What to do if you accidentally took your medicine twice
If you accidentally took medicine twice, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away, even if you feel well. Call 000 if the person is unconscious, not breathing, having a seizure, or drowsy.
Call now, even if you feel well
If you accidentally took medicine twice, treat it as an accidental overdose and call now. Do not wait for symptoms.
If the person is unconscious, not breathing, collapsed, having a seizure, drowsy, or vomiting, call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Do not call the Poisons Information Centre instead.
| What is happening | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Unconscious, not breathing, collapsed, a seizure, drowsy, or vomiting | 000, and ask for an ambulance |
| An extra dose, and none of those signs | Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, even with no symptoms |
The line on 13 11 26 answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in Australia.
- Stop, and do not take anything else.
- Call 000 if the person is unconscious, not breathing, collapsed, having a seizure, drowsy, or vomiting.
- Otherwise call 13 11 26 and say it was a double dose by accident.
- Do not make them vomit, and do not give them anything to eat or drink.
- Stay with them until you have been told what to do.
If you are waiting for an ambulance:
- Stay with them, and lie them on their side.
- If they are conscious, keep talking so they stay awake.
- Loosen tight clothing, and let fresh air in.
- Be aware they may need CPR.
Outside Australia, use the local emergency number and the local poisons service.
What to have ready when you call
Have the medicine pack with you, or a photo of the label. Say what was taken, when, and how much.
- The name and the strength on the pack.
- How much was taken, and the time.
- Any other medicine today, including a different brand.
- Whether anyone else may already have given this dose.
The same ingredient can hide in two packs
Two pain, cold, or flu medicines can share an active ingredient and still have different names. Paracetamol is a common example, so taking both can be a double dose of that ingredient.
| What happened | What to say on the call |
|---|---|
| The same tablet twice | You took a few extra pills |
| Two brands for one symptom | Both names, in case the ingredient is shared |
| A different strength than usual | The strength printed on this pack |
| A liquid measured without the pack's syringe | How you measured it, and how much |
Call even if you feel fine. With paracetamol, the liver can be damaged before any symptoms show, and symptoms of some other substances may not appear for several days.
One list of every medicine, including pharmacy and supermarket products, is covered in how to manage multiple medicines.
If two people may have given it
Two carers can each give the same dose. Call with the note of who gave what, and do not give another dose while you wait.
Measuring and recording a child's dose is in how to give medicine to a child safely.
Make the next dose easy to check
Follow what the Poisons Information Centre, a doctor, or the ambulance crew says about this dose. Ask them before anyone gives the next one.
- Write down what they said, and the time you called.
- Mark this dose in the one record every carer checks.
- Put the leaflet back in the box.
- Before the next dose, read that record. If it is blank, ask before anyone gives more.
If you are not sure the first dose was taken, see what to do if you miss a dose.
A paper note is enough. Pillbo can keep the medicine list you would read out on that call, and a log of each dose marked taken, skipped, or missed, so you can see whether this one was already taken.
If a dose runs late, its late-dose alarm can ring even on Silent, on iPhone and Android. The log cannot tell you whether an extra dose is safe.
Common questions
I took my tablet twice by mistake and I feel fine. Should I still call?
Yes. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, and do not wait for symptoms.
Should I make myself vomit after a double dose by accident?
No. Do not make yourself vomit, and do not eat or drink until you are told what to do.
What if two different medicines both contain paracetamol?
That can be a double dose of the same ingredient. Call 13 11 26 with both packs in front of you.
Can an app tell me whether the extra dose is safe?
No. A log can show what was marked taken. It cannot decide whether that extra dose is safe.
Sources
- Accidental overdose of medicine, healthdirect
- Medicines and drugs, Queensland Poisons Information Centre
- Swallowed substances, healthdirect
- Queensland Poisons Information Centre, Queensland Poisons Information Centre
