What Tachipirina is and what it is used for Tachipirina is a solution in drops for oral use and contains the main active ingredient paracetamol. Paracetamol acts by reducing fever (antipyretic) and alleviating pain (analgesic). Tachipirina oral drops are used in children weighing less than 12 kg for: - the treatment of feverish conditions such as influenza, exanthematous diseases (infectious diseases typical in children and adolescents), acute diseases of the respiratory tract, etc. - pain of various types and origins (headache, neuralgia, muscular pain and other moderate manifestations of pain). You must talk to a doctor if your child does not feel better or feels worse after 3 days of treatment. What you need to know before you use Tachipirina Do not take Tachipirina: - if the person who is going to use this medicinal product is allergic to paracetamol or any of the other ingredients in this medicine;- if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from severe haemolytic anaemia (illness caused by the destruction of red blood cells); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from severe liver disease (severe hepatocellular disease). Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Tachipirina. Use with caution in the following cases: - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from bulimia (eating behaviour disorder in which a person ingests an excessive quantity of food and subsequently uses various methods to eliminate it); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from cachexia (a condition characterised by extreme thinness, reduced muscle mass and thinning of the skin caused by chronic illness); - if the person who is going to take this medicine has followed an improper diet over a long period of time (chronic malnutrition); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from dehydration (severe loss of water/fluids in the body) - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from hypovolaemia (low blood volume in the body); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from liver diseases which reduce functionality (liver impairment, hepatitis, Gilbert’s syndrome); - if the person who is going to take this medicine is under concomitant treatment with medicinal products which alter liver function (see “Other medicines and Tachipirina”); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from a shortage of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (a substance normally present in the human body, a shortage of which can cause a blood disorder); - if the person who is going to take this medicine suffers from haemolytic anaemia (illness caused by the destruction of red blood cells) Use at high doses and/or for prolonged periods The use of high and/or prolonged doses of this medicinal product can cause liver disorders (liver disease) and kidney and blood alterations, some severe. In such cases, the doctor will perform specific tests to monitor liver and kidney function and blood composition over time. Before giving this medicinal product to the child, tell your doctor if the child who is going to take it suffers from any liver or kidney disorders. Other medicines and Tachipirina Tell your doctor or pharmacist if the child is taking, has recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor if the person who is going to take the medicine is taking:- medicinal products which contain paracetamol. During treatment with paracetamol, before giving the child any other medicine, check that it does not contain paracetamol, as when taken at high doses, paracetamol can result in severe adverse effects;- medicinal products which slow the emptying of the stomach (e.g. anticholinergics, opioids), as these delay the effect of Tachipirina; - medicinal products which accelerate the emptying of the stomach (e.g. prokinetics), as these accelerate the effect of Tachipirina; - cholestyramine (a medicinal product used to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood) as this reduces the effect of paracetamol; - chloramphenicol (an antibiotic) as this can increase the risk of side effects; - anticoagulants, medicinal products used to slow down the coagulation of the blood. In this case, especially for prolonged treatment and high doses of paracetamol (4 g daily for at least 4 days), Tachipirina should only be given to the child under strict medical supervision; - medicinal products or substances that alter liver function during chronic treatment, for example: - rifampicin (an antibiotic); - cimetidine (a medicinal product used in the treatment of stomach ulcers);- antiepileptics (medicinal products used to treat epilepsy) such as glutethimide, phenobarbital or carbamazepine; - zidovudine (medicinal product used in the treatment of HIV). The use of these medicinal products with Tachipirina requires close medical supervision. Interference with blood tests Should the child taking this medicinal product have to undergo blood tests, be aware that the administration of paracetamol can interfere with the determination of uricaemia and glycaemia. Tachipirina contains sorbitol Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that the child has an intolerance to certain sugars or if the child has been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance, a rare genetic disease in which patients are unable to digest fructose, talk to your doctor before the child takes this medicine.Tachipirina contains propylene glycol, which may cause alcohol-like symptoms.Tachipirina and latexThe drop-counter pump is made from natural rubber (latex), which may cause severe allergic reactions.If you use more Tachipirina than you should In the event of accidental ingestion/intake of an excessive dose of Tachipirina, contact a doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital. Symptoms In the event of accidental ingestion of very high doses of paracetamol, the symptoms you/your child may experience within the first 12-48 hours include: - anorexia (lack or reduction of appetite); - nausea; - vomiting; - significant deterioration in general condition; - severe liver damage (hepatic cytolysis) which can lead to the liver not being able to fullfil its function (hepatocellular insufficiency), excessive production of metabolic acids (metabolic acidosis) and brain damage (encephalopathy); - alterations in blood laboratory levels (increased levels of transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin in the blood, reduced blood prothrombin levels). Taking an excessive dose of paracetamol increases the risk of intoxication and can lead to death, particularly in the following cases: - if you suffer from liver disease, - chronic alcoholism, - if you have followed an improper diet over a long period of time (chronic malnutrition); - if you are taking medicinal products or substances which increase liver function. If you forget to use Tachipirina Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Tachipirina If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If any of the following side effects arise, STOP treatment with this medicine and contact your doctor immediately: • allergic reactions with: - reddening of skin accompanied by itchiness (urticaria); - swelling of the throat (laryngeal oedema); - swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, tongue and/or throat (angioedema); - serious allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock). The person taking this medicinal product could experience the following side effects, on which there is insufficient data available to establish their frequency. Effects involving the blood: • reduction in blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia); • reduced white blood cell count (leukopenia/agranulocytosis); • reduced haemoglobin, a substance that transports oxygen in the blood (anaemia). Effects involving the nervous system: • vertigo. Effects involving the stomach and intestine: • stomach and intestinal disorders. Effects involving the liver: • impaired liver function; • liver inflammation (hepatitis). Effects involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue: red spots, blisters with areas of skin detachment, blisters, skin eruptions (erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) Very rare cases of severe skin reactions have been reported. Effects involving the kidneys and the urinary tract: • impaired kidney function (acute renal failure); • inflammation of the kidneys (interstitial nephritis); • blood in the urine (haematuria); • cessation or reduced production of urine (anuria). Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system on the website https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazioni-reazioni-avverse. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. How to store Tachipirina Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Shelf life after first opening: 1 year Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.This is an OTC drug, so it can be taken without a doctor's recommendation.Before using this medicine read carefully the package leaflet as it contains more detailed information.For any uncertainty consult your doctor or pharmacist.