Paracetamol warning: 'Slightly too much can cause overdose'

[poppy siddiqua]

Taking slightly too much paracetamol day after day can be fatal, experts have warned.

A dangerous dose might just be a few pills too many taken regularly over days, weeks or months, they said.

Researchers at Edinburgh University saw 161 cases of "staggered overdose" at its hospital over a 16-year period.

People taking tablets for chronic pain might not realise they were taking too many or recognise symptoms of overdose and liver injury, they said.

The researchers told the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology that this life-threatening condition could be easily missed by doctors and patients.

Doctors may not initially spot the problem because blood tests will not show the staggeringly high levels of paracetamol seen with a conventional overdose, where someone may have swallowed several packets of the drug.

[poppy siddiqua]

Recommended dose
#Take paracetamol as directed on the packet or patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine
Each tablet usually contains 500mg
#Adults can take 1-2 tablets of paracetamol 4-6 hourly, up to four times a day ;This means you should not take more than 8 tablets (4g) in a 24-hour period
#If you accidentally take an extra dose of paracetamol, you should miss out the next dose so that you do not take more than the recommended maximum dose for a 24-hour period.
#If you are concerned or you feel unwell, contact your Doctor.

[tasnuva]

Very informative post. Thanks for sharing

[Anisur Rahman]

good post poppy miss!

[akabir]

good post, thank you mem