PAINAUSTRALIA warns that people have started stockpiling paracetamol, meaning that many could have stores of hundreds, if not thousands of tablets by the time the proposed changes in pack sizes are implemented next year.
"I think our cohort started immediately when the proposed change was announced (PD 06 Feb), especially for the slow release paracetamol Panadol Osteo," the organisation's head Giulia Jones said.
"Even though their medicine isn't at the moment on a script, they are using it very regularly - some people for flare ups and other people just to cope from day to day.
"And as a result, they really do need to be able to have access to six to eight paracetamol a day.
"As a result of that, as soon as concern, whispers and suggestions go round about things being harder, they are more likely to go and buy more," Jones said.
The reduction of pack sizes is part of a raft of proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard, designed to reduce Australia's incidence of serious injury and death from intentional paracetamol overdose.
In a submission to the TGA about the changes, Jones wrote "cutting the maximum size of packs available for general sale via supermarkets and convenience stores from 20 to 16 tablets or capsules would provide only three days' pain relief.
"Not everyone lives close to shops and those on low incomes often can only afford to buy paracetamol on payday.
"For those who have low incomes, have limited transport options, and/or live in rural and remote areas, this creates an impediment to self-management of their chronic pain."
A survey by Painaustralia found the decision to reduce pack sizes of paracetamol is not supported by consumers.
Only 25% of respondents agreed with the proposal to reduce pack sizes.
But the peak doctors' organisation, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, has called to further cut the pack size of paracetamol tabs available off the shelf in pharmacies and to upschedule modified-release paracetamol to prescription-only.
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