Did I take too many paracetamol?

[saltnpepa]

I never take painkillers so am a bit worried I've cocked up. I took one paracetamol at 1.00am, another one at 3am. I took one at 6.00am and another one at 7.00am. I know you're meant to take 2 but I hate any sort of drugs but now I'm wondering if I've taken too many? I'm a full grown adult (if you can believe it!).

It's actually very easy to overdose on paracetamol, you don't need much to do damage so try and remember what you're taking when. And two tablets is fine.

Mmm, you're never sick but you hate drugs. Yet people who are sick tend to like them. Wierd, that.

Like previous posters said, you'll be fine - but you really need to be taking two at once for any beneficial effects. If it's the actual pills themselves you're struggling with can I suggest you nip to a chemist and get a box of soluble ones. Much easier.
And hope you feel better soon.

It will probably be gone after a good sleep salt :) you'll be fine though (unless you are particularly infirm) 8 paracetamol in a 24 hour period one off isnt going to affectyou

Fuck it I'm not taking another one today if I can help it. surely I can't overdose on one extra paracetamol?

Is your headache still there? If yes, take 2 tablets of ibuprofen. I found with my toothache on Saturday, that it's getting better with ibuprofen instead of paracetamol.
Like previous posters had said paracetamol - 8 tablets over 24h. Ibuprofen 6 tablets over 24h.

I never understand the whole 'I hate drugs' thing. They've totally transformed our existence in the last 100 years or so. Taken responsibly they make our lives so much easier not to mention saving millions of lives.

Co-codamol should kill it, I never find paracetamol that good for shifting headaches, brilliant for bringing temperatures down though.

Headache gone, oh that's why it says two!!! Now will just have to not worry I've overdosed, I do have a little bit of health anxiety which doesn't help matters. Thank you for all your replies.

OP take two at 1pm and two at 7pm. Keep track of what you're taking. If you take the tablets according to the instructions you'll be fine. If not then this is what happens. Stop taking one here and there.

You haven't over dosed!

Health anxiety is not likely to be helped by conflicting answers on an Internet forum. Maybe an informal chat at the pharmacy would allay your fears about paracetamol.

Come on, OP. I used to work for NHS Direct. I had a couple of calls with overdosing on paracetamol. I would say that 4 in 6 hours is not 55 in one hour. You defo didn't OD-d.

FWIW, before you could regularly get 500mg tablets I found that two was never enough for me, I would take 3 or 4 every 4 hours and I never had any after effects. It would put me slightly over the 500mg dose. At the time o was in chronic pain and when I mentioned it to the doc he wasn't concerned about ODing (he also prescribed me a larger dose and told me to alternate 2 hourly with brufen)

Now that 500mg seems to be the 'sold dose' I take two every 4 hours and get a good effect, however I wouldn't worry about taking an extra one if I felt I needed it.

Your mistake was not to take two tabs. I'd leave it till 1pm and then take 2, and continue 4 hourly from then if you still need them.

The toxic dose of paracetamol is a lot more than you've taken.

[[http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/paracetamol-poisoning Based on the dose of paracetamol ingested (mg/kg body weight):
Less than 150 mg/kg - unlikely.
More than 250 mg/kg - likely.
More than 12 g total - potentially fatal.]]

Thank you everyone, li might call the pharmacy but the sensible part of me knows I'd be wasting their time. 55 in an hour? Ok that put it in perspective.

When I was a young lass and enjoyed a good binge drink, I would regularly take 3 paracetomol upon waking on a Sunday morning. I also suffer from cluster headaches and migraines and sometimes take them every 3 hrs instead of 4 to get a continued effect rather than letting them completely wear off.

I'm not advocating either binge drinking or exceeding the stated dose of paracetomol but I really think that you are over thinking this OP. You have only taken half of the maximum dose for any 24hr period and what you have taken has been spaced out so I can't see any scenario where something adverse will happen to you.

You're fine

I suffer from health anxiety too. All rationality goes out of the window and its horrible. Hope you feel better soon.

Take it according to the instructions on the packet, as you should with any medications.

If you're not keen on pills maybe try one of the headstick things and see if it works for you? Does nothing for me but might be worth a shit

Excuse me sorry a shot

might be worth a shit

Sometimes that's all you need!

I always know what to give the kids but am never sick myself so a bit out of practice.

Drama Queen or what?
Read the bottle/packet , it's not difficult!
If you really find the instructions so confusing don't give medicines to your children without getting someone ( pharmacist) to check.
I have a relative with anxiety issues , if anything , they are more 'clued up' than others when it comes to medicines.

PS . Take the stated dose. No wonder the headache didn't shift.
You wouldn't make a cake with half the flour and expect it to work.

I feel shit if that counts