Active Ingredients
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) 500mg and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25mg per tablet
What Panadol Night Is Used For
Panadol Night is a combination medication specifically formulated for nighttime use, helping adults and children over 12 years of age manage pain that disrupts sleep. This medication is indicated for:
- Headaches and migraines that prevent restful sleep
- Backache and lower back pain
- Rheumatic and arthritic pain
- Toothache and dental pain
- Cold and flu symptoms that disturb sleep
- Muscular aches and pains
- Minor injuries and sprains
Paracetamol reduces pain and fever by blocking pain signals in the central nervous system and acting on the brain's temperature-regulating center. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine that promotes drowsiness, helping patients fall asleep despite pain-related discomfort. Together, these two ingredients address both the physical source of discomfort and the sleep disruption it causes, providing a more restful night when pain would otherwise make sleep difficult.
Important Safety Information
Who Should NOT Take Panadol Night
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to paracetamol, diphenhydramine, or any other ingredients in this product, have severe liver disease or liver failure, are currently taking other medications containing paracetamol or antihistamines, have narrow-angle glaucoma, have urinary retention or difficulty urinating, have an enlarged prostate, have severe respiratory disease or severe asthma, are taking or have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) within the last 14 days, are breastfeeding as diphenhydramine passes into breast milk and may harm nursing infants, or are under 12 years of age.
Serious Warnings and Precautions
Liver Damage Risk: Paracetamol can cause serious liver damage, including acute liver failure requiring transplantation or resulting in death, if too much is taken or taken too frequently. Never exceed the recommended dose. Many over-the-counter cold, flu, sinus, pain, and sleep medications also contain paracetamol. Taking multiple such products simultaneously can easily lead to accidental overdose. Always check all medications you are currently taking before using this product.
Drinking alcohol while taking paracetamol significantly increases your risk of liver damage. The combination of alcohol with diphenhydramine also intensifies sedation to dangerous levels. Do not consume alcohol while taking Panadol Night.
Sedation Warnings: Diphenhydramine causes significant drowsiness. This is intentional for nighttime use but carries serious risks if the medication is misused. Only take Panadol Night immediately before going to bed. Never take this medication if you need to drive, operate machinery, care for others, or perform any activity requiring alertness. The sedative effects can persist into the following morning, potentially impairing your ability to drive or perform tasks requiring full concentration. Based on our pharmacists' observations, morning grogginess is more commonly reported in older adults and those taking higher doses.
Dependency and Misuse Warning: Diphenhydramine can cause tolerance and psychological dependence when used regularly. This medication is intended for occasional, short-term use only. Do not take Panadol Night every night or for extended periods without consulting your doctor. If you experience persistent sleep difficulties or chronic pain, seek medical evaluation for appropriate long-term treatment options.
Anticholinergic Effects: Diphenhydramine has anticholinergic properties that can cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision, and confusion, particularly in older adults. These effects are significantly more pronounced in elderly patients, who should use this medication with extra caution and only under medical guidance.
Contact emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately if you have taken more than the recommended dose, experience signs of paracetamol overdose including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, confusion, sweating, or abdominal pain, develop difficulty breathing, experience severe confusion, hallucinations, or seizures, are unable to urinate, develop yellowing of skin or eyes, or if pain persists beyond the recommended duration.
Consult Your Doctor Before Use If You Have:
Liver disease or impaired liver function, kidney disease, heart disease or irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, respiratory conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, enlarged prostate or urinary problems, glaucoma, epilepsy or seizure disorders, thyroid disease, are pregnant, have Gilbert's syndrome, are severely underweight or malnourished, regularly take warfarin or other blood-thinning medications, have G6PD deficiency, take sedatives, sleeping pills, or anti-anxiety medications, take antidepressants or medications for psychiatric conditions, or are an older adult particularly sensitive to sedating medications.
Common Side Effects
When used as directed, some people may experience morning drowsiness or grogginess that persists after waking, dry mouth, nose, or throat, blurred vision, difficulty urinating or urinary retention, constipation, nausea or mild digestive upset, dizziness or lightheadedness, or paradoxical excitability (particularly in older adults and occasionally in some individuals who experience agitation rather than sedation with antihistamines).
Serious side effects require immediate medical attention. Stop use and seek emergency care if you develop severe allergic reactions including difficulty breathing, severe skin reactions, or facial and throat swelling, inability to urinate, severe confusion or hallucinations, seizures, chest pain or irregular heartbeat, or severe dizziness or loss of consciousness.
Drug Interactions
Panadol Night can interact with many medications. Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers, anti-anxiety medications or benzodiazepines, antidepressants including MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, or SSRIs, antihistamines in any other medications, warfarin or other anticoagulants, medications that affect the liver including certain antibiotics and anti-seizure medications, medications for urinary problems or enlarged prostate, medications for glaucoma, muscle relaxants, opioid pain medications, any other medications containing paracetamol or diphenhydramine, or any prescription or over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements. The combination of diphenhydramine with other sedating substances, including alcohol, significantly increases the risk of dangerous over-sedation.
