Extra dose of co codamol?

[Cait73]

I've had a nasty viral infection for 10 days the worst effect is my throat it's so inflamed I can barely swallow - I'm taking co codamol every 4-6 hours and am aware maximum dose is 8 tablets within a 48 hour period

BUT today has been particularly awful I've been up since 3am and I've literally counted the minutes to the next dose of painkillers

By 10pm I've had 4 doses stretched out from 3am, I'm now really worried how I'm going to get through the night if I can't take another dose ('till 5am when I took my first dose) would it be really awful to have an extra dose as a one off??

@BIWI

My son developed quinsy and had to be admitted to hospital - the dehydration from not being able to swallow (even his own saliva) caused serious - thankfully short term - issues.

Yep, wouldn't wish Quinsy on anyone, I developed it after seeing a GP and I kept battling on as it 'was just a virus.'

@BIWI I can't swallow my own saliva it's dire

@MrsSkylerWhite I have that it burns too much and please don't worry I'm too much of a wimp to take more cocodamol than advised

Seriously @Cait73 if that's your situation then I'd take yourself to A&E.

[quote Cait73]@SmartCar can't I just buy codeine?[/quote]
No - it’s prescription only, and they’ll be reluctant to prescribe due to addiction potential. That!s what you need, though, and if you can’t take NSAIDs due to lithium, they need to give you a stronger non-NSAID (ie an opiate). Ring your GP or go to a walk in centre, and keep pushing until you get adequate pain relief.

@BIWI I'm on my own (completely) with toddler it's complicated but yes if I'm this bad by 2pm I'll take him with me to A&E I'm praying it's "just" a virus or infection and antibiotics will kick in

@SmartCar

No clue if you can just buy codine. But you need something. Hope you feel better soon.

You can buy the 8mg ones over the counter but they tell you not to take it for more than 3 days.

Have you tried an aspirin gargle. I’ve found these have helped with sore throats. Your not actually consuming the aspirin but the gargle somehow helps numb the pain.

I’m also going to go against the grain and say I regularly take more than the daily dose on co-codamol and other pain killers. I’m a if I need it I take it person. I don’t do it every day though and when I do I make sure I tell my DH I’ve exceeded my daily dose so he can keep an eye on me.

@AliceMcK thank you for your honesty, I know it's implications on my liver but right now it might be a chance I'm willing to take!

Happily I've managed to go 6 hours between doses so I've saved myself a bedtime dose, if I'm no better tomorrow I'll phone 111 but I think the antibiotics might be kicking in?

I've had several glasses of water and a bread roll, not the most comfortable thing but it didn't kill me

Friday 2:30am I'm MUCH better, still in some pain but only took painkillers twice today instead of 4 times

I'm annoyed with my gp because I had an extra week suffering when they refused to give me antibiotics saying it's a virus it'll go by itself

It didn't but started to clear up within hours of taking the antibiotics

Anyway thank you everyone who took the time to reply

I've had this a few times and it was pharyngitis which only went with antibiotics

The last time I had it I made my GP prescribe
antibiotics because I've had it before and the infection causes a fever in me and makes me really ill. I had to have 3 doses of antibiotics last times because the first type didn't work so I was given a different type which started to work.

It painful, exhausting and I have no idea why GPS are so obsessed with not giving out antibiotics when quite often it's the only solution.

@AliceMcK

Have you tried an aspirin gargle. I’ve found these have helped with sore throats. Your not actually consuming the aspirin but the gargle somehow helps numb the pain.

I’m also going to go against the grain and say I regularly take more than the daily dose on co-codamol and other pain killers. I’m a if I need it I take it person. I don’t do it every day though and when I do I make sure I tell my DH I’ve exceeded my daily dose so he can keep an eye on me.

@AliceMcK please don't do this as the extra paracetamol can accumulate and you can get liver damage and multi organ failures. It's actually more dangerous than you'd think as it's a staggered overdose and your body can't clear the excess so it builds up.

I have done that in the past and on two occasions fainted. Too much paracetamol.