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Need advice!!

Posted , 5 users are following.

Kyle1243
Kyle1243

 hi my fiancée (who is suffering with depression) has overdosed in the early hours of this morning, she told me that she had taken 10 paracetamol (500mg) 10 fluoxetine (20mg) as well as drinking almost half a bottle of whiskey. I took her straight to hospital where they have done blood tests and things came back normal, so they let her come home. During our time in the hospital she started throwing up, at first I was happy she was getting them out of her system, but she is still throwing up almost 13 hours later but She is only throwing up the water she is drinking, it doesn't appear to be anything else. Is this normal? What should I do?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Lizzie46881
    Lizzie46881 Kyle1243

    Posted

    Hi Kyle

    I'd get her back to a&e and demand the paracetamol antidote, its not pleasant and takes best part of two days but essenatil in cases of paracetamol overdose.  I was hooked on co-codamol last year and o'd'd on it and was admitted to a&e on my gp's instructions. The nureses were brilliant and totally non-judgemental.  I also have experience of drugs and booze, I'm not an alchoholic but occasionally binge drink, and have discovered that meds and booze are a bad combination.

    You both have my very best wishes 

    xxx

    • Kyle1243
      Kyle1243 Lizzie46881

      Posted

      Thank you Lizzie 

      yeah the nurses here didn't really seem to care, it just seemed to be a case of do blood tests and move on, I asked one nurse for help when she started being sick and he just responded 'I'm not on shift for another 5 minutes mate, one of the other nurses will help when they come back' safe to say I wasn't happy. But they did the blood tests and everything was fine, no real damage so they let her come home. Like I said it's the fact she is still being sick that's got me concerend, it's not a lot and its only every so often and just seems to be water that she is drinking to try and re-hydrate herself that comes back up. 

      Thank you for your advice. Xx

    • Lizzie46881
      Lizzie46881 Kyle1243

      Posted

      Hi Kyle

      I'm sorry you are both going through such a rotten time and that the nurses weren't sympathetic.  Its important that she is seen again in my opinion, I'm not trained in medcine in any way, but know that even small overdoses of paracetamol can be harmful to the liver and kidneys, not to mention the other stuff she took. Are you in the UK?

      xxx

  • Jan999
    Jan999 Kyle1243

    Posted

    Sometimes it takes several hours for the paracetamol levels in the blood to reach a maximum level. I agree with Lizzie go back to A&E. 
  • Rainboy
    Rainboy Kyle1243

    Posted

    Dear Kyle

    I have only just discovered this website and this is my first post. I tell you this because your problem occurred two days ago, so I hope you understand.

    I simply wanted to say how sorry I am you have had this experience to deal with, and also to agree with the kind and supportive comments from other member’s replies to you.

     

    Clearly by now you will have taken whatever action you decided upon, but for the benefit of anyone else who may read this thread, it is important to remember that it is possible to overdose on Paracetamol and not experience any major symptoms initially, so the reply from Lizzie46881 is spot on.

     For this reason, it is all too easy to assume everything is okay, but this is not the case. As another member commented, it should not be ignored. Although someone who overdoses may seem to be okay initially, there is the risk that left untreated, within days the individual may begin to experience serious and irreversible effects due to liver damage.

    Prompt action can avoid this even if symptoms are absent. I send you my best wishes and sincerely hope your fiancée has recovered. The next thing to focus on is the cause behind her actions. Depression. If you have not already sought help or advice on this, there are some excellent resources available to support and guide you, and should you respond to this post, I will be happy to provide you with a link to one of the best in the UK.

    Depression is beginning to emerge from the shadows, but stigma still remains. (I should know). Don't let anything prevent you from talking to someone or seeking help.

    My very warmest wishes to both you and your fiancée.

    • Kyle1243
      Kyle1243 Rainboy

      Posted

      Hi there

      thank you for your response, I didn't take her back to hospital, she was sleeping while I put this up. I woke her up a few hours later and she hasn't been sick since, shes been keeping her fluids up and has been able to keep down food, she just feels groggy and spaced which is what I would expect from an overdose of the fluoxetine. They did blood tests around 4 hours after she took the overdose and her kidney and liver functions came back normal.

      in regards to the depression and reasons for her actions I know what they are and she has been referred for help, we're just waiting for them to contact us. Can I still ask you to still send me the link please.

      i really appreciate your response, thank you so much, we both appreciate it.

