Despite its high lipid solubility and low protein binding, a weight-adjusted dosing regime has never been endorsed. However, in view of the pharmacokinetic data of paracetamol, a case has been made for a single loading dose of 2 g, followed by 4–6 hourly 1 g doses, and this has found its way into clinical practice over recent years. Studies comparing 2 g with 1 g loading doses for postoperative analgesia in otherwise healthy adult patients have demonstrated lower pain scores and greater duration of effective pain relief with no increase in side-effects or markers of toxicity.