Help please. Calpol overdose

[nhdfj]

My daughter is 15 and I accidentally gave her (just) over twice the dosage of Calpol for her age (used a baking measure tablespoon instead of teaspoon like an idiot and after she had it she said um isn't that the wrong spoon). I'm waiting for clinician callback from 111 now. I feel like such a moron. Has this happened to anyone and what happens now please. She seems fine and didn't have any of the symptoms from the list they (111) asked me.

You can now buy a 12+ Calpol a doctor was telling me yesterday, so she can't be the only one who wants it at her age.

When I have a migraine, I have dissolvable tablets to take as I really can't get pills down me as I go very nauseous. It also (I am told) acts quicker than a tablet as it's already broken down.

I had calpol last night for my sore throat, and I'm 29

Hope you feel reassured OP.

@SweatyYetti

Why on earth is your DD at 15 taking Calpol

Why not? I sometimes take it when I can't face taking tablets .

I had liquid antibiotics until I was 19 as I just couldn't swallow tablets - they'd always get stuck. Then a friend taught me a trick to taking them if you find it difficult and I've been mostly ok since but did struggle with huge prenatal vitamins.

Funny how most parents on here are so damn perfect. I wonder why I never meet anyone like that IRL?

@DressBitch

Is there a reason your 15 year old needed you to measure the dose for her? Never mind that it was Calpol, that's the part I find most weird.

Maybe she can't do it herself, I'm sure if you tried you could probably think of some reasons why

@nhdfj

Honestly she'll be fine, just make sure the 'in 24 hours' level isn't exceeded! (Even then, there's a good margin)

My best friend drank a full bottle of calpol as a child, just made him vomit but he was fine and didn’t go to hospital.

She’ll honestly be fine. We once panicked after giving toddler DS 6+ calpol once by mistake. Called 111 and they said it’s fine because it’s equivalent to having 2 doses spaced throughout the day so just don’t give her anymore today.

Also got told by a paramedic that it works on weight rather than age. So an 8 stone 15 year old can tolerate less than a 12 stone 15 year old.

Just to blow the minds of the overly judgemental, I'm over 60 and when I need antibiotics I get a shitloaf of bottles of banana flavoured paediatric liquid instead of tablets. At least with the paediatric suspension I can get it down and keep it there. The smell of the tablets 🤮 makes them impossible to swallow.

@TinnedPotatoesRock

But I don't want to think of some reasons it could be, that's why I'm asking why.

I give my teen calpol - she gets a panic attack at swallowing tablets - ive never even thought it was odd - its just paracetamol!

I have found calpol a god send when i have had a sore throat and i cant face tablets! It works just as well.

I wonder if my brother should force his teenaged eldest to take tablets instead of calpol? It'd only result in gagging, vomiting, meltdowns, swallowing aversion and severe distress but I'm not sure he's weighed that against the judgement of strangers.

I'll message him now to put him right.

DD was given paracetamol liquid in hospital as the tablets make her gag as they are powdery. She's in her 20s.
She'll be fine, OP.

I have drunk calories neat from the bottle as a teenager. Still alive to tell the tale.

Calpol even!!

Drink lots of water as paracetamol is a bit hard going on the liver… ? Not a doc so no idea!
I think she will be fine though, hope 111 get back to you soon.

@nhdfj

Paracetamol is 2x500mg for only 16 and over, according to the pack. For 10-15 years it's one tablet only. Daughter only just turned 15 a few days ago and is a very slim fifteen (I think dosage depends on weight). I wish 111 would call back soon. The person I spoke to said that a clinician would have to speak to me as well, but still no callback.

The adult dose is 1000mg and I've given her 1600mg if my calculation is correct. That's 32ml of 6+ Calpol.

Again, thank you to kind and helpful posters. I'm very grateful.

I think your calculations are right. Do you have scales to weigh your daughter? I think 15 is a funny age because teens vary so much in size at that age.

The basic maths is I think < 150mg per kg over 24 hours isn't likely to cause long term damage, but obviously a clinician should confirm or deny this.

So e.g. if she had had 20ml * 3 then 32ml, that would be 4600mg in 24 hours, so 92mg/kg if she weighed 50kg - about 7 stone 8.

Obviously 111 will be the ones who need to finish doing the maths, but you might be able to reassure yourself in the interim.

My kids are all teenagers and they all still take calpol.

@RevolvingPivot

I though after about 12 kids have tablets? I didn't even know the bottle was for 16 year olds.

What made you think that? Have you never come across or maybe even heard of someone over the age of 12 finding tablets difficult to swallow. Can you not conceive of such a thing?

The narrowness of some posters experience makes me a little sad for them.

I'm sure many 15 year olds have survived worse than an extra dose of Calpol

I always keep a bottle of charcoal from the pharmacy store at home for these sorts of things. Had to use it myself when I was stupid enough to suck a flower stalk that has milk liquid which my mother always warned me not to do. I wanted to see what would happen - I was 36!!

Not unsurprisingly, there's a shed-load of judgemental people on here. It's perfectly normal to take Calpol at 15 if you have issues with swallowing tablets. That's why it has adult dose instructions on the bottle 🙄. She'll be fine, op.

For those being judgy about a 15 year old taking calpol- dh is 51. He had an operation a couple of weeks ago, came back from the hospital with liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen as he struggles to swallow tablets. These had adult dose instructions on as well as child so guessing he's not the only one!!!
Sounds like she'll be fine op, hope you get a call back soon.

@nhdfj
What did 111 say?

At 15 she can have 20ml of 6+ calpol as that equals the adult dose of 1g.