Medication advice please

[RiverRock22]

I have been struck down with a really bad flu 😭 The Dr advised a mixture of co-codamol and ibprofen for the first few days. He so said I could take sudafed to relieve sinus pressure.

He then said not to take paracetamol products together.

By this does it mean I can forgo one dose of cocodamol to take a sudafed so not over dosing on the paracetamol or can I not take two types of paracetamol products together at all even if it is a reduced dose.

Thanks in Advance, it’s all too much for my foggy little flu brain to comprehend right now

The maximum dose of paracetamol is 1g, 4 times a day. So a total of 4g in a day, spread out in 4 doses, at least 4 hours apart.

So assuming your sudafed dose is 1g paracetamol, you could use that as one of the 4 doses of paracetamol products. You then need to leave it at least another 4 hours before you could take another sudafed dose, or cocodamol dose.

Hope that helps.

These bugs are horrible, hope you feel better soon.

The maximum amount of paracetamol is 1g up to four times a day (which is usually 2 x 500g tablets at each dose).

So you can take two paracetamol products if each tablet only had 500g of paracetamol in, so you are not exceeding the total permitted maximum .

(Nb not a doctor, but I think this is what is allowed).

Thank you @Riverlee @WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs that makes a lot of sense. I wish the Dr explained it as clearly! I might forgo my next cocodamol to avail of a sudafed.

It depends which 'sudafed' you are taking. Some are just pseudoephedrine and contain no paracetamol, others do contain paracetamol. You'd need to check the packet, but max of 4g paracetamol in 24hrs.

I have the same issue, I take cocodamol for pain issues and recently needed a decongestant, Boots sell a decongestant only Sudafed, no paracetamol. I find this easier as I don’t need to juggle my cocodamol doses.

They also sell a Sudafed option that contains decongestant and ibuprofen - no paracetamol.

I hope you feel better soon!