The lowest amount of Paracetamol to cause death was found by one study to be 10g. As for Paracetamol of 500mg per tablet, it is generally recommended to take no more than 8 tablets (500mg) within 24 hours, and 24 to 30 tablets taken at one time can lead to overdose or even death.
If you take too much
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets is unlikely to harm you. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous and you may need treatment. Too much paracetamol can cause liver damage.
Based on the dose of paracetamol ingested (mg/kg body weight): Less than 150 mg/kg - unlikely. More than 250 mg/kg - likely. More than 12 g total - potentially fatal.
Recommended paracetamol dose in adults = 4g or 75mg/kg in 24h. Overdose = ingestion >75mg/kg. > 150mg/kg = Lethal.
It's safe to take paracetamol with other types of painkiller that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine. Do not take paracetamol alongside other medicines that contain paracetamol. If you take 2 different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose.
You can take two tablets every four hours, but do not take more than eight tablets in 24 hours.
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine.
Paracetamol is a common painkiller that is normally safe. If you take more than the recommended amount (an overdose), it can harm the liver, and occasionally the kidneys.
Abdominal (stomach) pain, nausea, vomiting (sickness). Yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice). Severe headache, confusion or drowsiness. Passing no urine at all for the past eight hours.
You should not take more than 8 normal strength tablets in 24 hours (4,000mg). If levels exceed the above paracetamol can cause liver damage (hepatotoxicity) if you take larger doses than recommended. Adults must not take more than 4000 mg in a 24-hour period.
Liver failure can happen if you take too much paracetamol and don't get help. This can lead to death. Symptoms of paracetamol overdose are: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.
In adults, a dose of 6 grams a day over the preceding 48 hours could potentially lead to toxicity, while in children acute doses above 200 mg/kg could potentially cause toxicity.
HEPATOTOXICITY RISK FACTORS
While acute liver injury can occur when used at or below the recommended daily maximum dose (4000 mg)[4], paracetamol toxicity is often the result of ingestion of paracetamol over this maximum dose.
The maximum daily dose of Paracetamol must not exceed 3000 mg. Take 500 mg at a time, up to 2000 mg per 24 hours. The daily dose must not exceed 2000 mg. Not recommended for children under 10 years of age.
If you take too much Paracetamol your liver may not be able to metabolise it efficiently and this could make you extremely unwell. Paracetamol overdose can lead to liver failure in some people and this is why you need to take careful note of this advice.
Children who have ingested more than 150 mg/kg of paracetamol in any 24-hour period are at risk of serious toxicity. Toxicity rarely occurs with paracetamol doses between 75–150 mg/kg in any 24-hour period.
Can I drink alcohol while taking paracetamol? Drinking a small amount of alcohol while taking paracetamol is usually safe. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
Can I take painkillers on an empty stomach? Ibuprofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can irritate the stomach lining, so it is best to take them with food, or a glass of milk. Paracetamol doesn't irritate the stomach lining so it won't matter if you haven't eaten.
The quick answer is yes, you can. Paracetamol and ibuprofen do not react with each other to harm your child. The potential risk of using them both together is that you will get confused with how much you have given and then give your child too much.
You can only take 1 ibuprofen (400mg) 3 times a day, and no more than this amount in 24 hours. Take them regularly with or just after food for the next 3 to 4 days only and not just when you're sore.
Because ibuprofen has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, it is more effective than paracetamol at controlling certain types of pain, including rheumatoid arthritis, period pain, and muscular injuries.
So that your child's pain is well controlled, it is OK to alternate giving paracetamol and ibuprofen, or even to give both at the same time.
The more medications you are taking, the higher the risk of those drugs interacting dangerously with each other. Multiple medications can cause confusion, lightheadedness and even internal bleeding — all dangerous and injurious conditions.
There are several risks when taking multiple medicines. You may be more likely to have side effects. Because most medicines can have side effects, the more medicines you take, the more likely you will have side effects. Taking certain medicines can also increase the risk for falls.