Using the Medicines in this Book 479
Taking too much medicine
Some people think that taking more medicine will heal the
body faster. This is not true and can be dangerous! If you
take too much medicine at one time or too often, or if you
take some medicines for too long, the medicine may harm you.
Would the pain
go away if I took
more?
Never take more
medicine than the
amount advised.
Some common signs of taking too much of a medicine are:
• nausea
• vomiting
• pain in the stomach
• headache
• dizziness
• ringing in the ears
• fast breathing
But these can also be side effects for some medicines. If you
have one or more of these signs and they are not common side
effects of the medicine you are taking, then you should talk to a
health worker trained in giving medicines.
Poisoning. Taking too much of a medicine (for example, half a
bottle or more) can poison a person, especially children. You
should do the following:
• try to make the person throw up. She may be able to
get the extra medicine out of her body before it harms
her more.
• give activated charcoal (see page 495). Activated charcoal
can absorb some kinds of drugs and keep them from acting
as poison.
• Get medical help immediately.
TRANSPORT!
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012