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?

It sounds like you did this somewhat intentionally? Some medications can be much more harmful then others if you do this with it's not a great idea. Taking too much of these otc medications on a regular basis will cause harm in the longer term.

As others have said add in Ibuprofen if this is something you can take. The other obvious thing which hopefully is something you'll have already done is that if you period cramps are so severe to visit your GP to see if there's anything that should be further investigated.

I used to take co codamol regularly, nausea is a common side effect.
4 tablets in the short term won't do you any harm, the sickness should wear off after a few hours.
I found 1 tablet I'd be fine but if I took 2 some days I'd feel horrendous (once the opiate started wearing off).

As they're OTC they would contain 8/500. So you haven't overdosed as such, just not left an interval
It's always best to eat with codeine. That's why you felt unwell
If you need anything more today take ibuprofen

My dose of prescription codeine is maximum of 8 x 30mg tablets in 24 hours. That's 240mg total. I very rarely have more than 3 tablets in a day though. You've had 32mg, you should be fine. Paracetamol however is a bit more serious. Why not ask your Dr to prescribe just codeine, then you don't always have to take paracetamol with it

If the over the counter co-codermol, they are not very strong codeine wise. I would be way more worried in having taken to much paracetamol. Don't take anymore or any other paracetamol drugs in the next 24 hours. Just to be safe, if you need pain relief take some ibuprofen instead.

While codeine is a respiratory superset, the over the counter pills aren't very strong and paracetamol is way easier to overdose on which is why they don't sell it in big packets anymore.

In a pharmacy you can get upto 12.5mg codeine in Solpadeine max, with the std 500mg of paracetamol per tablet. It’s only if you buy in a store that is not a pharmacy that the limit is the 8/500’s. But it is also correct that prescription strength is 30/500.

A more serious problem for me would be the constipation that I would get for the next 2 days. If you have any lactulose, take some and drink plenty.

Oh bless you 💐

Fellow Endo sufferer here. You’ll be absolutely fine (OD-wise) I promise. Just please refrain from doing it again and don’t make a habit of it.

When I was a teenager I remember taking 2 paracetamol, 3 ibuprofen and 2 mefanamic acid tablets at once as I was screaming in pain. Think it knocked me out but obviously wasn’t wise.

Ring your GP tomorrow and ask for stronger painkillers. Do you have a tens machine at all?

Don't advise her to take lactulose! I can easily take a fair bit of codeine and don't get constipated, you're making assumptions. The last thing she wants is stomach cramps and diarrhea 😞

I always get nausea with codeine, and absolutely horrific nightmares. I hope you feel better soon!

The vast majority of people get constipated with opioids, a bit of an overreaction to very reasonable advice 🙄 There is a reason that hospitals don’t discharge you on them without some form of laxative to go with it.

The codeine is fine but definitely no more paracetamol. Paracetamol is very damaging to the liver…only 8 max in 24 hours is safe!!

I’m on prescription strength cocodamol and I take them most nights now but when I only used to take them occasionally they would make me feel nauseous quite often. Don’t panic, it will pass.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ADVICE! No-one should be taking the daily amount you're allowed in one go! You'll cause damage to your internal organs and stomach!

I r wouldn't advocate anyone taking 4 at a time. That's highly irresponsible.

I don't notice anything on the 8/500s. I am on 60mg each dose dihydrocodeine with regular paracetamol.

OP you will be absolutely fine.

I am on a prescription of lactulose to go with my codeine based medication due to it causing constipation. I take 2x15ml daily.

I'm on dihydrocodeine on it's own, and separate prescription for paracetamol to go with it. Sensible prescribing from the GP.

I'm confused about the paracetamol issue. My doctors told me paracetamol is the safest painkiller we have. My uncle also tried to overdose on it and mu grandma was told it takes a lot of paracetamol to overdose but it could have damaged his stomach.

lol no it isn’t and no you won’t.

which “internal organs” do you damage with 4 or even 8x 8/500 co-codamol? By what mechanism will it damage your stomach?

OTC drugs have a large therapeutic index- they’re designed to be safe when taken without medical supervision.

Yes but that's industrial strength codeine, OP has only has OC and double the dose, hardly loads is it.

Op, this happened to me, only I had a kidney infection. I thought it was just back pain and had too many painkillers then blamed them when I felt sick and very unwell. My symptoms got worse and I was fainting and couldn't stand up. I even went to a walk in centre who told me to keep taking painkillers as they also thought it was back pain as well.

I ended up having a seizure and being rushed to hospital, having to have IV antibiotics and stay in for a few weeks. Please check you haven't got a UTI that's spread to your kidneys. Mine didn't feel UTI like at all.

As others have said the paracetamol is more of a concern than the codeine.

If you're in that much pain, for OTC painkillers I'd do plain paracetamol then ibuprofen with codeine as you can get it with 12.5mg rather than the 8 with co-codamol. I used to get horrendously painful periods, couldn't walk the pain was so bad so I get the need for pain relief. Obviously following the advice regarding addiction risk.

But really you need to talk to your GP as there may be better options that are prescription only.

Thanks all. Had an uncomfortable, sleepless night due to back ache. Couldn’t eat and stomach was also cramping lightly.

Period pain is off the charts but too scared to take anything as I’ve still not eaten due to discomfort despite hunger pangs. Back pain has gone now thank God

Deliverooed a protein shake so hopefully that will help.