What happens if you take 20 paracetemol tablets?

Answer 1

u will have liver damage

Answer 2

The LD50 of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is 338 oral mg/kg, so scale that to the person's weight in kg, i.e. a 50 kg. person would have to take 16.9 grams of the stuff to reach this level. The LD50, is a measure of how much of a substance kills 50% of a group of mice or rats in a study. More info here: http://ash.spaink.net/ld50.html .

A typical tablet is what, 200-250 mg? So that would be over 60 tablets to reach the lethal level, but since its method of action is kidney and liver damage, it'd be a painful way to go and there'd be damage before the lethal level was approached...and keep in mind the scaling of LD50's from rodents to humans isn't exact. So don't quote me on the numbers!

Answer 3

Okay, 20 tablets, you need to get yourself/the affected person IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Get the person to the hospital immediately, specify the overdose amount (in mg) and the drug.

Within an hour, you most likely be given activated charcoal, which will prevent your intestines from absorbing it. THE LONGER YOU WAIT (A FEW HOURS EVEN) , THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO DIE.

"Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, haemorrhage, hypoglycaemia, cerebral oedema, and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, strongly suggested by loin pain, haematuria and proteinuria, may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported."

"
Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose. Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see BNF overdose section.

Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit."

Answer 4

Paracetamol or acetaminophen(in the US, brand name Tynelol) in high doeses would overwhelm the livers natural detoxification function. In excess levels, toxic by-products attack healthy liver cells.

Antidote for this type of poisoning would be N-acetylcysteine.

Answer 5

You will die.