NEWPORT, Wales — Riley Lubas, a 20-year-old university student, nearly died after accidentally taking two over-the-counter medicines containing paracetamol while treating a cold in March 2025.
Lubas, who was in his first year at university, said he did not realize both medicines contained the same active ingredient. He initially described the illness as an ordinary cold before developing stomach pain that prompted him to seek medical help.
Doctors at the Royal United Hospital in Bath discovered that his liver was struggling. His parents, Chris and Kate Lubas, travelled from Newport after learning their son’s condition had become critical.
Chris said doctors initially considered hepatitis before the family received an urgent call from the intensive care unit during the night. Lubas was eventually placed on life support and spent weeks in hospital.
His recovery involved relearning basic abilities, including walking and speaking. His experience has since highlighted the importance of checking the ingredients in medicines before taking more than one product.
The Royal College of General Practitioners Cymru Wales has advised people to read medicine labels carefully and seek professional advice when unsure about taking medication. The NHS warns that excessive paracetamol can cause serious liver damage and requires urgent medical assessment.
Lubas said he had not understood that taking two separate cold medicines could result in taking the same pain-relieving ingredient twice.
His experience serves as a reminder that accidental medication overdoses can happen when different products contain the same active ingredient. Always follow the dosage instructions on the packaging and seek urgent medical help if an overdose may have occurred.