The maximum pack size for paracetamol tablets will be capped at 16 per pack, down from 20, after an interim decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
In a bid to reduce the number of deliberate overdoses involving paracetamol, the TGA has indicated that it will overhaul the Poisons Standard to introduce stricter controls on the over-the-counter painkiller.
The changes to the standard include a reduction in the maximum paracetamol pack size from 20 to 16 for packs being offered for ‘general sale’ (from supermarkets or convenience stores) and a reduction in pack size from 100 to 32 for paracetamol sold in pharmacies.
In addition, all paracetamol must be sold in blister packs, even in larger pack sizes.
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The TGA says the decision follows an independent expert report examining the incidence of serious injury and death from intentional paracetamol overdose.
The report found that each year in Australia about 225 people are admitted to hospital and 50 die from paracetamol overdose, with rates of intentional overdose highest among adolescents and young adults.
Normally, paracetamol is not toxic to adults, but taken in large enough quantities it can overwhelm the body’s ability to process it effectively. This leads to paracetamol binding to liver cells and eventually overwhelming the liver.
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In fact, paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the Western world.
“It [the decision] intends to strike a balance between minimising the incidence and harm from intentional self-poisoning and access to paracetamol for the treatment of acute and chronic pain,” the TGA says.
The decision took into account responses to public consultation conducted between September and October last year, and also advice from the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling.
The TGA stressed that this was an interim decision, and that further public consultation would take place until 3 March, with a final decision to be made after that date.
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The TGA is asking the public not to stockpile paracetamol in advance of the decision and is encouraging retailers to limit paracetamol sales.
“To further minimise the harm from paracetamol overdose, the TGA is encouraging retailers such as supermarkets to restrict sales to a single pack at a time,” the TGA says.
“The TGA is also encouraging consumers to not stockpile paracetamol in the home and to appropriately store paracetamol and other medicines.”
Do you think this is a good decision? Or is it just punishing people who don’t abuse paracetamol? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.