Taken too much codeine. What do I do?

[bollockinghell]

Wahhhh.

I have long term health problems with my stomach.
My consultant prescribes me codeine when it's bad, which is probably every couple of months. Sometimes more sometimes less.

On the occasions it's not so bad I tend to take 1-2 15mg = 30mg.

The maximum dose he said I could take was 60mg.

I have a pile of blister packs in the medicine cabinet and my stomach has been giving me havoc all night and all day. I'm off work today as I'm in a lot of pain and decided to take a full 60mg dose. 4 x 15mg tablets. Maximum dose.

I've been UTTERLY stupid and I've just checked the blister pack and it's a 30mg dose per tablet pack.

I've basically taken a double dose. I panicked drank a tonne of water and just scoffed a sandwich to try and pad it out. (I have just eaten a late lunch before this too) so I've eaten a lot.

Shall i ring 111 to be on the safe side? Codeine doesn't really affect me too much. Only makes me tired on an empty stomach so I always make sure I eat before hand.

I've been a bloody idiot!

Yes seek urgent medical help, op.

The max daily dose is 240mg so you're fine. You could have googled to find that out I'm sure.

That said, I wouldn't take any more today. It's very easy to build up an addiction.

Ring your surgery and ask for them to ask GP or to get the GP to call you.

Doses tend to be over 24 hours so I doubt you're in any trouble amount wise but best to check.

Either 111 or GP for advice. 120mg on one go is alot the max daily amount would be spread over 24 hours so never taken all at once. It will probably make you sleepy and you shouldn't really drive or do anything like that. Best to get medical advice.

I would call 111 for medial advise op

It's an Opiod i.e related to Morphine and heroin so does have the potential to surpress your nervous system enough to stop you breathing.

So at the very least you need someone keeping an eye on you. If the 60mg dose makes you tired the 120mg might well knock you out. Having given these kind of drugs to people you can never tell how they will react.

I'm currently on hold to 111, I would never drive or anything if I've taken something for my stomach. I don't tend to take anything often so I'm just a bit nervous about it.

DD is at the childminders and DH is picking her up on the way home from work in about an hour so they'll be home shortly.

I'm such a bloody idiot. I have 4 strips of 15mg and 1 strip of 30mg which I never reach for. I just grabbed the first one and didn't pay the blindest bit of notice because of the pain.

It's helped the pain massively. I'm just worried about overdose / drowsiness now. Hopefully a full stomach might help break it up a bit.

Dee - do you think you might be on the wrong thread?

@AuntyDeeDee - you need to start your own thread - think you must have posted on this one by mistake.

Chill it's fine. I'm a hospital pharmacist and we often prescribe or see patients on codeine at 60mg for times daily. It's absolutely fine.

Is it just codeine or is there paracetamol in the tablets too? I'd be more concerned about a double dose of paracetamol than of codeine, assuming you're not overly drowsy.

I honestly wouldn't even bother with 111. The usual dose is 30 to 60mg. Here's a screenshot from the BNF

Sorry my first post should have said 60mg FOUR times a day not for.

Be careful of codeine in general though, I have a friend in a terrible place with an addiction to it and struggling to come off. It’s horribly addictive used too often I believe

I'm not too worried about addiction as I only tend to take it once every couple of months.

I googled the maximum daily dose is 240mg, presumably thats over a gap of 4 hours between each dose, not a dose of 120mg in one go?

I feel okay. A little spaced out. Just trying to drink lots of water to flush it through.
I feel so so silly!

Hi OP

We're just echoing what other posters have said - please do seek RL medical advice as Mumsnet is no substitute for that.

Ah sorry, I thought you took 60mg. Just realised it was 120mg. Will still be ok, just don't take any more today.

Please get some medical advice.

I took 60mg x 4 daily for months so I imagine it's fine but I would check with 111

Are you OK OP?

Checked with 111, all good. Just said keep an eye.

I felt a little bit sick but I feel fine now.

Will never bloody do that again! Will stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen next time!!

(Or at least read the packet....)

Thank you for all your replies. Feeling rather silly!

Glad you're OK

I've taken that plus 4 ibuprofen on many occasions when my Endo pain was bad...definitely not recommended but I was fine, I really wouldn't worry...just don't take any more

Panic over but you're going to need something to help you poo!