Acetaminophen Overdose in Dunedin Students: Medsafe Will Consider Recommendations Regarding Acetaminophen Sales

Medsafe’s drug classification committee will today consider coronary recommendations on the sale of acetaminophen made following the investigation into the death of a Dunedin student.

Alannah Lee Spankie, 20, died of acute liver failure in June 2017 after the University of Otago science student took a large amount of acetaminophen.

Coroner David Robinson discovered last month that Spankie had not intended to take his own life and recommended that stricter sales restrictions be placed on drugs that can currently be purchased without controls in supermarkets.

The committee received 18 presentations on Robinson’s recommendations ahead of today’s meeting, which is held in Wellington.

The National Poisons Center, based at the University of Otago, said in advice provided to the committee that acetaminophen was the most common individual substance involved in cases of intentional self-poisoning, and the substance about which it received the most inquiries.

In the last five months of 2016, there were four cases involving people taking 30g or more of the drug, center records showed.

In 2020, as of October 12, there were 54 such cases.

“The contacts with the center are a reflection of the exhibitions that occur in the New Zealand community,” said the center’s director, Adam Pomerleau.

“These data suggest that paracetamol exposures that require medical evaluation and massive paracetamol overdoses are likely occurring with increasing frequency over time.”

Dr Pomerleau cautioned that the center recorded only information provided by people, so the actual magnitude of the problem was uncertain, as was whether the availability of acetaminophen was a factor.

“However, a reasonable hypothesis would be that limiting availability could limit opportunities for impulsive intentional self-poisoning.”

The Pharmacy Guild said it supported some restrictions on acetaminophen sales, particularly from general retailers, but did not agree with all the quantities proposed by the coroner.

“We are concerned that general sale retail establishments do not have the expertise to provide the level of advice and support necessary to ensure sufficient public safety for a drug such as acetaminophen when it is sold as a general sale drug,” said Nicole, manager. professional services and guild membership. Rickman said.

“Therefore, limiting the package size to 16 500 mg acetaminophen tablets per transaction when sold at point of sale will not effectively address the problems of unintentional overdose and harm reduction.”

Acetaminophen was the most widely used pain reliever in New Zealand and was generally safe when taken in recommended doses, he said.

“We feel comfortable when paracetamol is sold through the pharmaceutical channel, it is safe and it is controlled.”

The Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Company said there was no current or historical evidence of widespread inappropriate use of cold and flu products containing paracetamol.

The firm asked that the classification and regulation of the sale of paracetamol remain the same, but supported better information for consumers on how to use paracetamol safely.

Glaxo Smith Kline also supported the status quo for the acetaminophen classification, but agreed that a two-pack purchase limit outside of pharmacies would help, as would a government-backed public information campaign.