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Maximum Paracetamol Dose — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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EasyPain ManagementMaximum Paracetamol DoseSCE Palliative Medicine

A palliative care pharmacist asks about the maximum daily dose of paracetamol in a patient with normal hepatic function and a body weight over 50 kg. According to current UK guidance, what is the maximum recommended dose?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — 4 g per day in divided doses (1 g four times daily)

Explanation lettering: D = shown as C · E = shown as D · C = shown as E

The standard maximum daily dose of paracetamol for adults weighing over 50 kg with normal liver function is 4 g in divided doses (typically 1 g every 6 hours or four times daily). This is supported by NHS‑wide guidance and local NHS trust dosing protocols. Option B precisely matches this safe limit. Option A is incorrect—there is a well‑established maximum. Options C and E (6 g, 8 g) exceed safety parameters and risk hepatotoxicity. Option D (2 g) understates the accepted safe limit in patients without risk factors.

Reference: NHS ‘Paracetamol for adults’ (2026); BNSSG Oral Paracetamol Dosing in Adult Patients guideline (2023), https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/