Overdosing on Co-codamol

[Wayda]

Hi, posting for traffic, At lunchtime I took 2 co-codamol due to severe period pain (endometriosis and PCOS). Because I was in so much pain I took another 2 20 mins later foolishly.

Just now I came home from a dog walk and felt rubbish. Cold sweat and gagging. I would have thrown up but due to being in pain I have not drunk or eaten today.

I now have quite bad back pain (think it’s related to co-codamol as I never experience this).

I feel better since gagging. Should I be worried?

4 co codomal won't do you any harm. You're gagging and feeling rubbish because you've taken them on an empty stomach so try and eat something and drink some milk

Worth a call to 111. You should be alright though as you haven’t exceeded the maximum daily dosage - unfortunately we have experience of this as DD was accidentally double dosed with paracetamol 30 mins apart whilst in hospital.. she was absolutely fine, just had to go 48 hours without it after that. The side effects you are feeling are probably because that was quite a hefty dose of codeine for someone who isn’t used to it. It can make you quite nauseous, cold sweat etc

What strength? Having no knowledge about this whatsoever, I would call 111.

call 111

As long as you haven’t had more than the maximum daily dose you’ll be fine.

If anything were to do you harm it would be the Paracetamol not the codeine.

Have something to eat and drink

This is true.

You can have quite high doses of codeine with no overdose.

It's the paracetamol that is the problem. However 4 is fine.

What you're feeling is likely side effects from taking a decent dose of codeine..

Thanks all. Just forced 2 digestives down. Have now got light stomach cramping in addition to period pain. Because I am a genius.

You’re not going to OD on 4 co-codamol.

I imagine you’re feeling gross because you took them on an empty stomach.

Honestly you'll be fine: it's not enough to do any damage

No I regularly take 4 at a time for acute back. As long as you dont take more than 8 a day you are fine. You feel sick because youve hsd a big dose of codeine and you are not used to it. It can give you gut spasms that often feelike back pain. It wl all wear off in a few hours.

Very reassuring, thanks all. Was worried for a sec. I came back from a walk (felt fine all day since taking) but all of a sudden I thought I was going to faint. Cue gagging and cold sweats.

You shouldn’t take codeine on an empty stomach. Eat & drink some milk and try and sleep. Honestly 111 will tell you to go to A&E / send you an ambulance as they have to with any overdose no matter how small. They won’t do anything and it will be a waste of your time, just ride it out and don’t do the same in the future

Oh not sure. They were big fat pills. Packet is downstairs and I’m resting in bed.

Next time you are in that position take ibuprofen instead as they don't interact with co codamol.

But not on an empty stomach. It's very harsh on the stomach.

Don't worry, I accidentally did this once and did feel a bit sleepy but otherwise ok. Try to have some food. Agree that milk is also good.

If they were non-prescription then probably 8/500mg

I feel gaggy if I take any pills on an empty stomach. And light headedness is from not eating as well.

Cocodamol is not great on an empty stomach. I doubt it was a high dose as most people on higher doeses know exactly what strength they are..

Try eat a biscuit and take a drink which might help

Yup non-prescription

I get bad stomach and back pain sometimes with codeine. It's usually cramps and mid/upper back.

GP said its most likely spinchter of odi disease which opiates cam trigger and recommended eating something and taking buscopan alongside the codeine.

So you took 32g of codeine. The stronger cocodamol have 30mg in each tablet.
the paracetamol is the issue, don’t take any more today

If your average weight/over 50kg, no significant health concerns, it's very unlikely that dosing would cause any harm at all.

Just make sure you don't exceed 4g of paracetamol in 24hours is the key to make sure you're not taking too much (this assumes you're the an adult weighing over 50kg).

On some occasions patients are given a 'loading' 2g dose of paracetamol to get them upto the therapeutic dose of paracetamol a bit quicker so you really don't need to worry about that.

In terms of codeine, normally the highest prescribed in co-codamol is 30-500, so you'd have had 120mg of codeine. If you've brought from a pharmacy it would be 8-500, so you'd have taken 32mg of codeine. 32mg of codeine in an adult is only just about enough to notice an effect let alone be toxic. If you've had 120mg and you don't use the medication regularly I would expect you to feel a little sleepy, maybe a touch constipated tomorrow. If you're a rapid metaboliser you'd feel it more strongly but that's relatively rare.

If you bought over the counter can only get 8mg of codeine - prescription ones are 30mg (occasionally 15mg) which come with 500mg of paracetamol per tablet