I get a lot of headaches and use paracetamol - can I overdose by taking it a lot

asks sporty:
A. If taken properly, paracetamol is not toxic and side effects are extremely rare. There is no evidence to show that taking paracetamol for long periods causes any liver damage, and you can't become addicted to it.

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Q. Why is it dangerous to overdose with paracetamol
A. When your body breaks down paracetamol, about five per cent of your dose is converted to a chemical which can be toxic. Normally, your liver can deal with this small amount. If, however, you take too much paracetamol, your liver won't be able to cope. This leads to liver damage or, if enough is taken, death.

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Q. How common is accidental overdosing
A. It's fairly unusual. The vast majority of paracetamol overdoses are intentional. Up to 30,000 people a year are taken to hospital because of paracetamol overdosing and there are between 100 and 150 deaths each year. In fact, overdosing on paracetamol is the commonest reason for liver transplants in this country.

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Q. How much is safe
A. The recommended adult dose of paracetamol is two 500mg tablets, with four hours between doses, and no more than eight tablets in 24 hours. For children's doses, you should follow the recommendations on the packet according to age.

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You should take care not to take other products containing paracetamol - such as cold remedies - at the same time, as this will double the dose. Doing this a couple of times by mistake isn't likely to cause any harm (adults would need to take 12 times the recommended dosage to harm to the liver), but it's safer to read the packets before taking anything which contains a painkiller.

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Q. What should you do if you think you've taken too much
A. Go to a hospital immediately so your paracetamol levels can be measured. There is an antidote - n-acetylcysteine - but it works most effectively if given within 12 hours of the overdose.

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Q. How long has paracetamol been used
A. Its pain-killing and fever-relieving properties were first discovered back in 1893. However, it was 1956 before it became available on prescription, and another seven years before it was available as an over-the-counter medicine. It's now the UK's most popular painkiller.

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By Sheena Miller