Paracetamol: Therapeutic Goods Administration Expresses Concern Over Conventional Painkillers

Australian health regulators have urged a group of experts to consider the risks of intentional overdose using painkillers such as paracetamol.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said it had called on a team of scientists to unpack reports of overdoses – including presentations from the emergency department and hospitalizations related to paracetamol – in an attempt to figure out whether to control the popular painkiller. implemented.

“TGA is aware of the concerns, especially of families and health workers of affected paracetamol consumers, about the number of poisonings and deliberate overdoses of paracetamol received in common outlets, as well as whether the current access restrictions are met,” said the regulator.

“This report is intended to help the TGA consider whether any changes to the paracetamol schedule, including access control or procurement, may be justified.”

There are currently no official proposals on how regulators could tighten control over the drug, although some distributors have played with the possibility of imposing restrictions on the purchase of the number of packages that consumers can purchase in supermarkets.

A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare – which sells Panadol in Australia – said it sells Panadol in Australia. Sydney Morning Herald the company recognized the importance of balancing proper access to paracetamol for immediate therapeutic needs along with practical measures to support proper use.

“We share the public’s concern about the deliberate misuse of drugs and the complex mental health issues that underlie such behavior,” the spokesman said.

The Consumer Health Organization said it would support package restrictions on non-pharmacy sites, but disagreed with a complete overhaul of regulation.

“We believe that a responsible and balanced measure is the introduction of a two-pack purchase limit for all oral analgesics with one active ingredient sold outside pharmacies, including all online sales in addition to supermarkets and other common outlets,” – the message said.

Consumer Healthcare Products Australia, which represents drug retailers, is working with policymakers to increase the safety of over-the-counter drugs.

“If this is implemented, consumers who buy over-the-counter painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin) in supermarkets, shops and gas stations will be limited to two packages per transaction,” the statement said.

According to 2019 dataParacetamol was the drug that most commonly affected overdoses worldwide.

A TGA expert report will be released by regulators in July.