PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Health & medical scares

What to do if…
you accidentally take someone else’s prescription medication

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

Short answer

Do not take any more of the medication, keep the packaging, and get urgent medical advice now. If you feel seriously unwell, very drowsy, confused, short of breath, or symptoms are getting worse, call 999.

Do not do these things

  • Do not take another dose of your own usual medication to “balance it out” or catch up.
  • Do not try to make yourself sick.
  • Do not eat or drink anything unless a clinician, 111, or 999 tells you to.
  • Do not drink alcohol or take recreational drugs.
  • Do not drive yourself anywhere.
  • Do not throw away the box, bottle, blister pack, leaflet, or remaining tablets.
  • Do not wait for symptoms to become severe before asking for advice.

What to do now

  1. Check for emergency danger signs. Call 999 now if any apply.
    Call 999 if you or the person who took it has collapsed, cannot be woken, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, has severe chest pain, is becoming very confused or very drowsy, or has signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, or widespread hives with breathing difficulty.

  2. If you are conscious and stable, use the right urgent advice route immediately.

    • England: call 111, use the NHS App, or use 111 online if the person is aged 5 or over. Call 111 for a child under 5.
    • Scotland: phone 111 if you need urgent care and your GP, pharmacy, or dental practice is closed. During normal working hours, contact your own GP for urgent advice.
    • Wales: use NHS 111 Wales or call 111 for urgent advice.
    • Northern Ireland: contact your GP surgery during normal hours. If it is closed, use your local GP out-of-hours service. If you are told to call 999 or go to A&E, do that. Do not drive yourself.

  3. Put the medicine packaging in front of you.
    Have the box, bottle, blister pack, leaflet, or prescription label ready so you can read out:

    • the medicine name and strength
    • how much was taken
    • what time it was taken
    • whether any alcohol, recreational drugs, or other medicines were taken today
    • the person’s age, weight if known, allergies, pregnancy status if relevant, and any medical conditions

  4. Stay somewhere safe while you wait for advice.
    Sit or lie down away from stairs, cooking, tools, machinery, baths, or showers. Ask another person to stay nearby if possible, especially if you feel sleepy, dizzy, faint, confused, or unsteady.

  5. Follow the advice exactly and take the packaging with you if you are told to go in.
    If 111, your GP, GP out-of-hours, or 999 tells you to go to A&E or another urgent service, take the medication packaging and any remaining tablets with you. Do not drive yourself.

  6. If it may have been an opioid painkiller and breathing is slow or shallow, call 999.
    Tell the call handler what was taken. If naloxone is available, tell the call handler and follow their instructions while help is on the way.

What can wait

  • You do not need to search online to decide how dangerous it is before getting advice.
  • You do not need to decide now whether to report the mix-up to a GP, pharmacy, care provider, workplace, or family member.
  • You do not need to work out blame, storage changes, or how it happened until the immediate medical risk has been checked.

Important reassurance

Medication mix-ups can happen when routines change, medicines look similar, or boxes are stored close together. Getting advice quickly is the right step, even if you later find out the risk was low.

Scope note

These are first steps for the immediate situation only. Later decisions, such as changing storage, checking repeat prescriptions, or reviewing medicines with a pharmacist or GP, may need specialist help.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical diagnosis, personal treatment advice, or professional advice. If symptoms are severe, sudden, or worsening, call 999. If the person is stable but you are worried, use the urgent advice route above for tailored guidance.

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.

Support us