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What to do if…
you realise you may have taken two medicines that should not be combined

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Do not take any more of either medicine until you have urgent, personalised advice. If there are severe symptoms or the person is getting worse, call 999 now; otherwise use the urgent medical advice route for where you are in the UK.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait and see if there are worrying symptoms such as breathing trouble, collapse, seizures, being unable to stay awake, severe chest pain, or severe confusion.
  • Do not take another medicine, supplement, or alcohol to try to “cancel it out”.
  • Do not make yourself vomit or use detox products.
  • Do not throw away the packets, bottles, blister strips, or patient leaflets.
  • Do not drive, cycle, or operate machinery if you feel drowsy, dizzy, confused, or unwell.

What to do now

  1. Check for emergency red flags right now. Call 999 if you or the person who took the medicines is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, has stopped breathing, is having a seizure, cannot be fully woken, has severe chest pain, or is rapidly getting worse.
  2. If it is not immediately life-threatening, get urgent advice for where you are.
    • In England, use NHS 111 online if the person is aged 5 or over, or call 111.
    • In Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111.
    • In Wales, use NHS 111 Wales or call 111.
    • In Northern Ireland, contact your GP or GP out-of-hours service; if you cannot get advice quickly and you are worried a medicine may be harmful, go to your nearest emergency department.
  3. Say clearly what happened. Use words like: “I may have taken two medicines that should not be combined, and I need advice about what to do next.”
  4. Put the medicines in front of you. Be ready to give:
    • the exact names and strengths, such as “20 mg”
    • whether each medicine was prescribed, bought over the counter, herbal, or a supplement
    • how much you took, such as the number of tablets, capsules, spoonfuls, or millilitres
    • what time you took each one
    • whether you also took alcohol, recreational drugs, or another cold, flu, pain, or sleep product
    • your age, approximate weight, pregnancy status if relevant, and any kidney or liver problems
    • any symptoms you have now.
  5. Pause further doses until you are told what to do. If missing a medicine could be risky, such as medicine for seizures, diabetes, heart rhythm, blood thinning, or transplant treatment, tell the adviser what it is and when the next dose is due.
  6. Stay where help can reach you. Keep your phone charged and nearby. If you feel sleepy, faint, confused, or unsteady, sit or lie down and ask someone to stay with you if possible.
  7. If symptoms start or worsen while waiting, escalate. Call 999 if breathing becomes difficult, you feel you may pass out, severe drowsiness or confusion develops, chest pain starts, a seizure happens, or the person cannot be kept awake.
  8. If you are told to attend urgent care or an emergency department, bring everything. Take the medicine packets, bottles, blister strips, patient information leaflets, and a written note of what was taken and when.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out which medicine is “to blame” right now.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to permanently stop a long-term medicine.
  • You do not need to search every possible side effect before getting urgent advice.
  • Reporting forms, complaints, or fixing the storage system at home can wait until the immediate safety question is answered.

Important reassurance

Medication mix-ups and accidental overlaps can happen, especially with similar packaging, repeat prescriptions, painkillers, sleep aids, and multi-symptom cold or flu remedies. Getting advice early and not taking more until you are told what to do are sensible safety steps.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance for the next hour or two. Later decisions about restarting, delaying, monitoring, or changing medicines may need advice from NHS 111, NHS 24, NHS 111 Wales, a pharmacist, your GP, your prescriber, or an emergency clinician.

Important note

This guide is general information only. It is not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice, and it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for urgent personalised medical assessment.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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