Taken an overdose of paracetamol..?

Question

I took 8 paracetamol and now my stomache is really sore and I don't know what to do now can you help?

Answer 1

drink plenty of water to flush your system through

Answer 2

Hello,

(ANS) 8 paracetamol ISN'T considered an overdose in the strictly technical terminology. 8 tablets are just the maximum number of paracetamol tablets that its considered safe to take within any 24hr period.

NOTE: 8 or more paracetamol would be considered an overdose though.

****SERIOUS WARNING!!!*****
paracetamol overdoses are very very very dangerous, and people die from them. If you have taken more than 8 tablets you DEFINITELY now need to get yourself to hospital & casualty ASAP!! don't delay as the longer an overdose is left and more serious the internal damage to liver & kidneys. In large OD cases patients usually die slowly from multi-organ failure.

**I have seen people die from paracetamol overdoses its a horrible, horrible death. I used to work on the intensive care unit (I.T.U) in a major teaching hospital, we used to receive quite alot of paracetamol OD cases.

**if caught quickly i.e. within a few hours of ingestion, an antidote can be given but then this can have limited impact sometimes. if organ damage is done then patients may end up having a liver transplant (the lucky one's).

**Keep drinking large amounts of water if you've only ingested 8 tablets, I would think you would get away without any serious long term damage. Go and see you GP as soon as you can or along to the nearest casualty dept hospital and get yourself examined to gauge the effects if any?

Ivan
(ex database manager ICU, S.J.U.H, Leeds)

Answer 3

4g of paracetamol is not an overdose and will not cause you any harm. This is providing you are fit and healthy. If you have previous liver damage, drink a lot of alcohol, or are on certain medication (eg. carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, or St John's Wort) then this dose of paracetamol could cause you serious damage and you should seek medical treatment immediately. Go to A&E, not your GP.

Paracetamol does not cause renal damage as previously stated in other answers. Milk will not help

It causes liver failure, and symptoms of right upper abdominal pain start about 24 hours after taking them. After 3 days you turn yellow, and within a week you die of liver failure.

Answer 4

Paracetamol overdose causes slow kidney failure. Call your doctors and explain EXACTLY how much you have taken. Tablet sizes vary.

DO IT NOW

Answer 5

Paracetamol is very toxic in overdose, even in quite small quantities. Seek medical advice!

Answer 6

you shouild really call the poisons line for some infomation but they will probably tell you to go to hospital, if not stay at home... drink a glass of milk to put a lining on your stomach and if you do start to vomit i suggest youd call an ambulance as it gets a bit to awful to handle. in hospital they have medications to stop or control vomiting i dont think it is going to kill you i have taken over 80 tablets before and it didnt cause liver damage

Answer 7

paracetamol can cause problems with liver and kidney and is easy to over dose on, go to A/E just in case you are sensitive to it

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

8 is an overdose = paracetomol is a horrible thing to mess about with - you need to go to A & E and explain what you have done. Please take this seriously.

http://www.pharmweb.net/pwmirror/pwy/paracetamol/pharmwebpic9.html

Answer 10

Milk. And a doctor. 8 usually is nothing to worry about but it can still do major damage to your liver, especially if taken all at once. But it's no-where near a lethal dose.

Answer 11

Just to be safe phone NHS Direct probbally ok