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Paracetamol OD

Posted , 2 users are following.

mkramji
mkramji

everyone.

I have a friend who I recently found out about them taking over 30 paracetamol tablets daily for the last 3 weeks. I have not approached them about it yet but before I do I wanted to know the short term and long term ramifications of taking 30+ 500mg tablets daily. And how long would they need to continue for it to be a very big medical problem

Appreciate the replies in advance

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • RHGB
    RHGB mkramji

    Posted

    Depends on their system, size, immunity etc.

    I would say that there has already been some liver damage, maybe quite a lot. The liver does not have nerve endings, so you experience no warning signs in the way of pain.

    It already is a very big problem, if the numbers are accurate. Take them to a doctors for an LFT.

    8 tablets is usually the maximum amount in 24 hours, but that is not a daily amount.

    • mkramji
      mkramji RHGB

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. That is very helpful.

      I have approached her about the issue and have found out that she has been taking approx 30 tabs daily spread across the day and not all at once. Does this mean problems are less likely to occur as apposed to having it all at once or is it more or less the same down the line?

      Thanks

    • RHGB
      RHGB mkramji

      Posted

      Yes, the spread will have less impact, than taking them all at once, but the liver still has to metabolise them.

      My best firend's wife (who was a nurse) took her life through a paracetamol overdose, it isn't pleasant. If she is in pain, she should see a doctor if she needs that many, or cut them down and look at other pain killers, Ibruprofen, codeine and aspirin. They all work in different ways and each is best at a certain type of pain.

      I virtually never take pain killers, but toothache kills me, so I take quite a few ibuprofen, but I would get anyhere near 30 pills and I'm 6'2" and solid built.

      If it is a cry for help through a suicide bid, then read the following. I can't provide a link, because the post will get modded. but Google the following.

      'Max Pemberton suicide'.

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