What will happen if a person takes an overdose of paracetamol?

Question

my friend says he wants to kill himself with them

Answer 1

he will have a very long slow painful death... believe me and there is no reverse once it gets in system.... this is the truth ... i have seen it happen

Answer 2

It is a pain killer,

Heart would slow (I Think im not a doctor they just tell u wen u buy it)

but it would take alot

Tell him if he doesnt he will look back in years to come & think WTF was i thinks

Answer 3

very slow, very painful, irreversible and fatal liver damage

My advice would be - dont do it.

Get help for your friend ~ his parents maybe????

Answer 4

It is considered safe for human use at recommended doses however, acute overdose can cause potentially fatal liver damage. The risk is heightened by the use of alcohol. There are often no symptoms in the first 24 hours following overdose, although there may be mild nausea and vomiting. In a large overdose liver function deteriorates leading to jaundice, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Death is rare but when it occurs it is due to liver failure.

Answer 5

if he wanted to do it he wouldnt tell you about it. he needs help i sugest you help.

Answer 6

Paracetamol will kill , it's lethal if took in large doses, it shuts all organs down in the body..

Your friend needs help...

Answer 7

thats what going to happen,

Answer 8

They may get liver damage and die.

The trouble with paracetamol is that it destroys your liver. So you get enough time to regret your actions before you die. It can be a drawn out process.

Answer 9

well as u say it is an overdose.

so what will happen is that it causes hepatoxicity. the reason is that it depltes the NADPH stores.

finally death will occur when the liver can no longer compensate.

Answer 10

Not a good way to go - causes you stomach to burst (i think)

I suggest that you encorage your mate to visit a counsellor...  This may get rid of these v.v.odd ideas

Answer 11

An overdose of paracetamol will certainly cause a renal shutdown and this is not going to be a pleasant way to die if your mate has to ask this question he doesn't really want to do it. It would be less painful to jump from a motorway bridge.

Tell your mate to forget it no problem in the world is worth doing yourself in for.

tell him he will feel far better coming through the feelings and looking back at them.

whatever the problem I guarantee there is someone with a worse one.tell him to forget it and carry on with his life.

Answer 12

Chances are they'd have to take ALOT more than a packet...and still all that would do is cause IMMENSE pain in your stomach. So much pain you will end up in hospital, having your stomach pumped, damaging your organs, and you'll still be alive.

No one deserves to feel so low they want to take their own life. There is always a way out no matter how far away that seems. Get help. Talk to someone, explain your feelings.

Take care. xx

Answer 13

i think , a short snooze , followed by death . you should advise your friend against this action . get help . its not the answer .

Answer 14

Firstly you feel ill for a day. Then you feel better as if nothing is wrong and then you die a horrible death on day 3 when its too late for the antidote methylcysteine.

So go immediately to the ER if this is what has happened

Answer 15

you would need to take over 100 to kill yourself with them.

you would lose conciousness and go into a coma - you may wake up in between and have agonising convulsions. Siezures, you would heave up blood mixed with the half disolved tablets and you would put your family through twice as much pain as you have ever felt. Thats what would happen

Answer 16

Depends on how many - either you will not get a headache for sometime - or if you take lots you will full into a coma and die.

Answer 17

Depending very much on their luck

A) As others have said, not a lot for a day or so (while the damage is being done) but the liver will begin to fail which will lead to jaundice (evidenced by a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) abdominal pains, nausea, dissorientation, confusion (these lasting days to a week) and if untreated soon after initial symptoms of the overdose coma and shortly thereafter death.

B) As above but with rapid treatment it would be touch and go whether they would live and if they didn't a painful death or if the antidote was successful a very long and slow recovery with the prospect of future liver problems or if they are actually luck the liver is a resilient organ which can over time repair

If you are a friend you should seek help for them immediately as telling you they feel this way is a cry for help, it will probably (most definately) be help you cannot directly provide.

If it is you do not do it, tomorrow is always another day and problems today will only shrink with time. Speak to someone who is trained, a medical professional. Life is short enough as it is and you never know what the future holds.

Answer 18

if he takes too many he will go into complete liver failure, which is extremely painful and a very slow drawn out death. it is a horrendous way  to die.

Answer 19

He could - just throw up, sleep for a long time, die, survive and have liver damage, have no effect.