To think I had a near death experience because of my own stupidity?

[Sleeplessworried]

I was out for Christmas drinks with friends last week.
I rarely drink but had 2 Proseccos, 2 cocktails and a shot. This was from 5pm to 11pm. Not crazy but a lot for me.

I got home at around 12am and took two paracetamols 500mg each, thinking I was getting ahead of the hangover. I felt fine at this point and my friend even said I didn’t even seem like I’d been drinking before she dropped me off home.

I went to bed and jolted awake at around 2.30am. What followed was room spinning, struggling to see, the worst diarrhoea of my life, rounds of vomiting, stomach pain and hours of lying sweating on a bed while itching and shivering.

I know this is silly but because I don’t drink much, I had no idea you can’t take paracetamol after drinking. I realise now this is totally dangerous and stupid.

I remember panicking on the bed wondering if I’d been spiked and actually worrying that things were going to worsen and maybe I’d been poisoned. I know that sounds dramatic but I felt like I was going to die.

Anyway now I am feeling so embarrassed and stupid for taking paracetamol after alcohol.

It ended by me continuously putting fingers down my throat to encourage more vomiting and feeling slightly better after my stomach was completely empty. I managed to sleep from around 5am to 9am and felt only slightly nauseous in the morning.

Just wanted to write it down as I can’t tell any of my loved ones. I wouldn’t like to worry them and don’t want them to know how bloody clueless I am! It feels good to get it off my chest though.

It sounds scary, but having been extremely unwell many times in hospital, this isn’t a near death experience at all. An unpleasant experience yes, for sure, but near death? I doubt it was the paracetamol.

Odd question, I know, but had you just started your period when this happened? The only time I've ever had similar symptoms was when I hit my late 30s. Every time my period started I - and I didn't know this at the time - felt like I was going into labour: stomach cramps, hot/cold, tingly hands and fingers, diarrhoea and projectile vomiting. I continued to have those symptoms on and off for several years. I later discovered that I had excess surges of prostaglandins. I no longer have them anymore. Anyway what you described reminded me of that time in my life.

Also, how do you know you weren’t allergic to an ingredient in the cocktails? Seems unlikely to me that you were spiked, you would have felt the effects a lot sooner, probably even whilst you were there. Your d&v symptoms would also fit with an intolerance. If I could place an educated guess, I’d say mixing drink types, particularly spirits, (as the main ingredients of a cocktail) and on top of that one ingredient has upset you. Perhaps it was a bar syrup like grenadine which can be rich.

Strongly suspect food poisoning (or maybe spiked). I get if you are not used to alcohol, it could have an effect, but no, not this drastic for so few units of alcohol. I am a hardy / heavy drinker, and went through 48 hours of food poisoning (had not had a drink for days before so it wasn't that) and I was very very ill. When I wasn't in the bathroom, I was shaking, body-aching (nearly crying with the pain, like the worse flu) or asleep, could hardly get on my feet, and when I did I was dizzy and delirious. Lost the best part of 3 days, and was weak for days after. I think this is that. I have had noro twice due to the kids and it is not the same. Yeah, you puke, but you are (relatively) OK between times. Food poisoning is an absolute killer. Hope you are feeling better now, and don't worry too much about the paracetamol thing, or having a few units of alcohol, it really isn't that x

Give it a rest.

she was alone & scared. Those symptoms are scary when you're on your own.

she obviously wasn't near death, but she's allowed to say she felt like she was.

I've taken paracetamol loads after alcohol and not had this, I agree, this sounds very similar to norovirus or similar nasty stomach bug I'm afraid! All those symptoms I've had before, it often has a very abrupt onset and is hideous! So don't best yourself up. Sip sugary fluids or electrolyte drinks and rest

I didnt know you wernt supposed to take paracetamol after drinking

It just sounds like you were majorly pissed tbh, I dont drink often as I'm really sensitive to the effects of alcohol, when I do drink I have 4 at the most and when I lie down the room spins 😅 ( I'm tipsy off one )

If your not a big drinker I'd bet its just cause your body isnt used to a lot of alcohol

Take ibuprofen after drinking, not paracetamol. As people have mentioned your liver is already working overtime to remove the alcohol. Taking paracetamol also strains the liver, which is not good for you.

Some of what you describe is just being drunk. Your liver is your second largest organ and it produces a lot of heat, so when it is working harder (like when you’ve been drinking) you will get hotter. It happens to me every time I drink. Some of the other stuff sounds like a different issue though.

