Acetaminophen overdose?

[mamato731]

i have a headache and only acetaminophen was available. I took one 500mg tab like 12:30 and another 500mg tab like 3:00. After a while i feel different like hollow headedness. is this  an overdose symptom?

[Jaybay]

I react that way to just one extra-strenght Tylenol capsule.  Makes me dizzy, sick and sleepy - I HATE that stuff!  My sister-in-law gets very sleepy when she takes it, so she uses it for a sleep aid.  Go figure.  :-/

Happyhbmom gave you solid information.  I doubt you overdosed or damaged your liver, but it never hurts to talk to a pharmacist if you're not certain.  If you regularly take any other medications that also contain acetaminophen, you need to take something else like ibuprofen or naproxen for things like headaches.  Good old buffered aspirin is a great pain reliever to add to the rotation too. If you aren't sure about drug interactions with your other daily meds, check with your pharmacist.  That's what they're there for, and I've found them to be a lot more knowledgeable and helpful about these things than my doctors.

Many narcotic pain meds also contain acetaminophen.  Tons of over-the-counter meds for things like sinus pain, allergies, cold & flu, and sleep aids are loaded with it.  Most people don't read the ingredients on these things and have no idea how much acetaminophen they take in - sometimes on a daily basis.  Hope your'e feeling better now.  :-)

[Tuckamore]

Hello Mamato,

I think you will be fine but I do hope you have consulted a pharmacist or your PCP. While it is never a good idea to take 1,000 mgs of acetaminophen at one time it is usually not fatal. If you have not had any recent alcohol you should be feeling much better today.

Can you share with us how you are doing today?

Best regards,
~Tuck

[paingotago]

Hi there, How are you today?, are you doing better?  I sometimes worry about people, and their different types of pain, and their different health situations that cause their pain. If I give opinions sometimes that seem abit ecentric, I don't mean it in a disrespectful way.                                                                                                                                I will admit I don't have all the answers by any means, but my opinions come from a deeper understanding of research of many medications through out many years with me being the primary guinipig. I realize that acetaminophen is "ok" at low doses, but it "can be"? very dangerous at higher doses taken every day. It has been available on our store shelves for decades, but only 2-3 years ago they felt they had to edjucate people, (and because of the EDJUCATION,) this has saved lives, and changed the old veiws about how much to take ,and how often to take it. Now I think more people take this medication with a better perspective of its risk to the liver, and ones general health.   Best wises to you, and I would really like to know how you are doing today? Sincerely,  Paingotago

[happyhbmom]

1000 mg is the current FDA approved limit, and actual overdoses, I've heard, usually come from very high doses.

The problem is when people take these doses very frequently, or take them with alcohol, or when people with liver disease take them.

But as with anything, better safe than sorry- if you're worried, call your pharmacist or go to urgent care.  

[designgyrl0112]

I would call your pharmacist and keep an eye on the headache and make a dr. appointment if it doesn't get any better.  It's probably ok, your probably just feeling terrible because of the headache.  I've also heard that you can take up to 1000mg of tylenol together, it says on the bottle, but depending on other medications that you take, you definitely have to be careful that you aren't taking more than that.  

Best wishes and please keep us informed.

Karen

[paingotago]

Please be careful with Tylenol it is so dangerous. I can't take it at all. I wish are powers at be would just let (one) mild pain med. be availible over the counter like in Canada so People with mild to moderate pain problems not have to suffer! This method works in most of all the other countries. Why can't we focus more on edjucation ,and try it here. See here is another unfortunate example of someone that would be fine with a minor over the counter opiod. For us to be controlled and micromanaged to have to take Tylenol is so over the top.

[Ashelen]

i'm sorry i see on another post where someone says the individual dose (at once dose) shouldn't exceed 650 not 1000...but I do know that I'm allowed to take 1000 every 4-6 hours for my post-surgical pain because it's in the lortab that I take.

But again since it was 2 1/2 hours apart I would say it's PROBABLY not too dangerous....tylenol's half-life is really only realistically 2-3 hours.

[Ashelen]

I would call a pharmacist and ask if this is an overdose symptom....

but it's considered safe to take UP to 1000mg at one time. no more than that (and no more than 4000mg total in 24hrs). and since you took them 2 1/2 hours apart I would say it's unlikely...BUT if you have a liver that doesn't function at 100% it's entirely possible.

I would call my doctor and/or a pharmacist and find out if you need to be seen!

[GettingOlder]

Acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver. Doses of acetaminophen greater than the recommended doses are toxic to the liver and may result in severe liver damage.

In other words, perhaps the 'hollow headedness' is due to liver reaction from large dose of acetaminophen. Best wishes!