Popular pain relief drugs to face new restrictions
New rules on paracetamol sales will come into effect this Saturday. Supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores will usher in reduced pack sizes and restrictions on the number of packs per purchase. A pharmacy expert, RMIT’s Dr Kate Wang, is available for comment.
Dr Kate Wang, Senior Lecturer and Pharmacist
“Paracetamol is not a harmless drug, as many people might assume.
“It can cause hepatotoxicity, which is injury to the liver. In some cases, it can cause acute liver failure and even irreversible liver injury requiring liver transplantation. Each year, approximately 225 Australians are hospitalised due to liver injury. Paracetamol accounts for approximately 16% of hospital admissions due to medicine-related poisoning in children under five.
“The accessibility of paracetamol increases the risk of overdose, particularly as it is found in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications, which many consumers may not be aware of.
“The changes to scheduling and packaging of paracetamol presents an opportunity for pharmacists to engage in a discussion with patients to make them aware of the benefits and risks.
“These conversations can help pharmacists to assess whether patients are taking other medications containing paracetamol, or if they have pre-existing liver conditions that necessitate caution in its use. Patients with a therapeutic need for paracetamol will still have access to it and shouldn’t be disadvantaged by these regulatory changes.
“There may be concerns around an increased workload for pharmacists, who already often face significant workloads. However, pharmacists are the medication experts in frontline healthcare. Addressing staff workload concerns should be approached separately without compromising safe practices and patient-centred care.”
Dr Kate Wang is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Medical Biomedical Sciences. Her research interests include pharmacy practice, primary healthcare and digital health.
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