Accidentally took too much paracetamol - help!

[fuckitybobbin]

I've had a banging migraine. I've just taken two co-codamol, but had a heart stopping moment where I 'think' I may have already taken two.

I know that 2mg can be given as a loading dose, so it should be safe, but it's worrying me all the same.

I'm not worried about the codeine element as it is so low, it's just the paracetamol I'm scared of.

I take 2 cocodomal every 4 hours constantly recommended by GP! I have no choice

The important thing is the 24hr dose. Unless you were already at the 24hr max, you should be fine.

You're right that we use 2g of paracetamol (4 tablets) as a pre-op before surgery so you will be fine. The research we based the 2g loading dose on showed that AS A ONCE OFF 5g of paracetamol in 24hrs is safe.

You may mean 2g loading dose?
However, 2g losing dose of paracetamol does NOT happen (I'm a nurse)
I personally wouldn't take yourself to A&E over it, the wait / it being a small chance of damage to your liver.

However overdosing on paracetamol can cause irreversible damage to your liver, causing a whole heap of problems. Ensure you do exceed the recommended maximum of 4g in a 24 hour period.

@tinker2190 It does happen https://edmsmedical.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Paracetamol2gLoadingAdviceSheet.pdf

You won’t die.

@tinker2190 Sorry I misread, I thought you meant I needed to get to A&E immediately.

I'm not at my limit, didn't take any last few days. Now I'm wondering if I took 6, though I know from my reaction at taking two just now, that I would have remembered. I'm not even positive I took 4, but panicked so probably did.

Doesn't help that my DM is constantly texting me/phoning me now, I've told her to leave me alone, but she thinks I need immediate help. If it wasn't for her bugging me all day (when I'm stressed about other things and have a migraine), I'd never have made a mistake at all.

Experience tells me drink lots of water, and make sure you don't overdose the total allowed for the day.

I can't cope with my mum, she keeps ringing me. I told her I didn't take them together, it was a mistake as my head is so bad, but it may have been 10 minutes, an hour - or not at all (as I honestly don't know if I took another dose or not). She's now going to call A&E, I've told her to stop, the badgering is doing me in.

How do you not know what you have taken?

In the future, please write down what you take and when on a notepad, somewhere you, and anyone else who comes in, can see it. I get very confused when I take cocodamol for migraines, and it’s the only way I can keep on top of the meds safely. DH can then also keep an eye out for me taking too much.

I think the main thing now is not to take too much in 24 hours. Even one extra dose makes medics very twitchy - DM once accidentally took a dose just 2 hours earlier than she should have to help with toothache, and was sent to A&E to be checked. Please take care and I hope you’re feeling better soon. Migraine is a curse.

@Cosycover Because my head is so painful. I remember thinking I needed some about 3pm, I know I then took 2 at approx 4pm, as I remember that.

It's just whether I took them at 3 - 3.15pm that I can't remember.

Now my mum has rung my son as I won't answer her, telling him that she's phoned 111, I can do without her, she's making me feel ill

@AlwaysForksAndMarbles good idea, I will write it on the calendar, I used to do it with DD when she was little as I used to worry I'd give her too much Calpol. I don't take them that often.

I've just listened to the voice message my mum left me. She told me that OK it was an accident I took them, but by refusing to contact anyone or go to hospital, I am deliberately self-harming and will get into trouble for it and social services will be concerned for DD. FFS, I'm not sure whether I took 2 or 4, I can definitely remember 2, but not whether I did or didn't take some earlier. It happens when I'm in pain and very stressed.

Take it you've never had a bad migraine. Sometimes I can barely remember my own name

With a mum like that, no wonder you have a migraine.

Your mum is talking total rubbish.

Call 111 and see what they say? They'll probably say you're OK then you can tell her to zip it 🤐

Any update to this thread in similar situation

You'll be fine.