DH regularly ignoring paracetamol max dosage

[itsabongthing]

My DH regularly takes double dose of painkillers.
Eg 4 ibuprofen or paracetamol tablets instead of 2, or 2 sachets of Lemsip at a time.
His reasoning is that his headache is really bad.
He’s an intelligent bloke but I think he’s being an idiot and potentially harming his liver but am not medical so don’t really know.
He’s also quite a big chap at 6’4” and 110kg. Could he need more medicine to be effective because of his size? Or is he doing himself harm?

I'm reading with interest. I took a paracetamol overdose (25 tablets when I was in foster care) when I was 15 years old then lay down to "sleep".

Luckily i woke around 4 hours later being sick. I went to the GP, I was so ill, but I never told them about the paracetamol. I have no idea how bad, if an, the damage I did.

To make matters worse, i regularly take more than the reccomend dose of paracetamol for a chronic condition I have. Have done for around 3 years! I honestly didn't know it was so dangerous!

The lemsip would also have a decongestant is which can cause side effects in sensitive people without overdosing on it, if he's taking too much of that he could be harming his blood pressure and heart rate and they can make things worse if you take them for more than a few days.
I'd encourage him to speak to a pharmacist at least, if not go get checked out by a doctor asap, he might not realise the damage he's doing before he's too late.

Tell him paracetamol overdoses are irreversible and lead to a painful death. Harsh, but true, and, having seen my mum die after an accidental overdose, I wouldn't wish that death on my worst enemy!

I am so happy to read most PP know how dangerous paracetamol is, some excellent advice here. I work on accidental paracetamol overdose and liver injury and the numbers are frightening.
OP, I think your brother needs help either with getting the right pain management for his headaches, finding out why he gets these headaches or with painkiller addiction. No matter his size, he will be causing irreparable damage in the long run.

I can occasionally be a bit gung ho with ibuprofen, taking 3x200mg when my arthritis is really bad, but never ever paracetamol, it gives me the fear!

Paracetamol is very dangerous if you take too many. Ibuprofen not so.

Once took toddler DS to A and E as we thought he'd eaten up to 16 nurofen. Doctors checked him out and said he would be fine with that amount.

(turned out he'd had none as we found them scattered all over the room eventually but had found an empty bottle)

@Beantherebefore

Please go and speak to your GP. Be honest or they cannot help you.

Ok well now I'm really worried. I've had a migraine the last few days.

My paracetamol use has gone like this since yesterday.

8:30am 2 paracetamol
2:30pm 2 paracetamol
8:30pm 2 paracetamol
8am 2 paracetamol
12pm 2 paracetamol

Is that too much?

The guidelines are there for a reason, to help keep people safe.

@ilikebeckerinmyoldage I don't have a packet to hand, but I thought 8 a day was the max.

@ilikebeckerinmyoldage the max for paracetamol is 8 a day. But really less if you are v tiny.

However if your migraine is terrible, please do see your GP about it as migraine has more effective treatment than paracetamol.

@Orangecake123 yeah I'm getting myself confused on dosage. I've had 10 in 28 hours