Drac…

I read an article recently (maybe on the BBC) about large numbers of people accidentally overdosing on Paracetamol over a long period of time and doing themselves significant damage… Fairly scary stuff.. 🙁

The studies are nice. Without the small boxes I WOULD BE DEAD OR SEVERELY SICK UNTIL I DIE

I read an article recently (maybe on the BBC) about large numbers of people accidentally overdosing on Paracetamol over a long period of time and doing themselves significant damage… Fairly scary stuff..

Yeah I linked that earlier. That’s part of the reason why too, for those that think they know better than Dr’s or someone else trained/ They keep stocks of it in the house, they take it for too long periods of time without seeking help. After all they know better, that it’s just Paracetamol and they get aches and pains so take it like smarties.

Then their liver and kidneys pack up.

Except of course for the people who need to whinge about something and who can’t quite cope with the huge inconvenience it causes them

Not at all. If it works (and the evidence is that it does) then the restrictions should be tighter, like in Europe. I have no problem with going to a chemist if that reduces suicides even further.

I buy it on boxes of about 96, Curpofen branded I think. Have to buy it from the pharmacist counter who asks basic questions about allergic reactions.

They have policies in place to stop people buying alcohol for minors, but no blanket policies on anyone with a minor not being able to buy alcohol

Munqe Chick (mid 30s, but admittedly looks younger) was refused a bottle of wine at a self-serve checkout in sainsburys, wben she gave it to me (early 40s and prematurely greying *ahem*) the assistant refused on the grounds I’d give it to MC.

Paracetamol pack size limitation as applied in the United Kingdom has not reduced paracetamol-related death. Reasons postulated for this failure include patient avoidance of the legislation’s intentions, patient confusion, and ineffectiveness of the regulations as conceived and implemented.

There were good short term results from a very well intentioned law.
But longer term, it’s contributed to a change in how people buy paracetamol into more of a grocery item than a dangerous medicine. People are shopping less often, and are more likely to use a one stop supermarket trip for all their needs than visit a selection of specialist retailers, including pharmacies.
this means people now throw a couple of cheap supermarket boxes into the trolley when they don’t specifically need them, to keep a stock at home “just in case”, as they can’t always pick up the quantities needed for the entire household when they do need them.
Sadly, that leaves a lot more paracetamol lying round in households than ever before.

people now throw a couple of cheap supermarket boxes into the trolley when they don’t specifically need them, to keep a stock at home “just in case”

Is that information on one of the articles or is it just your experience extrapolated? It might well be the case, I’m just wondering where the info comes from.

As an aside, in the US, it’s common to see aspirin and other painkillers sold in big 80+ jars.

Totally agree with the need for OTC limits for paracetamol. Horrible way to die (and an even worse way to not die). Given that ibuprofen is as effective in most circumstances, with a much lower risk of accidental overdose, I’m surprised we still sell it at all.

As for limits of ibuprofen, not sure you can make as compelling a case. I remember something about toxicity being very unlikely at less than 100mg/kg. So I’d have to neck considerably more than 2 packs of 16 to even start seriously worrying about serious side-effects.

Obviously less for kids though, so perhaps it’s just good practice not to allow folk to stockpile large quantities of NSAIDs, as it also encourages longer-term use by adults, which isn’t a great idea.

There were good short term results from a very well intentioned law.
But longer term, it’s contributed to a change in how people buy paracetamol into more of a grocery item than a dangerous medicine. People are shopping less often, and are more likely to use a one stop supermarket trip for all their needs than visit a selection of specialist retailers, including pharmacies.
this means people now throw a couple of cheap supermarket boxes into the trolley when they don’t specifically need them, to keep a stock at home “just in case”, as they can’t always pick up the quantities needed for the entire household when they do need them.
Sadly, that leaves a lot more paracetamol lying round in households than ever before.

Except the long term evidence suggests that, well you’re wrong.