It wasn't the paracetamol that caused you to be unwell, it was the alcohol. Really simply. Next time have a big glass of water with each alcoholic drink, it will keep you hydrated and you will feel a lot better the next day.

It doesn't sound like a near death experience at all? Perhaps I am a little wound up having recently witnessed a accident. It sounds like you got a scare but I can't imagine A&E rushing you through for having a few more drinks than you normally do and swallowing a couple of paras. Doctor here

I always take paracetamol before I go to bed if I've been drinking - I've never had an issue.

I remember once though I was at a friends party - I really hadn't had a lot to drink, I'd only been there an hour or so and suddenly the room started spinning, I could barely walk and started throwing up. It was so bizarre - if I'd been in a club I would've thought i'd been spiked because it came on so suddenly. I put it down to some weird blood sugar reaction, but yeah....it was mortifying 🙈

Had you ate? I agree with a pp, you're probably coming down with a bug.

As others have said this is very unlikely a alcohol and paracetamol issue.

There's a lot of noro around.

I have it at the moment - vomiting and diarrhoea started two nights ago and lasted 24 hours.

No idea where I got it from but I've had to cancel various carol singing etc and am staying at home on me tod.

Way over the top and dramatic to say near death!
Wow.

You we’re pissed and likely picked up a bug that made you shit!

Good grief, hate to hear how you describe having a cold.

I've had bad hangovers and they usually consist of a sore head and maybe nausea - last all day and by the evening they've gone. I can get a bit of diarrhoea but not stomach pains. Worst I ever had, having drunk a mix of beer, wine and random cocktails bought for me by someone we met on holiday, was one day of feeling sick and unable to get out of bed or eat much, followed by second day of classic hangover.

What you had sounds more like food poisoning. I've only had that a couple of times - it's dramatic, but usually disappears within a few hours. Likely a reaction to something you ate or was included in the drinks. On top of which, you had too much alcohol so suffered from the effects of that too.

Lord... @Sleeplessworried

You drank more than you are used to, felt shitty, threw up then googled a bunch of stuff that made you think you were dying (alcohol makes anxiety sooo much worse)

Sleep it off and drink some coke when you wake up.

Had some diarrhoea for days afterwards

I'm voting norovirus, too. I got it last month - no idea how, but it's a persistent little bugger. Starts really dramatically then drags on for a few days, as you've described.

But, anyway - have a glass of water with each alcoholic drink, your body will thank you for it although it won't stop you catching any bugs (sadly)!

This sums it up, you did not have a near death experience you just decided it was

Do you have anxiety? I think it's very over the top to call it a near death experience.. either can't handle much alcohol (I personally can't handle much at all!) or a bug like others have said.. but it's very dramatic to call that a near death experience

At worst you had a bit of a bug or had eaten something dodgy. There’s no way taking two paracetamol would do this. You’ll be fine

All rather overdramatic OP, certainly not a NDE… Sounds more like a vomiting bug than anything. DD had norovirus a few months ago and what you describe is pretty much spot on.

I’ve taken paracetamol before/after going out drinking more times than I can count (chronic pain!), never had any ill effects bar getting drunk a bit faster.

Did you by any chance read just the first result that Google now chucks up first?

If so... thats very very vague (states no doses of either) and is really referring to a rare reaction some people might have...

You may have had this reaction. However you also may have been spiked, I think its more suspicious that you didn't seem drunk after that amount of alcohol when you don't normally drink... being spiked with something that counteracts the effects of alcohol might do that (coke/speed for example can do that).

Or you were already on your way down with some sort of food poisoning or puking bug.

Either way... your body told you to get rid of what was in your stomach, you did, you didn't die, you're no more likely to die than the rest of us and less likely than many.

Sounds an awful lot like the norovirus, which I had quite recently. And not the alcohol.

You can't take paracetamol after drinking?🤔

Sounds like food poisoning to come on and leave that quickly. Possibly norovirus if you're very healthy. Not symptoms of liver failure, which is actually the risk for habitual drinkers taking lots of paracetamol, rather than an occasional drinker. Also not near death.

That simply isn’t true - paracetamol is perfectly fine for most people to take if you’ve had alcohol.

The website that says what you found goes on to say “The exact amounts and timing of alcohol and paracetamol intake that could lead to liver damage are unknown.” meaning their first claim is not evidence based.

Actual NHS guidance here:
www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/about-paracetamol-for-adults/

and from the US’s national library of medicine, which collates all clinical study reports:
”No proper clinical studies have been carried out to investigate the alleged paracetamol–alcohol interaction and acute liver damage has never been produced by therapeutic doses of paracetamol”