Warning issued over paracetamol overdose after social media problem emerges

Recently, younger group of youngsters in Southampton, aged between 15 to 17, tried to overdose on paracetamol to see who may very well be hospitalised for the longest period of time.

The problem, shared throughout social media, is an actual concern, pharmacist Navin Khosla stated.

“TikTok challenges are actually changing into increasingly more common,” pharmacist Navin Khosla at Now Patient said.

“And worryingly, they are now putting people in danger like we have seen recently with the new paracetamol challenge.”

Khosla added: “Intentionally overdosing on paracetamol can cause significant damage to the body, both in the short-term and long-term.

“So it’s necessary mother and father are conscious of those harmful challenges and educate their kids on the potential penalties.”

Excessive doses of paracetamol can be poisonous to the body, Khosla warned, which can damage the liver and kidneys.

The NHS says children between the ages of 12 to 16 years of age should not exceed four doses (i.e. of one paracetamol tablet) in 24 hours.

In between doses, it’s recommended to wait at least four hours before taking the next dose.

Adults, on the other hand, can take two 500mg tablets, four times a day.

But it’s advised not to consume more than eight tablets within a 24-hour period and leave four hours between each dose.

Khosla said: “If you’re discovered to have paracetamol poisoning, then a standard therapy is acetylcysteine.

“[Acetylcysteine] is an intravenous medicine given over a 12-hour period, which will help to flush out the paracetamol from your system.”

Side results of therapy, as identified by the NHS, can embrace itching, nausea and vomiting.

The NHS says a follow-up blood take a look at will likely be wanted to verify if any harm has been completed to the liver.

“It is only safe for you to leave hospital when your blood tests show that you are not at risk of liver problems,” the well being physique provides.

You should attend A&E in the event you’ve taken paracetamol and:

• You have abdomen ache
• You really feel sick (nausea) or are being sick (vomiting)
• Your pores and skin or eyes look yellow (jaundice)
• You have a really dangerous headache
• You really feel confused or drowsy (sleepy)
• You don’t pee for eight hours.