How many paracetamols does it take and how long before you die?Could you take overdoze and die in your sleep?

Answer 1

Why do you want to know?

Answer 2

Many people believe a paracetamol overdose will cause drowsiness or unconsciousness. It doesn't. There are few symptoms apart from perhaps vomiting, for about two days. In a large overdose symptoms will then start to appear including feeling 'ill' and tenderness of the abdomen.

A fatal overdose of paracetamol, no matter how large, is unlikely to bring about death in under five days, at least some of which are likely to be spent in hospital.

Many overdose deaths are due to a mixture of medicines in which paracetamol is present but, as death is brought about in under 24 hours by medicines other than paracetamol, the paracetamol cannot be a contributing factor in the cause of death.

It may be useful to remember that if death has occurred within 24 hours of an overdose, it was not caused by paracetamol. Similarly if death has occurred outside of hospital, it is unlikely to be due to paracetamol.

Because a large paracetamol overdose causes damage to the liver, it is sometimes assumed that a small amount of paracetamol, such as a normal therapeutic dose, will cause small amounts of damage to the liver also. This is not the case. Paracetamol taken at recommended dosages, even long term, does not harm the liver or other organs.

When the liver has been damaged during a non fatal paracetamol overdose, it recovers fully within a matter of weeks or months following the overdose. The liver damage is not permanent, and does not accumulate with subsequent overdoses unless they are taken close together, before the liver has had time to recover

Answer 3

It doesn't take that many,that's why they're only sold to people in small amounts.It's not the paracetamol which kills someone,it's the way the liver tries to rid them out of the system and it turns the metabolites into toxins.
It is a long and painful way to go as it causes liver and kidney failure,dialysis can assist kidneys but there is nothing to help with a failing liver.
Your question is ambiguous,have you had suicidal thoughts? If so,pick up the phone and speak to the Samaritans or your GP or walk into the nearest NHS Direct/A&E department to talk to someone.

Answer 4

Well to stay on the safe side it would be good if you read the details on the box or the instructions inside the box when you prescribe pracetamol.You can actually die from an overdozage.Well it says 1-2 tablet's or your looking for trouble.Dont be so stupid and listen to these people.Im sure whoever made it said exactly what's been written on the box.Be wise.And read instructions before taking action.

Answer 5

this depends really, i have looked after people who have taken a whole box and more and survived, but then i looked after a lady the other day who acidently took paracetamol and cocodamol (which contains paracetamol) for two days thinking they were different drugs and died!!! you don't tend to die in your sleep, it's actually a really horrible death, because it damages the liver it can take a few days to die, by which time its too late to do anything and the person is deeply regreting it! because the liver is resonsible for a whole manner of jobs all sorts of things slowly start occuring (swollen abdomen, yellow skin, severe diarrehoea with fat in the stools, bleeding from every orifice) it's terrible to watch and i imagine terrible to die from! really not reccomended

Answer 6

An overdose of Paracetamol is a very painful way to die

Answer 7

I had the flu then accidentally took an overdose of paracetamol, it was horrible, worse pain in the head, dizziness, hallucinations.... NO WAY would I want to do that again, no you don't sleep, you just feel sicker than a dog

Answer 8

If you or someone else is suicidal you should phone the Samaritans.

You really shouldn't do this... stating the obvious aside paracetamol doesn't kill you directly. If someone were to overdose You'd feel incredibly sick, vomit a lot and go into convulsions as your liver was destroyed. Then you'd die slowly over the next three to four days from liver failure. really not a nice way to go.

Answer 9

It takes a lot! No, you wouldn't die in your sleep. As noted above, you'd feel really ill (vomiting) for a day or so, then you'd start a long, slow, agonizing process of liver failure that would eventually lead to death. Not a pleasant way to go, at all.

Answer 10

Mate, i'm a bit concerned about this. What are you thinking of doing. Get in touch with the samaritans and talk to someone.

I really hope that your'e not curious for that reason.

REMEMBER ! Theres always someone worse off than yourself somewhere.

Answer 11

It is a long, slow, painful death.

Please seek some help if you are feeling suicidal, start by talking to the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit their website http://www.samaritans.org/.