Paracetamol: Heed caution if mixing with other medicines – when to check with your doctor

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Like all medicines however, it must be treated with caution.

You must always remember to take only what you need and never too much.

Overdosing on paracetamol can be uncomfortable and dangerous affair to say the least.

And so can mixing it with other medicines; not all of them, but some of them.

According to the NHS, you shouldn’t have paractemaol if you’re also taking the blood thinner warfarin.

This because the paracetamol can increase your risk of bleeding if you take it often.

You shouldn’t take it at the same time you take medicine to treat your epilepsy either.

And neither should you take it if you’re also taking medicine to treat tuberculosis.

These are the medicines which you should not, the NHS says, take at the same time as paracetamol.

Some are less clear cut, herbal remedies for example.

It’s recommended that you check with your GP or pharmacist if you’re taking St John’s wort (herbal remedy for depression).

In this case you may need to reduce your paracetamol dose.

Apart from St John’s Wort, the NHS says that paracetamol isn’t generally that affected by taking herbal remedies or supplements.

However, if you’re in any doubt you should consult a doctor, just in case.

Other circumstances in which you should consult your doctor are if you are having an allergic reaction to the paracetamol.

These are serious and can require treatment in A&E.

You should seek medical attention if you experience any of these side effects from paracetamol:

• Skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen blistered or peeling skin
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest or throat
• Trouble breathing or talking
• Mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling.

This is not the full list of potential side effects; for more information, check the information sheet that comes with the paracetamol.

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