Hello Maureen!

I'm not a doctor but I am sure you will be fine. Of course it's not something you should do on a regular basis, but as a one off, it shouldn't harm you. The recommended doses on medicines are usually somehow conservative to make sure people don't overdose. When people are in really bad pain, they are sometimes allowed to take much more than what people take for an average headache...

However, if I were you, I would give NHS Direct a call. Let us know how it goes!

x

Overdose from paracetamol does not show any initial symptoms and it's essential to get help as soon as possible.

However, tt's unlikely that you've taken enough to have caused any problems, but I think you should get this checked out by talking to an expert.

Give NHS direct a call and they will let you know what you should do, if anything. Their number can be found here:

Myarka.

Looks to me like you've taken double the maximum dose, and repeated it a bit early. If you are fit and strong, haven't been drinking alcohol, aren't on any other medication, and are a good adult weight, I don't think there's anything to worry about. People do far worse and get away with it.

Quoting from Pharmweb.net: "The recommended adult single dose of paracetamol is two standard 500 mg tablets. Research shows that the common threshold for liver damage to occur from a single paracetamol overdose is 15 gms (30 tablets) although standard hospital guidelines allow an extra safety margin and assume liver damage could occur at a single overdose of 24 standard tablets or 150 mg/kg body weight, whichever is the smaller."

In other words, at least 12-15 times the normal dose is considered poisoning. Not sure what brand you used but the quantity in a bottle is probably limited so that you cannot poison yourself with a single bottle.

If you visit the doctor I really wonder what they would do about it, except keep an eye on you. You can do better - drinking water, resting and fasting for a day will help you get rid of the toxins. But providing you are well and don't do anything silly now, you will get over this anyway.

But this is the internet, and I'm not a Doctor either, so Myarka's right - call NHS direct.

Beyond that, paracetemol is pretty toxic stuff, and it has no health benefits whatsoever, so better to get help with the underlying situation always.

Phoned NHD.

Hello
Thanks for your help. I phoned and spoke to a very nice Nurse on the phone to (NHD) as you both advised. She said, what I had taken was the equivalent of five paracetamol tablets, in six hours, which is more than advised. Each one of those little cups which hold 20ml, would be 500ml of Paracetamol, and she said that would be one normal Paracetamol tablet. I have no other health issues, so should not be a problem. She even told me when I could take some more, but that will not happen, I usually take Codis, which she said would be fine. She said I will probabley be thirsty but that is not the Paracetamol but the other ingredients. Thank you for your help, I should have taken more care. :rolleyes:

Thanks again garden