Paracetamol availability and overdose in Ireland

New regulations for the control of paracetamol come into force in October 2001. These are greatly welcomed and should lead to a reduction in paracetamol poisoning. Existing conditions for the sale and supply of paracetamol (Irish Medicines Board (IMB), 1997), which have no statutory basis, state that non-pharmacy outlets should only sell emergency supplies of paracetamol in a maximum pack size of 12 tablets; just one pack should be sold on each occasion2. This study found that non-pharmacy outlets do not comply with these IMB conditions. Paracetamol poisoning remains the most common form of overdose requiring hospital admission in Ireland. Admissions increased by 29% between 1993 and 1999. The new regulations will give effect to the IMB conditions.