or pack to your pharmacist.
This medicine is for rectal use only. Do not put the suppository in your mouth or swallow it. If the suppository is swallowed accidentally, tell your child's doctor straight away or contact your nearest Accident and Emergency Department.
Always give this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. If you switch between oral and rectal paracetamol forms, leave at least 4 - 6 hours between doses, and never give these suppositories at the same time as oral liquids or tablets containing paracetamol.
This product is suitable for children aged 6 to 12 years.
Age Number of Minimum length of Maximum number of suppositories time between doses | suppositories in 24 hours 6 to 9 years 1 4-6 hours 4 10 to 12 years lor2 4-6 hours 4-8
Do not give your child more suppositories than stated above.
4/PC/05/2501/1067.v4
This product is not suitable for use in children under 6 years of age. Consult your child's doctor if symptoms get worse or do not improve within 3 days. \\
How to use the suppositories: Your child's bowels need to be empty when you give them this medicine. If your child needs to go to the toilet, make sure that they do it before you give them the suppository.
1. Wash your hands.
2. Peel the wrapping apart to take out the suppository. Do not break the suppository before use as the whole suppository should be administered.
3. _ It may be easier to give your child the suppository if they are lying on their front or side on a bed.
4. Gently push the suppository into your child's back passage with the pointed end first. To make it easier to give the suppository you may warm it slightly between your hands beforehand.
5. — Try to keep your child still for a minute or two and then wash your hands.
If you need to give a second suppository, then follow steps 1 to 5 again.
If your child vomits after having a suppository there is no need to give them another dose because of this. The suppository will still work normally as it is absorbed in the rectum.
If your child vomits after having taken oral paracetamol, it is possible they may have
( absorbed some of it. A suppository should not be administered until 4-6 hours has elapsed from the time the initial oral dose was given. m\
If you have given more Paraserts than you should Talk to a doctor at once if you give your child too much of this medicine even if they seem well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.
If you forget to give Paraserts to your child Do not give a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop giving Paraserts to your child immediately and call your child's doctor straight away if you notice your child has any signs of allergic reaction.
Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, hives, swallowing problems, difficulty breathing or wheezing, swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue.
The following side effects can happen with this medicine.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Mild redness or irritation around the rectum may occur. If symptoms persist for more than a few days after stopping use, consult your doctor.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported. Symptoms may include skin reddening, blisters, rash. lf skin reactions occur or existing skin symptoms worsen, stop use and seek medical help right away.
Frequency "Not known" (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): A serious condition that can make blood more acidic (called metabolic acidosis), in patients with severe illness using paracetamol (see section 2). Blood problems. If these happen, your child may bruise or bleed more easily than usual, be more susceptible to infections, or get a high temperature (fever) and ulcers in the mouth and throat.
Long term use: People who use medicines containing paracetamol every day for a long time (several months or more) could get certain side-effects, including liver damage. People taking paracetamol in the usual way for shorter periods have not had these problems, but liver function tests may be affected. If you notice any side effect not included in this leaflet, please tell your child's doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If your child gets any side effects, talk to a doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellow card or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store over 30°C. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
What Paraserts contain The active substance is paracetamol. Each suppository contains 250mg of paracetamol. The other ingredients are hydrogenated fat and soyabean lecithin.
What Paraserts look like and contents of the pack Cream coloured, torpedo shaped suppository, available in packs of 10 suppositories.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing authorisation holder: Amdeepcha Limited, 85 Yarmouth Road, Blofield, Norwich, Norfolk, NR13 4LQ, UK. Manufacturer: Dr. Pfleger Arzneimittel GmbH, Dr. Robert Pfleger Strasse 12, Bamberg, D-96052, Germany.
This package leaflet was last revised in November 2025.
4/PC/05/2501/1067.v4
Paraserts 250 mg Suppositories comes as suppositor containing 250 mg. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Paraserts 250 mg Suppositories is paracetamol.
Medicines with the same active substance include: Alvedon Suppositories 125 mg, Alvedon Suppositories 250 mg, Alvedon Suppositories 60 mg, Anadin Paracetamol Tablets, Boots 6 Years Plus Paracetamol 250 mg/5ml Oral Suspension (P), Boots 6 Years Plus Paracetamol 250mg/5ml Oral Suspension (GSL). They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Paraserts 250 mg Suppositories, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
For the treatment of mild to moderate pain and fever, for example, headache, toothache, earache, sore throat, and aches and pains associated with colds and influenza.
Paraserts Suppositories may be especially useful in patients having difficulty taking oral forms of paracetamol, e.g. patients with nausea and vomiting.
Method of administration: Rectal
Children aged 6 to 12 years:
6 to 9 years: 1 suppository every 4 to 6 hours.
10 to 12 years: 1-2 suppositories every 4 to 6 hours.
These doses may be repeated up to a maximum of 4 times in 24 hours. The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every 4 hours. The recommended dose should not be exceeded. Higher doses do not produce any increase in analgesic effect. The product should not be used for more than 3 days, except on the advice of a pharmacist or doctor.
Only whole suppositories should be administered – do not break the suppository before administration.
Hypersensitivity to paracetamol, or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Paraserts Suppositories contain soya oil. If you are allergic to peanut or soya, do not use this medicinal product.
The absorption of paracetamol is increased by metoclopramide or domperidone, and absorption is reduced by colestyramine.
The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be increased by long term regular daily use of paracetamol, with increased risk of bleeding. Occasional doses of paracetamol do not have a significant effect on these anticoagulants.
Enzyme-inducing medicines, such as some antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine) have been shown in pharmacokinetic studies to reduce the plasma AUC of paracetamol to approx. 60 %. Other substances with enzyme- inducing properties, e.g. rifampicin are also suspected of causing lowered concentrations of paracetamol. In addition, the risk of liver damage during treatment with maximum recommended doses of paracetamol will be higher in patients being treated with enzyme-inducing agents.
Caution should be taken when paracetamol is used concomitantly with flucloxacillin as concurrent intake has been associated with high anion gap metabolic acidosis due to pyroglutamic acidosis, especially in patients with risk factors (see section 4.4).
A large amount of data on pregnant women indicate neither malformative, nor feto/neonatal toxicity. Epidemiological studies on neurodevelopment in children exposed to paracetamol in utero show inconclusive results. If clinically needed, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy however it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible frequency.
Paracetamol is excreted in breast milk but not in clinically significant amounts. Available published data do not contraindicate breast feeding.
None known.
Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10 g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5 g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).
It is considered that excess quantities of a toxic metabolite (usually adequately detoxified by glutathione when normal doses of paracetamol are ingested) become irreversibly bound to liver tissue.
Risk factors:
If the patient:
a. Is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St John's Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes.
Or
b. Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts.
Or
c. Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, haemorrhage, hypoglycaemia, cerebral oedema, and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, strongly suggested by loin pain, haematuria and proteinuria, may develop in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.
Management:
Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose. Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see BNF overdose section.
Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken by mouth within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital.
Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with NPIS or a liver unit.
Ask anything about Paraserts 250 mg Suppositories. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
We use essential cookies to make the site work. We would also like to set optional cookies to understand how the site is used, so we can improve it. We will not set optional cookies unless you accept. See our cookie policy and privacy policy.