How to Take Panadol Night
Adults and children over 12 years should take 2 tablets with water immediately before going to bed. Do not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water. Take only at bedtime, never during the day or if you need to remain alert. Do not take with alcohol. Ensure you have a full night of sleep available (at least 7-8 hours) before taking this medication to allow the sedative effect to wear off before you need to wake.
Do not use Panadol Night for more than 7 consecutive nights without consulting your doctor. If pain persists beyond this duration, or if sleep difficulties continue despite pain relief, seek medical evaluation for appropriate long-term management.
Based on our pharmacists' experience, patients get the best results from Panadol Night when they take it as part of a consistent sleep routine rather than only when pain becomes unbearable. Preparing for sleep by dimming lights, reducing screen time, and creating a quiet environment alongside the medication significantly improves outcomes. Patients should be advised that morning grogginess can be reduced by ensuring a full 8 hours of sleep after taking the medication. Older adults in particular should discuss this medication with their pharmacist before use, as sensitivity to diphenhydramine's sedating and anticholinergic effects increases significantly with age.
What You Need to Know Before Starting Treatment
Panadol Night is designed exclusively for nighttime use and should never be taken during the day. It treats pain and sleep disruption as symptoms but does not address the underlying cause of either. Persistent pain, recurring pain that consistently disrupts sleep, or chronic insomnia requires proper medical evaluation and long-term management rather than ongoing self-medication.
Regular nightly use of diphenhydramine can lead to tolerance, meaning the medication becomes less effective over time, and may create a cycle of dependency where sleep becomes difficult without it. If you find yourself needing this medication every night, consult your doctor to explore the underlying causes of your pain and sleep difficulties.
Older Adults: Diphenhydramine is included on the Beers Criteria, a list of medications considered potentially inappropriate for older adults, due to its anticholinergic effects and the associated risks of confusion, falls, and urinary retention in this population. Older adults should consult their doctor or pharmacist before using this product and should use the lowest effective dose if it is considered appropriate.
Pregnancy: Paracetamol is generally considered safe during pregnancy when taken at recommended doses for short periods. However, diphenhydramine should only be used during pregnancy when clearly necessary and under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Avoid using this product during the third trimester as it may cause breathing difficulties in newborns. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any sleep medication during pregnancy.
Morning Impairment: The sedative effects of diphenhydramine can persist into the morning following use. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are certain the effects have fully worn off. This is particularly important for the first time you use this medication, as individual responses to diphenhydramine vary considerably.
Storage Instructions
Store at room temperature below 25°C, protected from moisture and direct sunlight. Keep in original packaging until ready to use. Keep out of reach and sight of children, as antihistamine overdose in children can be fatal. Do not use after the expiration date printed on the package. Do not transfer tablets to other containers. Dispose of expired or unused medication responsibly through your local pharmacy medication disposal program.
Accidental Overdose Information
Paracetamol overdose is a medical emergency. Even if you feel well after taking too much, serious liver damage can develop over 24-72 hours. Diphenhydramine overdose can cause severe sedation, respiratory depression, seizures, hallucinations, dangerous cardiac arrhythmias, and in severe cases, coma or death.
If overdose is suspected, call your local poison control center or emergency services immediately without waiting for symptoms. Have the medication packaging available to provide specific information. Note the time of overdose and the total amount taken, including all other medications and alcohol consumed in the past 24 hours. Do not attempt to make yourself vomit unless specifically instructed by medical professionals. Go to the nearest emergency room even if you feel fine, as both paracetamol and diphenhydramine overdose effects may be delayed.
Treatment for paracetamol overdose with N-acetylcysteine is most effective when started within 8-10 hours. Diphenhydramine overdose is treated supportively and may require hospitalization.
Symptoms of overdose may include extreme drowsiness progressing to unresponsiveness, nausea, vomiting, confusion or disorientation, hallucinations, very dry mouth and skin, flushed face, dilated pupils, rapid or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, inability to urinate, seizures, abdominal pain particularly in the upper right side, jaundice, and dark urine.
Manufacturer Information
[Manufacturer name and details would be inserted here based on your specific product]
Regulatory Status: This medication is available over-the-counter for adults and children over 12 years of age. It is intended for occasional, short-term use only.
Medical Review Notice: This product information should be reviewed by a licensed pharmacist or physician to ensure clinical accuracy and compliance with current prescribing guidelines. Patients should consult their healthcare provider or pharmacist for personalized medical advice, particularly older adults, pregnant women, and those taking multiple medications.
Last Updated: [2.April.2026]