From Mr G. R. Tyrer, MRPharmS
SIR,-In his letter (PJ, April 1, p513), Dr Natoff wanted to know if there had been a reduction in the number of patients admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of aspirin and paracetamol overdose. I am unable to provide him with figures but a few weeks ago I spoke to a Home Office pathologist about the irritation caused by these restrictions. He told me that there are few deaths caused by paracetamol but quite a number from co-proxamol and alcohol.
During December, when GPs were giving double quantities to cover the Christmas and new year periods, I remember dispensing a number of repeat prescriptions for 400 co-proxamol tablets. Maybe the regulations should be changed and more restrictions placed on the GPs to prevent excessive prescribing.
Gordon R. Tyrer
Macclesfield, Cheshire