The present disclosure is directed to twice daily sustained release pharmaceutical composition of paracetamol having an immediate release phase of paracetamol and a sustained release phase of paracetamol, said composition having unique and advantageous pharmacokinetic properties and a pharmaceutical composition comprising only a sustained release phase of paracetamol having unique and advantageous pharmacokinetic properties. The formulations are useful for the treatment of analgesia or pain. The formulation preferably contains 2000mg paracetamol administered in two tablets, each tablet having 1000mg of paracetamol present in a sustained release phase and an immediate release phase, in which the ratio of the paracetamol in the sustained release phase to the immediate release phase is about 80-90% to 10-20%, and wherein the sustained release phase comprises from 0.5% to 3% w/w of a pre-gelatinized starch and a matrix forming polymer of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, wherein the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose contains a high viscosity hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscosity between 3500 and 6000 centipoise, and a low viscosity hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose having a viscosity between 10 and 30 centipoise, wherein, said high viscosity hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and said low viscosity hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose are respectively present in an amount from 4% to 6% by weight, and from 1% to 2% by weight of the sustained release phase.
