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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 USA guide

Short answer

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 now for expert guidance. If the person has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, cannot be awakened, or seems seriously unwell, call 911.

Do not do these things

  • Do not take more doses, supplements, alcohol, or another medicine to try to counteract what happened.
  • Do not make yourself vomit, take activated charcoal, use a cleanse, or take laxatives unless Poison Control or a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not drive yourself if you feel drowsy, dizzy, confused, faint, or unwell.
  • Do not throw away bottles, blister packs, packaging, or dosing instructions; exact names and strengths matter.
  • Do not assume it is safe just because one or both medicines are common, prescribed, or over-the-counter.

What to do now

  1. Check for emergency red flags now. Call 911 if the person has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, cannot be awakened, has severe chest pain, or is rapidly getting worse.
  2. If it is not immediately life-threatening, call Poison Control now at 1-800-222-1222. Say you may have taken two medicines that should not be combined, then follow their instructions.
  3. Put the medicine containers in front of you before or during the call. Be ready to give the exact medicine names, strengths, forms such as extended-release or liquid, how much you took, and what time you took each one.
  4. Write down or say the key person details: age, approximate weight, pregnancy status if relevant, major medical conditions, allergies, and any current medicines, supplements, or cold and flu products.
  5. Say what symptoms are happening now, even if they seem mild. Mention sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, faintness, chest pain, breathing changes, or anything unusual.
  6. Pause further doses until you have spoken to Poison Control, unless they or a clinician tells you otherwise. If the next dose is for a medicine where missing a dose may be risky, such as a seizure medicine, tell Poison Control what it is and when it is due.
  7. If symptoms start, worsen, or change after the call, contact Poison Control again or call 911 if the symptoms are severe.
  8. If you are told to go to urgent care or the emergency room, bring the medicine containers and your written timeline of what was taken and when.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to stop a long-term medicine permanently.
  • You do not need to search interaction websites before calling; focus on getting case-specific advice.
  • You do not need to work out blame, report anything, or fix your whole medication routine right now.
  • You do not need to remember every detail perfectly before calling; call first and gather details while you are on the phone if needed.

Important reassurance

Medication mix-ups happen, especially when prescriptions change or when multi-symptom over-the-counter products are involved. Poison Control is there for this exact situation, including when you have no symptoms yet.

Scope note

These are first steps for immediate safety. Later decisions about stopping, restarting, or changing medicines may need help from Poison Control, your prescriber, pharmacist, or another clinician.

Important note

This guide is general information, not medical advice or professional care. If you think this is an emergency or symptoms are severe, call 911 right away.

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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