Health watchdog flags change to paracetamol pack size, purchases to tackle overdose crisis

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made the interim decision to change the way Australians buy paracetamol.

The maximum size of paracetamol packs will be reduced in pharmacies and supermarkets to tackle an overdose crisis, Australia’s health watchdog has proposed.

Each year in Australia around 225 people are hospitalised and 50 people die from paracetamol overdose, with intentional overdose highest among adolescents and young adults.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made the interim decision to reduce the pack sizes after public consultation in September last year.

The decision proposes to amend the regulatory control over medicine availability – known as the Poisons Standard – to reduce the maximum pack sizes.

The TGA has proposed reducing the size of paracetamol packets and limiting the number of purchases that can be made over the counter in order to curb rates of overdose. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

The TGA has also encouraged retailers such as supermarkets to restrict sales to a single pack at a time.

For supermarkets and convenience stores, packs of 20 tablets will be reduced to a maximum of 16 tablets.

“Pharmacy only” packs that previously sold a maximum of 100 tablets – without the supervision of a pharmacist – will be slashed to just 32 tablets a pack.

The watchdog said the decision follows a report examining the number of serious injuries or deaths from paracetamol overdose. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Pack sizes of up to 100 tablets will only be available with the supervision of a pharmacist.

The decision also requires all paracetamol to be sold in blister packaging to “deter overdose from ingesting large numbers of tablets”.

“The decision intends to strike a balance between minimising the incidence and harm from intentional self-poisoning and access to paracetamol for the treatment of acute and chronic pain,” the TGA said.

All paracetamol must be sold in blister packs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

The TGA is also encouraging consumers to not stockpile paracetamol in the home and to appropriately store paracetamol and other medicines.

Further public consultation will take place in March and all submissions will be considered before a final decision is made.