Advertisement
Australia markets close in 27 minutes

  • ALL ORDS

    7,946.40
    +8.50 (+0.11%)
     

  • ASX 200

    7,691.50
    +8.00 (+0.10%)
     

  • AUD/USD

    0.6520
    +0.0031 (+0.48%)
     

  • OIL

    83.50
    +0.14 (+0.17%)
     

  • GOLD

    2,340.90
    -1.20 (-0.05%)
     

  • Bitcoin AUD

    102,364.90
    +259.86 (+0.25%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,439.95
    +25.19 (+1.78%)
     

  • AUD/EUR

    0.6089
    +0.0033 (+0.54%)
     

  • AUD/NZD

    1.0963
    +0.0032 (+0.30%)
     

  • NZX 50

    11,946.43
    +143.15 (+1.21%)
     

  • NASDAQ

    17,471.47
    +260.59 (+1.51%)
     

  • FTSE

    8,044.81
    +20.94 (+0.26%)
     

  • Dow Jones

    38,503.69
    +263.71 (+0.69%)
     

  • DAX

    18,137.65
    +276.85 (+1.55%)
     

  • Hang Seng

    17,163.85
    +334.92 (+1.99%)
     

  • NIKKEI 225

    38,412.94
    +860.78 (+2.29%)
     

Panadol, paracetamol may be subject to purchase limits

Eliza Bavin
·Personal Finance Editor
·2-min read
Nurofen and Panadol packets stacked on shelves in a store.
There may be restrictions placed on the sale of Panadol. (Source: Getty)

Grabbing a couple of packets of Panadol while you’re at the shops may not be possible soon after a new report found misuse of the medication was on the rise.

Around 50 Aussies die every year from a paracetamol overdose and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is examining whether the current ease of accessibility is appropriate.

An independent report commissioned by the TGA found teenagers and young adults had the highest rates of intentional overdose with the pain killers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The rates were higher among females in those age groups.

The report found that while hospitalisation and death rates had not increased in recent years, there had been a "concerning increase" of misuse.

Thankfully, survival rates from paracetamol overdose are typically excellent but only if treatment is sought within six hours of ingestion.

Delayed treatment can result in serious liver injury and sometimes death and can be complicated by different forms of the drug.

The TGA report found both planned and impulsive overdoses occurred at similar rates but said the latter often used paracetamol already in their homes.

The TGA said consumers also tended to buy the larger-sized packs, which were more often used in overdoses.

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 being recommended.

The report also called for increased communication about the dangers of misusing painkillers.

If you or anyone you know is struggling please contact:

  • Lifeline - 13 11 14

  • Beyondblue - 1300 22 4636

  • Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

- With AAP

Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter.