Medicines and drugs

Overdose

If you, or someone else has taken an overdose, don't wait for symptoms to occur. Call us on 13 11 26 to find out what to do next.

If the person has collapsed, or isn't breathing, call Triple Zero (000).

Don’t try to make the person vomit or give them anything to eat or drink.

If you have the medication container, bring it to the phone.

Paracetamol products

Paracetamol is one of the most common medicines taken by young children in accidental overdose. It's also commonly used in suicide attempts.

There is only a small difference between the maximum daily dose of paracetamol and an overdose, which can cause liver damage. These effects may be delayed. If you think you may have taken too much call us on 13 11 26.

Always seek treatment for paracetamol overdose immediately, even if the person seems well. Treatment must start early to be effective.

Other medication and drugs

A wide range of signs and symptoms can occur when a person overdoses, and everyone responds differently.

Symptoms may include, but aren't limited to:

• nausea and vomiting
• severe stomach pain and abdominal cramps
• diarrhoea
• chest pain
• dizziness
• loss of balance
• loss of co-ordination
• being unresponsive, but awake
• limp body
• seizures
• drowsiness and confusion
• agitation
• paranoia
• slow or erratic pulse
• difficulty breathing, shallow or erratic breathing or not breathing at all
• hallucination
• visual disturbances
• choking or gurgling sounds
• snoring deeply
• blue fingernails or lips
• pale or clammy face
• loss of consciousness.

Medication concerns

If you or someone else has done any of the following, call us on 13 11 26:

• taken a few extra pills
• taken medicine at the wrong time of the day
• taken medicine with alcohol or illegal drugs
• taken someone else's medication.

If the person has collapsed, or isn't breathing, call Triple Zero (000).

Prevent mistakes with medication

You can help prevent mistakes with medication by following a few tips.

Use safe behaviours around children

• Take your medication away from children so they won't copy you
• Use the proper names for medicines and never call them lollies
• Be extra careful when there are changes to your daily routines as the risk of poisoning increases
• Supervise children when visiting other places as medicines or other poisons may not be stored safely
• Use a locked or child-resistant cupboard at least 1.5m high to store medicines
• Don’t store your medicines in the fridge door – put them in a locked container at the back of a shelf
• Ask your pharmacist to give you medicines in child-resistant containers
• Put empty medicine bottles into an outside bin immediately – many poisonings occur when children take containers from the kitchen bin
• Keep medicines in their original containers, never put them in another container, especially drink or food containers
• Don’t leave medicine on the benchtop or bedside table
• When you have visitors and they bring medicines in their bags – find a spot up high or lockable to store their bags

Store and take medicines safely

• Always read the medicine label
• Always take medicine in a well-lit room
• Don’t use other people’s medicines
• Clean out your medicine cupboard regularly and take unwanted or out-of-date medicines to your nearest pharmacy for disposal