To think that Australia's recommended OTC medication restrictions are OTT?

[BraverThanYesterday]

So there's been a recommendation in Australia to restrict the access to paracetamol in an effort to reduce overdoses.

Here's a non-paywalled link to an article that states:

Several recommendations from the report are now being considered by the regulator, including reducing the size of packs of paracetamol sold and limiting the number of packs people can buy in one shop.

Restricting people under the age of 18 from buying paracetamol without a prescription is also recommended.

Australia made the change to codeine being prescription-only in 2018 so easy access to pain relief has already been restricted.

Some Australian posters in this thread make comments I disagree with, especially that people are just making excuses for their addictions. Most are understanding that it's a complex issue thankfully.

It seems like the wrong approach to me and a huge inconvenience for chronic pain sufferers. The must be a better approach like making mental health treatment much more readily available would be a good start IMO.

Do you think the UK should follow similar guidelines? Would it disrupt your life if it did?

I’ve read the article but can’t see what the restrictions will actually be - do you know what the pack sizes are and the maximum number you can buy they are suggesting?

I'm in Ireland and we've had similar here for years. You can only buy one paracetamol product at a time, I think the max shops can sell is a 12 pack, chemists sell 24 packs maybe? It's never been something I could get worked up about nor have I heard people getting worked up about it.

What are the proposed restrictions? My understanding was the change in the UK to prevent you buying more than one packet at a time had a pretty big impact on the number of people attempting overdoses. Obviously if you are determined, it won't stop you but it makes it that much harder which does stop some people doing it, particularly in the heat of the moment.

UK has restrictions on buying paracetamol already. Limited to buying 2 packets (of 16 tablets each I think) in most places. Can only buy larger pack sizes over the counter at a pharmacy.

Sorry, two packets not one.

The UK does follow similar guidelines. Only two small packs of products containing paracetamol and/or ibuprofen can be bought over the counter (that includes Calpol and similar products). (More can be bought at a pharmacy), and you have to be over 16 to buy them.

We did that years ago. Paracetamol used to be available in bottles up to 200 tablets. To reduce overdoses we were switched to blister packs (so each tablet had to be removed, not just tipped into the hand) the blister packs hold less tablets and your restricted to how many you can buy (also the tablets are coated with something that makes you vomit if you consume it in large quantities).

freakonomics.com/2011/05/why-cant-you-buy-a-big-bottle-of-headache-pills-in-england/

Er, the UK already has limits on OTC paracetamol sales..? And the data show quite clearly that the restrictions significantly reduce both death by paracetamol OD suicide and slightly reduce suicide overall. Plus paracetamol OD is an awful, painful way to die, especially if you change your mind but the damage to your liver is already done.

I would support the restriction of codeine OTC as well unless I saw information that the restriction would cause significant harm. How many people in this country are hooked on OTC codeine. (A LOT.) How sensible is it to let people buy opiates over the counter in the first place?

“Do you think the UK should follow similar guidelines? Would it disrupt your life if it did?”

They’re already in place - have been for about 25 years.

I take it with prescribed painkillers, I just buy a couple of packets every time I’m in a shop.

The UK already have restrictions on how many paracetamol and other pain relief products you can buy without prescription. They are also age restricted.

I can’t see exactly what pack sizes are being suggested but given the most you can buy in the UK is 32 tablets in one go, I can’t imagine it will be much different.

People with chronic pain conditions should have access to larger packs of paracetamol by prescription if this clinically appropriate.

Access to mental health care, including specialised support for people with chronic pain, should be improved for everyone. Though that would take investment on a scale the government seem to be unwilling to make.

I remember the kerfuffle (and price,) buying a packet of paracetamol in Italy a few years ago - pharmacy only, pharmacy assistant had to get it signed off by the pharmacist and it was dispensed down a lovely little wooden chute from the pharmacist's office. A packet of 16 paracetamol cost €20 .

This is such an odd post...

If people are that bothered surely they can just go to multiple shops? My office is on a street with a boots, super drug, tesco express, sainsburys and two corner shops all of which sell paracetamol.

Weird post - as others have said these restrictions have been in place for years in the U.K. and have had a demonstrable effect on overdosing, I suspect policies like the UKs has had a influence on the decision in Aus. as they prove that these policies are effective.

I think we have similar restrictions. Not sure if you have to be over 18 to buy paracetamol here. I’d assume most older children would be able to take a paracetamol out the medicine cupboard if they need one.

Most codeine sales are restricted in this country it’s only the lowest dose 8/500 that you can buy at a pharmacy. Corinne can be really addictive.

its trying to find a balance between reducing easy access to those who may wish to harm themselves whilst being accessible for those that need them.

I wouldn't be surprised this thread is one of the moderators from the Australian site is trying to drum up new members.

Some Australian posters in this thread make comments I disagree with, especially that people are just making excuses for their addictions. Most are understanding that it's a complex issue thankfully.

You can buy higher doses of codeine OTC, but they are always combined with paracetamol, which means they are restricted and controlled in the same way as paracetamol.

It's a complete non-issue if you just want to have a packet available at home for the occasional headache/period pain/etc. It's an annoyance when you have an illness or pain episode that lasts longer than a couple of days. But it's a reasonable compromise for overdose reduction.