Citation

Laffoy M, Scallan E, Byrne G. Ir. Med. J. 2001; 94(7): 212-214.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Dr. Steeven's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Winstone Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11693213

Abstract

New regulations for the control of paracetamol come into force in October 2001. These are greatly welcomed and should lead to a reduction in paracetamol poisoning. Existing conditions for the sale and supply of paracetamol (Irish Medicines Board (IMB), 1997), which have no statutory basis, state that non-pharmacy outlets should only sell emergency supplies of paracetamol in a maximum pack size of 12 tablets; just one pack should be sold on each occasion2. This study found that non-pharmacy outlets do not comply with these IMB conditions. Paracetamol poisoning remains the most common form of overdose requiring hospital admission in Ireland. Admissions increased by 29% between 1993 and 1999. The new regulations will give effect to the IMB conditions.

Language: en