Did you ever believe an overdose on over the counter medications eg. Paracetamol would work?

  • Yes

    Votes: 12 27.3%
  • I suspected it would but, had some doubts

    Votes: 8 18.2%
  • I always suspected it wouldn't work

    Votes: 11 25.0%
  • No

    Votes: 12 27.3%
  • Other

    Votes: 1 2.3%

  • Total voters
    44
F

Forever Sleep

Earned it we have...
May 4, 2022
14,184
I've just come from a thread that discussed suicide being portrayed as being easy in the media. Especially via overdose. So, I'm curious whether that portrayal affected the majority of us. Or, whether we once held that belief anyway.

So, regardless of how little time you held the belief, did you ever believe an overdose would work? I suppose, specifically an overdose on over the counter medication.

I've actually known someone who attempted twice with over the counter stuff. I definitely thought it would work though- at one time. I'm just relieved I never put it to the test.

I'm not really sure when I figured out it was an unreliable method. I suppose when I started to research methods more thoroughly. I was definitely looking into inert gas in my early twenties. There again, I probably also found out that slashing wrists was an unreliable method then, too. Which I had also believed would work previously.

So, that's the other questions I suppose. If you did believe these other methods would work- when did you start to change your opinion?

It's not to say they never work of course but- it surely isn't as easy, painless and guaranteed as the media tends to portray.
 
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nintendo64

nintendo64

mr. kill myself
Dec 19, 2025
46
I always thought it would probably be pretty difficult to die from an OD on otc stuff. I still tried to OD on benadryl like 8 years ago, just had the worst fever dream trip of my life lol. I also thought it'd be excruciating and drawn out if you do die from something like acetaminophen, since it would take days for the liver or kidney failure to fully set in. Not a lot of people could handle that without giving in and going to the hospital.
 
madwoman

madwoman

what a shame she went mad
May 7, 2025
281
My attempt as a teen was thinking a bottle of ibuprofen would work - took over 100 pills and even swallowed the silica thing and was ready to go. And kept around my prescription meds for years thinking that if I wanted to CTB I'd take them all. It wasn't until I found this site in April I think (made an account not too much longer after finding it) and I'm in my 30s. Also thought slashing wrists would too - my method before was both of those combined. Also thought of other things - jumping off a bridge but found of the Sanfran bridge has suicide nets I was so angry about that and the big bridge in my nearby city also has them. I was going to have the inert gas that I learned about from a show be it but now SN is my method. Wish I had N though as that seems the best.
 
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F

Forever Sleep

Earned it we have...
May 4, 2022
14,184
My attempt as a teen was thinking a bottle of ibuprofen would work - took over 100 pills and even swallowed the silica thing and was ready to go. And kept around my prescription meds for years thinking that if I wanted to CTB I'd take them all. It wasn't until I found this site in April I think (made an account not too much longer after finding it) and I'm in my 30s. Also thought slashing wrists would too - my method before was both of those combined. Also thought of other things - jumping off a bridge but found of the Sanfran bridge has suicide nets I was so angry about that and the big bridge in my nearby city also has them. I was going to have the inert gas that I learned about from a show be it but now SN is my method. Wish I had N though as that seems the best.

Did you have any long term side effects afterwards? The person I knew developed a severe intolerance for the medication they attempted with. Understandable really. Likely the body saying- not this shit again.

I kind of wonder there's not a warning on the packet. 'Not reliable for suicide'.
 
madwoman

madwoman

what a shame she went mad
May 7, 2025
281
Did you have any long term side effects afterwards? The person I knew developed a severe intolerance for the medication they attempted with. Understandable really. Likely the body saying- not this shit again.

I kind of wonder there's not a warning on the packet. 'Not reliable for suicide'.
Not that I know of. Sometimes I feel bc my stomach often aches if it's bc of that. They said I was lucky I don't take Tylenol/otc one you mentioned bc that could cause liver problems. I still use ibuprofen for aches and cramps
 
badatparties

badatparties

Mage
Mar 16, 2025
568
Nope, i kinda just knew it would damage your liver and kill you slowly and painfully. You just hear this type of shit in passing i guess.
 
fungus

fungus

Member
Sep 5, 2025
27
As an Kid, sure.
I had an breakdown one year ago where I took an overdose on Paracetamol, despite knowing it wouldn't kill me (at least not easy and painless) But I didn't had anything else to hand. It isn't a nice feeling and if you don't get fast to the hospital the damage on your liver will be bad. (I got there before the 4 hours mark, so my liver is fine)
In Media it is portrayed as this easy thing, but getting yourself to swallow that many pills is not and for me the effect after taking them hit harder then expected. And that also makes it hard to get into the hospital before serious damage is done, so I would say that it is kind of dangerous to have it in so many medias portrayed as this reliable method.
 
F

Forveleth

I knew I forgot to do something when I was 15...
Mar 26, 2024
3,175
I put Other because I thought yes when I was like 10 and did not really know about various types of medication. Once I got into my teens I learned people OD on heavier stuff.
 
D

daruino

Member
Nov 9, 2025
46
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