Paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the Western world and is known to be the medicine most frequently responsible for calls to Poisons Information Centres in Australia. So many countries are trying to mitigate the issue, or at least make more people aware that it is not the benign medicine that it’s often been marketed as (“gentle to the stomach” - but nasty to the liver).
Many suicidal patients act on impulse, so having smaller packets around the home may reduce the overdosages. Also, many suicidal teens also often think erroneously that they will simply lapse into unconsciousness.
The elderly age group is also more susceptible to the harmful effects of paracetamol, and are more likely to be on slow-release formulations or to make errors in dosing. And it is ineffective in the treatment of low back pain and provides minimal short term benefit for people with osteoarthritis, for which many elderly probably take it.
I think it needs to become S3 and with greater warning visibility on the packets. It opens the chance of pharmacists to at least bring up the topic with consumers, as should any doctors prescribing it.
4 Likes
