Over reaction to paracetamol

Only that I take very few pills, so generally only need about 1/4 dosage of what a doctor or a packet suggests.
Could it be that at all?

I can’t remember exactly what I read and it was a long time ago but it was about reactions to drugs and it said that some people react to paracetamol. They used it as an example because it is probably the one drug that no one would think of not being safe for some people.

Such a pity if you are becoming sensitive to paracetamol.
Check out the info sheet they give you in packets.
It might be interacting with another med you take.
Perhaps a phone call or letter to the Surgery asking about this. Some Surgeries have their own pharmacist, who would be the best person to help you.
Good luck.

Odd occasions I have taken Paracetamol at 2.30am and did oversleep, maybe feeling awful is not connected.

My DH has always been a bit groggy after taking painkillers and because he had a stroke and groggy can mean another one occurring I now give him one para followed any another an hour later. Seems to work for him.

I often take paracetamol for hip pain and it doesn’t affect me at all. If it is really bad I take neuromol which works better but has ibuprofen in it so avoid if I can. I was prescribed codeine from gp months ago but found it was no better than neuromol so have only taken it once. I’d not heard of reactions to paracetamol before.

I thought paracetamol was one of the safest, least side effects causing drugs.

Maybe it affected you adversely for some reason. As we age our tolerances can change too.

My mother used to take paracetamol because she insisted it helped her to sleep. Maybe in some people it does cause drowsiness.

I wonder if it could be because of the heat?
There has been a couple of threads about medication issues in extreme heat, lately.

I have not had a reaction like yours, but I do find it helps me sleep. Like you, when something is hurting during the night I will take 2 tablets.
It will be a shame if this puts you off taking them because they are very useful, and usually safer than other pain killers.

I have occasionally taken paracetamol in the night if I have a vague pain that is interfering with sleep and seems to help, but haven't had the kind of reaction OP had.

Paracetamol is classed as safe, that's why it's sold over the counter.
It could be as others have said a combination of the heat with meds.
I sleep well in this heat which I'm surprised at.

I think Primrose mentioned on another thread that she slept better if she took a couple of paracetamol at bedtime.

I just asked the question on AI re Paracetamol, being an older woman, and sleepiness, got a sort of half useful answer at the end of below:

Heat exhaustion: High overnight temperatures force an older body to work much harder to cool down, causing deep physical exhaustion.

Dehydration: Reduced thirst sensation in older adults leads to rapid dehydration in the heat, which directly causes drowsiness, confusion, and low blood pressure.

Paracetamol relief The medication itself is not a sedative, but lowering a fever or relieving pain allows the body to relax, which can mimic a sleepy feeling.

Slower metabolism An older woman's liver and kidneys clear medications more slowly, meaning any subtle systemic effects can linger longer in the body.

So this last one may or may not be the case? = drink water early or through night?

Then waking up to wee......🙄

The first time I took paracetamol (in my late fifties) I had an asthma attack. The second time (taken in error) I went into anaphylactic shock.

I am much more careful now!

Wyllow3

Then waking up to wee......🙄

I'm thankful I wake up to wee, still.

MissAdventure

I wonder if it could be because of the heat?
There has been a couple of threads about medication issues in extreme heat, lately.

It could be. I take a particular med that is affected. I feel horribly tired and at times depressed This was also discussed on the TV.
I looked up the above on Google and it said it can but moderately .

Thank you for looking it up

Could it be that, because of the heat, you were dehydrated so the paracetamol was more concentrated in your bloodstream so had more of a "knock-out" effect than usual?

Sorry, I see that MissAdventure has already mentioned the heat...

Any drug can cause side effects in some people. No drug is completly safe.

I must say since weaning off co-codamol, I now take 2 paracetamols at night for knee & back pain & I have been sleeping a little deeper for longer. No grogginess day after, like the co-co-codamol was causing.

This problem is not restricted to the hot weather, I reckon it has happened half a dozen times in the past year. although not as badly as last night, but certainly enough to leave me groggy until lunch time.

My medication hasn't changed in 5 years. I am also very aware of keeping myself well hydrated for other reasons and always have a glass of water by my bed and in this weather if I wake in the night to go to the loo, I will also have a drink of water as well. Also, in hot weather, for every drink I would usually have I also have a drink of water

I have decided if I need pain killers at night again, I will only take one and see how that works. Taking paracetamol during the day has no effect on me.