Too much paracetamol?

[stuckinmyownhead]

Hi all,

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and although I have managed to escape morning sickness, I have severe exhaustion. Every day by about 3pm, I feel like my eyes are hanging out and my whole body aches, a bit like you get when you coming down with a cold. Just knackered, really!

My question is- if I were to take 1/2 paracetamol each evening to get me to be comfortable enough to go to sleep, is this ok? At the moment, I'm taking 1/2 about every other day as I am worried about having paracetamol every day, but the evenings when I don't take it, I feel really rough. I might be being paranoid and I haven't had my first midwife appointment yet (it's next Weds), but it is on my mind a bit.

Thanks all!

I know how you feel, I suffer jaw ache which has gotten worse in pregnancy... but I was told paracetamol is perfectly safe in their normal doses so I wouldn't worry. Cocodomol is okay but only further on in pregnancy and not at the end of pregnancy and for short times only

As long as you don't exceed the maximum dose that should be fine. If you mean about 250mg as half a paracetamol you'll do no harm. Its likely that the exhaustion will ease off in the next few weeks as you go to the next trimester but there are a few things that'll help. Try to be organised as much as possible - have things laid out and be ready for the morning so you can have a little extra time in bed, work smarter not harder and try to have an afternoon nap when you get in from work. Even an hour will help. One pot meals are also a dream! If you don't eat as healthily as normal for a couple of weeks it doesn't matter as long as you are sleeping and drinking enough water.

Thanks for your replies- I feel a bit better. I meat to say that I have been taking 1 or 2 paracetamol once every other day. Sorry, I didn't mean half a paracetamol. It seems that even 1 or 2 is ok, so long as I don't exceed the recommended daily dosage? I never would do this, though. Thank you

Yeah, absolutely fine. Doesn't effect anything other than take your pain away

I spoke to the maternity triage midwife today (about something unrelated), told her i had taken 1 paracetomol and she said 'why only 1?'. I explained that's all I had available at the time and she said I should be taking 2, every 4-6 hours, to not exceed the stated dose of 8 within 24 hours.

So really OP don't worry, every healthcare professional I have come across in the last 7 months (and that's a LOT of them!) have said the same... paracetomol is perfectly safe.

I spoke to the maternity triage midwife today (about something unrelated), told her i had taken 1 paracetomol and she said 'why only 1?'. I explained that's all I had available at the time and she said I should be taking 2, every 4-6 hours, to not exceed the stated dose of 8 within 24 hours.

So really OP don't worry, every healthcare professional I have come across in the last 7 months (and that's a LOT of them!) have said the same... paracetomol is perfectly safe.

I was actually offered paracetamol when in labour cos that's gonna help right? and my doctor was happy for me to continue with co dydramol throughout however I chose not to

@OurMiracle1106 haha! I remember asking why they did that, apparently they have to escalate offering pain relief so start with paracetamol. She said they feel as stupid asking as it sounds!