Iburofen... Dangerous?

greyskittles

Okay, so my mum usually always buys the 200mg iburofen tablets... She gave me a new pack today.

I've just noticed that they are 400mg ones, not 200mg, and I've taken two of them. Should I be worried?

Yeah yeah, I'm stupid for not checking the instructions, but they're only slightly bigger than the 200mg ones, so I didn't even realise I know that they're bad and can give stomach ulcers, but err, is taking one too many likely to have any major impact? I've taken them because I have cramps, so I don't know whether the pain I have is because of the cramps or because of the tablets.

I realise you're not medical professionals blahblah, I just don't wanna ring the nhs helpline and them think I'm overreacting. But I will if I start dying or something anytime soon...

Daft_Monkey

Well, the maximum dose per 24hours is 6x200mg tablets, which translates to 3x400mg. O'course they are supposed to be spaced out througout the day and not taken at once.
Just make sure, you don't take any more.
But at least for your peace of mind you should give the nhs helpline a call, this is what they are for.

looby75

my gp prescribes 600mg of Ibuprofen for my sciatica and when it's really really bad he's ok'ed 800mg but only for short term use, so I'm sure that you taking 800mg as a one off will cause you no long term problems.

Gabriel-Ernest

I've taken 800mg before for back pain, on my doctor's instructions.

Toothsmith

Panic ye not!

You'll live!

No drug would be allowed onto the shelves if such a small accidental overdose could be damaging. Especially not over the counter.

You'd need to be doing that at every dose for a few days before any real harm would begin.

Paracetamol IS a nasty drug if overdosed on, but even then it would take quite a bit more than a single double dose to do any damage.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I was very stupid a few years ago and took 14 or so Ibuprofen tablets. It didn't appear to have much of an effect tbh. I'm still here anyway. However, if you've taken just one dose of 800mg Ibuprofen I very much doubt it will have any adverse effects. If you are worried though phone NHS direct.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Toothsmith wrote:

No drug would be allowed onto the shelves if such a small accidental overdose could be damaging. Especially not over the counter.

How come up to 32 Paracetamol tablets (sometimes more at the pharmacist discretion) be purchased when even just a small OD could be potentially fatal?

Toothsmith

Totally agree - but the OP didn't take 32 Ibuprofen accidentally, she took 2.

I doubt anyone could take 32 Paracetamol 'accidentally' either. Unless you stretch the defenition of 'accident'. I appreciate that taking half that many could have serious consequences in the case of Paracetamol, but it's still not 2 tablets.

It is easy to take 2 tablets instead of 1 by mistake, if this could prove fatal, the drug in question would not be allowed on the shelves.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Yeah, that is true. Thanks.

nearlyrich

I take the 400mg Ibupofen for my Fibromyalgia, my doc prescribed up to 6 tablets per 24 hours, sometimes I need it, you can't get the 400mg off the shelf they are only available at the pharmacy.

greyskittles

Now I think of it, I don't even remember whether the lat lot were 200mg or 400mg... I know she gets them from the pharmacy at Asda. I wonder whether I've been doing this for a while?! I always feel quite drowsy when I've taken them...And then sick in the morning. but then I take cocodamol with them... Hmm, probably not good for my insides but I get the worst cramps! Anyway, I'm alive, I'm just not gonna take anymore for a couple of days, despite pain.

Last time I phoned the nhs helpline was for my brother, who'd eaten a raw beef burger, and they laughed, and then told us there's a dish with raw beef in it... it's made me reluctant to call them ever since!

Thanks for the info though x