Restricting the sale of paracetamol in Australia is being thought-about by the nationwide medicines regulator after issues about overdoses in youngsters have been raised by consultants.
The Therapeutic Items Administration stated as we speak it's weighing up limits of 1 or two packs per particular person and proscribing sale and not using a prescription to over 18s.
These and different attainable measures have been flagged in an unbiased knowledgeable report from medical and poison consultants commissioned by the TGA.
It discovered that yearly 50 Australians die from deliberate paracetamol overdose. Charges of intentional overdose have been highest amongst adolescents and younger adults, and extra widespread amongst females.
Whereas loss of life charges and hospitalisation had not risen over current years, "there's a regarding enhance of misuse locally", the TGA stated
Survival charges from a paracetamol overdose are wonderful, however solely the place medical remedy is sought inside two to 6 hours after ingestion.
If medical intervention is delayed after ingesting excessive doses of paracetamol, there's a danger of significant liver harm, and typically loss of life.
The report additionally checked out shopper buying habits of paracetamol packs and located people tended to purchase bigger packs. These larger pack sizes have been extra generally utilized in overdose instances.
Amongst its suggestions, the TGA ought to contemplate decreasing the scale of packs of paracetamol offered in supermarkets, comfort shops, and pharmacies with out the recommendation of a pharmacist, the examine stated.
The TGA has now opened a session interval till October 14.
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