For consumers
(1300 633 424)
Mon-Fri | 9am-5pm AEST
Your call will be answered by healthdirect Australia
For health professionals
Find out the active ingredient and other brand names of your medicines with the NPS Medicine Name Finder
For a medicinewise Australia
Independent. Not-for-profit. Evidence based.
Site Tools
Find the active ingredient Know the active ingredient
Look for the active ingredient on the pack
The active ingredient is what makes your medicine work
All medicines — including pain relievers — have an active ingredient. The active ingredient is the chemical that makes the medicine work.
For example, Panamax's active ingredient is paracetamol, and Nurofen's active ingredient is ibuprofen.
Some medicines have more than one active ingredient.
Don't double dose
Different medicines may have the same active ingredient. For example, paracetamol is the active ingredient in both Panadol and Lemsip.
Even prescription medicines can have the same active ingredients as over-the-counter pain relievers.
If you take multiple medicines with the same active ingredient, you can 'double dose', which can lead to serious side effects.
If you know how to find the active ingredients in your medicines, you can ensure that you are not double dosing.
The active ingredient is printed on the packaging
In Australia, the active ingredient in a medicine must be printed on the packaging. The packaging must also show the strength; that is, how much of the active ingredient is in that particular formulation.
Example medicine packet
Click image for a 3D version of this packet (requires Flash).
This is a fictitious product and all directions on the packaging are given as an example only.
Dosing amounts vary between medicines and will not be the same in any pain relief medicines you have at home.
This product is not intended to imply Therapeutic Goods Association approval and is shown purely for educational purposes regarding medicines use for pain relief.
Always read the label and follow the instructions to ensure that you are taking the correct dose for you.
The main active ingredients in OTC pain relievers
- paracetamol
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — these include ibuprofen
- codeine.
Date published: 2011-02-25 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