    • bobbs99
      bobbs99 Kyle1243

      Posted

      Hi Kyle1243,

      I went through a similar experience as your fiancee a few years ago. I took an overdose and, although treated in hospital, I felt judged by the hospital staff and the process by which you are dicharged is very cold and robotic. I had my appendix out about 1 year after this and was treated so much better, it shocked me how much of a stigma is attached to depression and what comes with it.

      Any way, I am glad your fiancee has stopped vomitting. Obviously she was vomitting due to an overload of toxins, but I know, as a depression sufferer, that when I am highly stressed, I am sick to my stomach and throw up. This could have added to the frequency she was being sick. It's a very distressing situation to resort to an overdose and then experience hospital in a way that makes you feel like just another patient who needs sorting, then 'out she goes'...!

      I hope you don't mind me suggesting this, but having suffered with depression and anxiety for about 16 years and having done the whole trial and error thing with numerous medications, I found Escitalopram to be a life-saver. It's not as easily given out as fluoxetine, etc, because it's more expensive, but ask for it and be firm! 20mg/day and your fiancee will really see a difference.

      Also, forgot to say, get some Diarylite sachets from the supermarket and have your fiancee drink a few glasses to rebalance the salts, etc, that she lost whilst vomitting and whilst dehydrated.

      I hope things work out well for you both x

    • Rainboy
      Rainboy Kyle1243

      Posted

      Good Morning Kyle

      I am so pleased that you received my reply to your post, and absolutely delighted that you have responded in return.

      What excellent and relieving news that your fiancées blood tests have come back in good order. I’m sure that must be a great relief to you and thank goodness that no permanent damage was done. As you remarked yourself, her remaining symptoms are what you would expect as a normal reaction, but they are not too severe and her body will (with your moral and practical support), balance itself over the next few days.

      Now that the distress of the overdose has passed, as I said previously, the Depression, which is the cause of the situation now needs to be addressed. It’s really encouraging to hear that you know what the causes are, and that will make it much easier for her to get the help she deserves.

      You have probably seen in the media in recent weeks, that the government is now pressing for mental health to receive parity with physical illness. This is so overdue isn’t it? If someone has a heart attack, they are flooded with support and understanding, yet in contrast, if someone suffers a complete mental breakdown, attitudes are very different.

      The time has come where people are beginning to realise that the brain can get sick just like a heart can, and severe depression is one of the things that results.

      I’m more than happy to provide the link you asked for. I’m sending you to the main portal, but once you have arrived, you will have access to a vast resource of information, contacts, videos, forums, and a whole host of services that will help you from feeling isolated.

      Visit http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

      Have a good day and remember to take time to care for yourself as well as your fiancée.

      I send you both best wishes and very positive hopes.

    • Rainboy
      Rainboy Kyle1243

      Posted

      Hello again Kyle.

      Just a brief note to let you know that I have replied to you at length, but it has gone to moderation due to the link I included for you. Once the moderators have hopefully approved it, then you will receive my reply in full.

      Best wishes Pal.

  • Rainboy
    Rainboy Kyle1243

    Posted

    Hello Kyle

    I just wanted you to find a simple 'Hello' waiting for you if you returned to your discussion. I sincerely hope that both of you are in a better way than when you made that first post a few days ago.

    You are in thought buddy and I'm certain if you leave a message on this excellent website, there will be no shortage of honest-hearted people to give you all the moral and emotional support that they can.

    Best wishes mate.

  • elaine38495
    elaine38495 Kyle1243

    Posted

    Hi kyle really sorry to hear that she must be in turmoil depression is a very dark time speaking from experience back in 2001 everyday was hell to be here she can and will come out of this she needs to change her WAY of thinking that is the key different scenery etc.. I really hope and wish you both well I would seek advice about the throwing up hun I'm not sure if that's normal or not, I'd go bk docs and tell him/her its getting worse before its too late. Just my advice, beat wishes hun.
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