Panadol Soluble Tablets (20)

Panadol Soluble Tablets are paracetamol 500mg tablets that dissolve in water instead of being swallowed whole. The pack of 20 is for the temporary relief of headache and tension headache, migraine, toothache, sore throat, cold and flu symptoms, muscular aches, period pain and fever.

What is in Panadol Soluble?

One active ingredient: paracetamol 500mg per tablet. That is the whole story, and it is worth saying plainly because it is the most asked question about Panadol. There is no codeine, no caffeine, no antihistamine and no decongestant in this product. Other products in the Panadol range do add those, which is exactly why you should read the box rather than assume.

Because the only active is paracetamol, it does not irritate the stomach lining the way aspirin and anti-inflammatories can, which is why it is generally the pain reliever suggested for people who cannot take those.

Why choose a soluble tablet

Two honest reasons, and one trade-off.

• Swallowing. Dissolved in water there is no tablet to get down, which matters for anyone who struggles with tablets, has a sore throat, or is feeling too unwell to manage one.
• It is already in solution when you drink it, so it does not have to disintegrate in the stomach first.

How much paracetamol is safe

According to healthdirect, adults should take no more than 1 gram every 4 to 6 hours, up to a total of 4 grams in 24 hours. At 500mg per tablet that is two tablets per dose and eight tablets in a day, as an absolute ceiling rather than a target.

For children aged 1 month to 12 years the dose is 15mg per kilogram of body weight, given every 4 to 6 hours, with no more than 4 doses in 24 hours. Paracetamol should not be given to babies under one month old. Children's doses are weight-based rather than age-based, so a dosing device and the child's actual weight matter more than a guess.

Why paracetamol overdose is different

This is the part worth knowing before you ever need it. In overdose, paracetamol can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, liver damage, seizures, coma and death - and the symptoms usually appear about 24 hours afterwards, not straight away. Feeling fine is not evidence that nothing is wrong.

If too much has been taken, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance, even if there are no symptoms at all, or ring the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Treatment works best when it is early, which is precisely why waiting to see how you feel is the wrong move.

Check with a doctor before using paracetamol if you have liver problems or kidney problems, if you drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol, or if you are very underweight, since a smaller dose is needed.

Panadol, Panamax and paracetamol: the same medicine

All three deliver the same active ingredient at the same strength. What you are choosing between is format, pack size and price, not potency. Where a branded and a generic pack both list paracetamol 500mg, they do the same job.

See the wider medical supplies range for other pharmacy items.

Specifications

Sources. Adult and children's dosing, the warning about other paracetamol-containing medicines, overdose timing and the groups who should check with a doctor first are from healthdirect.gov.au, the Australian government health service. Last reviewed 17 September 2026.

Always read the label and use only as directed. Incorrect use can be harmful. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Keep all medicines out of reach of children. For poisoning advice in Australia, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26; in an emergency call 000.