The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7425 p545
4 November 2006

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· Supermarket pharmacy
· Pfizer products (2)
· Professional image
· Paracetamol
· Varicella
· Psychotropic medicines
· Dispensing

Letters to the Editor

Paracetamol

Overdose mortality at an all time low

From Dr G. Brandon

Shazia Nazmeen and colleagues suggest that easy availability of paracetamol is responsible for its use in overdose and yet also lament the withdrawal of co-proxamol (PJ, September 23, p365).

Co-proxamol was a prescription-only medicine, ie, carefully controlled by doctors, and yet was responsible for twice the overdose mortality of paracetamol, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

The 1998 legislation restricting paracetamol pack sizes appears to have been beneficial and paracetamol overdose mortality is now at an all time low (ONS data). It is important to note in this context that nearly all paracetamol overdoses are deliberate (BMJ 1995;310:164) so it is unlikely that tighter controls, as suggested by Ms Nazmeen, would add any further benefit. However they would certainly add considerably to consumer inconvenience.

Geoffrey Brandon
Director
Paracetamol Information Centre

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