Paracetamol

[Biccylova]

My sister is 88yrs old says she has started to take 2 paracetamol at night as they help her to sleep, could this be harmful to her? she is in good health and as bright as a button mentally.

[Islay]

Caveat - I am not a doctor!
Paracetamol is a pain killer and will only help aid sleep if she is suffering from aches and pains.
I can't see 2 a day doing her any harm perhaps though could she build up a tolerance to such a low dose so when she needs it she would have to take more.
Paracetamol will not help you sleep in any way other than a placebo effect.

[Mamyalynne]

If they give her some comfort in whatever way I wouldn't worry.

[Mamyalynne]

** Also not qualified :-)

[Islay]

Lol Mamya - so easy isn't it ;-)

[Mamyalynne]

It is in my outfit yes lol.

[Hopkirk]

Sometimes I don't get a good night's sleep due to the usual creaks and aches. (and I'm only 58).

When I am particularly achy, I take a couple of ibuprofen at bedtime, and I get a more rested sleep.

[woofgang]

I find paracetamol makes me sleepy....maybe its all in my imagination and maybe its in your sister's imagination....but I wouldn't take paracetamol and drive.

[Sqad]

No problem.

[Sqad]

Mamya/Islay.

why do you always say that you are not qualified?

[pastafreak]

My ex always used to say that aspirin helped him sleep.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't always but sometimes do so the OP knows it is a lay person's advice.

Especially if they don't already know me well enough.

[Islay]

Because I don’t want to pretend to be something I’m not. Also if people decide to take my advice then they know it’s at their risk. But they may think based on others advice that they are medically trained but are not.

[Sqad]

No, I don't think from your answers strangers would think that either of you had medical degrees and also on AB one doesn't have to have any special qualification, medical or otherwise.

Still...........

[Mamyalynne]

Take your point Sqad, the caveat probably wasn't required on a question about two Paracetamol.

[EcclesCake]

I think it is a good thing to make it known that you are not qualified, that it is simply an opinion.

All manner of folk could claim to medically qualified on an Internet forum!

[Sqad]

LOL...LOL...I am not sure what my point was......LOL ^^^

[Zacs-Master]

I don’t think that’s the point Sqad is making.

[Mamyalynne]

Lost - I'll ask Matron.

[Biccylova]

Thanks everyone, so no need to worry then.

[Prudie]

My mum always used to take a couple of aspirin to help her sleep and nothing to do with pain. Maybe it was a placebo effect but I do the same sometimes and find it works, especially if I'm overtired or a bit stressed..