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.
Serious toxicity may occur in patients who have ingested > 150 mg/kg in any 24 hour period. Rarely, toxicity may occur for ingestions between 75-150 mg/kg.
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.
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.
The threshold for potential paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in adults is >10g or >200 mg/kg (whichever is less) within 24 hours. So, 10g is the toxic dose for all those heavier than 50kg.
However, repeatedly taking more than the recommended dose or overdosing on paracetamol can cause serious injury to the liver and even death. The recommended maximum dose of paracetamol for an adult (or child over 12 years) is 4g in any 24-hour period (equivalent to 8 x 500mg tablets).
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.
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.
Paracetamol toxicity is one of the most common causes of poisoning worldwide. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, paracetamol is the most common cause of drug overdoses.
Just a few paracetamol tablets over the recommended dose can potentially cause fatal liver damage, and there may be no symptoms until it is too late for treatment to help. Paracetamol is the most common drug taken in overdose in the UK.
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. Not sufficient time between doses or high amount of tablets taken at one time may lead to a fatal overdose.
Intravenous acetylcysteine is the antidote to treat paracetamol overdose and is virtually 100% effective in preventing liver damage when given within 8 hours of the overdose.
Use of any medicine always carries some chance of unwanted side effects. The most common side effects of paracetamol are: drowsiness and tiredness.
Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.
Paracetamol poisoning, when associated with exceptionally high plasma concentrations, can give rise to coma and metabolic acidosis in the absence of hepatic failure or other drugs. Although unusual, other such presentations may not have been recognized because a toxicology screen was not performed.
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.
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.
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.
Adults can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (500mg) every 4-6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 4g (8 x 500mg tablets) in the space of 24 hours.
Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. It's important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble.
Taking more, especially 7,000 mg or more, can lead to a severe overdose problems. If you have liver or kidney disease, you should discuss the use of this drug with your health care provider.
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor.
Conclusion: Paracetamol is effective in reducing stress by minimizing anxiety and blunting emotions of "fear-from-pain" so that pain is no longer perceived as much.
The so-called 'alcohol-paracetamol syndrome' describes the hepatotoxicity which is said to occur from the ingestion of therapeutic doses of paracetamol in moderate to heavy drinkers of alcohol.
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.