When people attempt suicide by taking say for example a large amount of Paracetamol, etc, why do people still?

Question

survive? Is it because the quantity is too small?

Answer 1

crazyicklepwincess; PLEASE DO NOT TELL PEOPLE THAT PARACETAMOL DOESN'T DO YOU ANY HARM. 8 TABLETS OF 500 MGS PER DAY IS THE MAXIMUM......... ANY MORE THAN THIS IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL..... I worked in the Liver Unit at King's College Hospital in London and know what an overdose of Paracetamol can do, even unintentionally!! It is not pleasant when having taken an overdose the patient comes round and feels okay only to realise that within 24 hours their brain will shut down and they will die..... and there is nothing we can do to save them. Only rarely can we perform a liver transplant to save them.

Some paracetamol contain an antidote in their make up which prevents this but because it would put the cost of the tablets up by around 1p each companies do not include it. They also believe that it would be more likely to make people take too much if they thought it wouldn't kill them.

People who survive overdoses of paracetamol are usually immediately sick (usually self induced because the overdose was actually a cry for help) and, therefore, get most of it out of their system.

Answer 2

It depends. Paracetamol (or acetaminophen) may not be a strong opioid based analgesic, but it can easily cause severe Hepatic (or liver) damage if too much is taken. It is very commonly used in suicide attempts because it is readily available in most homes (tylenol). It all depends on the amount of the drug taken and the persons weight. How quickly medical intervention is received is also important. If someone died from taking too much tylenol it would most likely not be an instant death, it would most likely be a long drawn-out painful death from liver failure.

Answer 3

Talking from experience.... I took 64, was extremely sick, and required a stomach pump. Doctors warned that I could cause extensive damage to my stomach and liver. I don't know why it doesnt work for some or does for others. I just believe that I was given a second, third and forth chance. Each quantity was around the same.

Don't ever do it, I have learnt that life is way to precious to give it up voluntarily.

Answer 4

Any amount of paracetamol will cause damage. Everyone is different. They may survive but have ongoing health problems in the future. Anyone reading this post don't do it it can be a very painfull and slow death...

Answer 5

Thing is, with paracetamol, IF you survive, the damage is already done. You will thank God that you survived, but, and here's the killer line. The damage that the pills have done will mean that you will die a very painful death indeed, and it's not pretty. You will have damaged your liver and other internal organs irreparably.
It's an awful death.

Answer 6

Yes the quantity can be too small but also people who take pills to commit suicide are usually calling for help and dont really want to die, if they did they wouldd jump off a building or slit their wrists from elbow to wrist (apparently going across doesnt work 2 good and is quite superficial).
People who are considering commiting sucide should always talk to someone about how they are feeling.
Its also easier to pump sum1's stomach than to sew up deep cuts in their arm!!

Answer 7

Paracetemol is one of the worst(or best according to how you look at it) things to overdose on as it dissolves into the bloodstream quickly. However too much will make you sick and therefore not have any effect. Other drugs have differenct effects on the body but usually people survive if they have been found or called someone and had their stomach pumped

Answer 8

Because even if you pass out... Your body will reject anything like that and you vomit half of it up before you die. Hopefully by then, you will have had your stomach pumped and your liver will have somewhat survived? Having that done to you, is enough to cure even the stupidest suicide jockey of ever swallowing anything ever again.

I honestly say that the only people who really want to die... are the ones that jump off buildings...

Answer 9

Usually it's because you throw up before too much gets ingested, the body realises it being poisoned and so tries to get rid by vomiting. Can still do a lot of damage to internal organs (liver especially) in the long term.

Answer 10

Paracetamol is often responsible for deaths in overdoses. It is very toxic and modest numbers of tablets can destroy the liver.