Limits on paracetamol purchases could reduce injury and death from overdoses, expert panel says

TGA report recommends reduced packet sizes and restricting over-the-counter sales of the drug to people 18 and over

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The size of paracetamol packets sold in supermarkets could be reduced and limits introduced on the number of boxes that can be bought, in a bid to reduce injury and death from intentional overdoses.

The recommendations are contained in an independent expert report published by Australia's drugs regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The report found rates of intentional paracetamol overdose were highest among adolescents and young adults, and more common among women and girls.

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