Alpha 2.0
Login Register
» Articles » PMID: 17073246

Pack-size Legislation Reduces Severity of Paracetamol Overdoses in Ireland

Overview
Journal Ir J Med Sci
Specialty General Medicine
Date 2006 Nov 1
PMID 17073246
Citations 9
Authors
E Donohoe
N Walsh
J A Tracey
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Legislation was introduced in Ireland in October 2001 to control the sale of paracetamol in non-pharmacy outlets. Preparations are now limited to 12 tablets per pack and only one pack can be sold per transaction.

Aim: To assess the impact of this legislation on acute deliberate paracetamol overdoses.

Methods: We reviewed acute deliberate paracetamol overdoses reported during two 24-months periods before and after October 2001. We grouped cases according to the number of tablets taken and compared the periods using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results: The number of tablets taken in acute deliberate paracetamol overdose fell significantly after October 2001 (chi2 = 11.663, P = 0.0029). Fewer cases involved 12-24 tablets (U = 74, P < 0.001) and fewer cases involved more than 24 tablets (U = 131.5, P = 0.0006).

Conclusion: Legislation controlling sale and packaging of paracetamol preparations appears to be associated with a significant fall in the number of tablets taken in acute deliberate paracetamol overdoses.

Citing Articles

National Poison Center Calls Before vs After Availability of High-Dose Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Tablets in Switzerland.

Martinez-De la Torre A, Weiler S, Bram D, Allemann S, Kupferschmidt H, Burden A JAMA Netw Open. 2020; 3(10):e2022897.

PMID: 33112400 PMC: 7593813. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22897.

Measuring the impact of medicines regulatory interventions - Systematic review and methodological considerations.

Goedecke T, Morales D, Pacurariu A, Kurz X Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017; 84(3):419-433.

PMID: 29105853 PMC: 5809349. DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13469.

Liver transplant associated with paracetamol overdose: results from the seven-country SALT study.

Gulmez S, Larrey D, Pageaux G, Bernuau J, Bissoli F, Horsmans Y Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2015; 80(3):599-606.

PMID: 26017643 PMC: 4574844. DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12635.

Demographic trends in suicide in the UK and Ireland 1980-2010.

Murphy O, Kelleher C, Malone K Ir J Med Sci. 2014; 184(1):227-35.

PMID: 24599497 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-014-1092-5.

Biochemical toxicology and suicide in Ireland: a laboratory study.

Tormey W, Srinivasan R, Moore T Ir J Med Sci. 2012; 182(2):277-81.

PMID: 23192685 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-012-0879-5.

References
1.
Hawton K, Townsend E, Deeks J, Appleby L, Gunnell D, Bennewith O . Effects of legislation restricting pack sizes of paracetamol and salicylate on self poisoning in the United Kingdom: before and after study. BMJ. 2001; 322(7296):1203-7. PMC: 31616. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.322.7296.1203. View
2.
Hawton K, Ware C, Mistry H, Hewitt J, Kingsbury S, Roberts D . Paracetamol self-poisoning. Characteristics, prevention and harm reduction. Br J Psychiatry. 1996; 168(1):43-8. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.168.1.43. View
3.
Corcoran P, Keeley H, OSullivan M, Perry I . Parasuicide and suicide in the south-west of Ireland. Ir J Med Sci. 2004; 172(3):107-11. DOI: 10.1007/BF02914492. View
4.
Gunnell D, Hawton K, Murray V, Garnier R, Bismuth C, Fagg J . Use of paracetamol for suicide and non-fatal poisoning in the UK and France: are restrictions on availability justified?. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1997; 51(2):175-9. PMC: 1060441. DOI: 10.1136/jech.51.2.175. View
5.
Prescott L, Illingworth R, Critchley J, Stewart M, Adam R, Proudfoot A . Intravenous N-acetylcystine: the treatment of choice for paracetamol poisoning. Br Med J. 1979; 2(6198):1097-100. PMC: 1597048. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.6198.1097. View