Question about taking Painkillers.

[TD888]

Hello all, sorry if this post seems a little long winded. I suffer with chronic migraines. Sometimes all I need to get rid of them is basic paracetamol. Sometimes I take one tablet (Half the dose) and that does it. Sometimes it does not.

I was wondering, when I just take one tablet, if after 2 hours the pain is still there, can I take the second tablet, then wait 4 hours after that one to take a full dose?

My thinking is surely, the dosage is there to ensure that no more than the max dose is in the blood, because any more than that could cause damage. But if you take the safe dose, in two parts, does that count?

Anyone have any info on this? It could potentially save me waiting around in pain for hours to hit the magic 4 hour mark.

Best wishes to all out there, we all fight our own battles, and I wish you luck and success in each and every one of yours.

Alex

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Hello there Alex,

I am unable to give you medical advice, but it is probably best for you to consult a pharmacist or maybe give your GP a call, regarding your query about paracetamol dosage.

It must be really difficult experiencing chronic migraines. You may find it useful to have a listen of this podcast provided by 'Pain Concern' about how to manage migraines. You can find this here: painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

I hope this information was useful.

Moderator 4, on behalf of Pain Concern

[Cb1963]

Rather than trying to second guess with paracetamol, and then 'topping' up if the dosage hasn't worked, it starts getting very confusing on what is getting into your system, and if you are a long term sufferer with migraines, there are more suitable medications that can probably used as a preventative type medication, and possibly won't do any long term damage on your liver, a low dose of propranolol is some times used, but you really should be discussing migraines with your doctor,I went through a stage of migraines, to which I never had in my lifetime and I have never experienced such an intense pain and pressure in my head before,so seek some advice, and hopefully you manage the migraines with a different method of medication, thanks.

[Hidden]

Not medical advice but... yes technically saving one tablet for 2hrs is fine (the max daily dose is qds aka 4 times a day, now, this would be 6 hours apart so taking 1 then 2 hrs later your not going overdose but. 1) seek advice from pharmacy if they can’t provide something with a tiny bump eg [P] co-codamol 8/500 if pharmacy think the drs is more appropriate then there are lots of different options. Also in children it’s given by body weight

[Chleo11]

Hello TD. Sorry to hear about your chronic migraines. Yes, I've had them for over a year now. As everyone else here, I am not a doctor. However, I am quite surprised by your message. You're saying that you take paracetamol for your migraines, sometimes just one. Sorry to have to say but I doubt they would be migraines at all. Have you had a diagnosis set by a doctor? If you have, they would have given you a preventive medication for your migraines.

In relation to pain killers, I too always stuck to the recommendation on the packet (ibuprofen migraines) and ended up with medication overuse. This is because you're not supposed to take over the counter pain killers more than 1 or 2 days a month, at least not if you are a migraineur. You need to be given precise instructions by your doctor. When you have a migraine, my understanding is that you can take any medication (being careful to the dosage and interactions of course) to the max dose during 24 hours. You have to hit the migraine hard straight away, not spread the dosage through the day. However, you're not allowed to do this more often than 6/8 times a month. That means that you have to stay unfortunately 22 days of the month without anything. That what sets migraines apart from other types of chronic pains.

In relation to the previous post, NEVER touch co-codamol if you are a migraineur. Even with the tiniest dose, your body will get used to it after just a few times. If co-codamol was doing the trick, all of us chronic migraineurs would be on it. I wish it was.

You should check our posts here: healthunlocked.com/migraine...

All the best!

[Maddie21]

As far as I'm aware you can take the dose in parts if you wish, ensuring the 4hrs between the last dose taken but I am not a pharmacist/doctor so I would suggest maybe calling them for advice first as its better to be safe and know what is right than to guess.

Sorry about the migraines, I used to suffer really bad but changed my contraception which seemed to help.

[Mollycooper11]

Are you on any actual migraine meds or preventatives? I take a beta blocker to help prevent mine and when I do get one take Imigran at the first sign.