Major shake-up to paracetamol sales—what it means for your next purchase
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Medication regulations may seem routine, but even small changes can have widespread effects on access and public health.
A long-standing household staple is now facing new restrictions, sparking debate over safety, accessibility and the balance between precaution and convenience.
The decision follows growing concerns that have led authorities to take action—but not everyone is convinced it’s the right move.
Changes to how paracetamol was sold in Australia came into effect on 1 February.
These adjustments impacted the pack sizes available outside pharmacies and the accessibility of paracetamol within pharmacies.
The reforms, introduced by Australia’s drug regulator, aligned with international efforts to minimise liver toxicity risks and overdose incidents.
There were no new safety concerns when paracetamol was used as directed, and children’s products remained unaffected.
Paracetamol, commonly known under brand names like Panadol, Dymadon and Panamax, was used to relieve mild pain and fever for short durations or prescribed for chronic conditions.
Millions of packs were purchased in Australia annually.
Small packs of up to 20 tablets were available in supermarkets and other retailers like petrol stations, while larger packs of up to 100 tablets were restricted to pharmacies.
When taken as directed, paracetamol was generally safe, but excessive doses could cause severe liver toxicity, which, if untreated, could be fatal.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had considered these changes after a rise in hospital admissions due to paracetamol poisoning.
An expert review revealed that between 2007 and 2020, 40 to 50 deaths occurred annually from paracetamol poisoning.
Hospital admissions increased from 8,617 in 2009–10 to 11,697 in 2016–17, before dropping to 8,723 in 2019–20.
Most hospital cases involved intentional self-poisoning, with nearly half occurring in individuals aged 10 to 24.
Following this, the TGA sought public consultation to determine effective measures for preventing poisonings.
Suggestions included reducing pack sizes, limiting purchase quantities, moving larger packs behind pharmacy counters and imposing age restrictions on access.
Public feedback was mixed—while many acknowledged the need to curb poisonings, concerns arose about accessibility for individuals with chronic pain, particularly in regional areas.
There were also worries about the financial burden if some products became prescription-only.
Despite the tragic yet rare nature of paracetamol-related deaths, the TGA aimed to balance poison prevention with ensuring continued access to the medication.
Supermarket and non-pharmacy packs were reduced from 20 to 16 tablets.
This change aligned Australia with countries like the United Kingdom, which implemented similar restrictions in 1998 and saw a decline in poisonings.
In all states except Queensland and Western Australia, pharmacy packs exceeding 50 tablets were moved behind the pharmacy counter and required pharmacist supervision.
Queensland and WA mandated that any pack containing more than 16 tablets be kept behind the pharmacy counter and sold under pharmacist supervision.
All packs containing more than 50 tablets had to be packaged in blister packs instead of bottles.
Certain products were exempt from these changes, including children’s paracetamol and slow-release formulations such as ‘osteo’ versions.
Prescription-only products and those already stored behind pharmacy counters were also unaffected.
These adjustments were made to reduce accidental overdoses, not because paracetamol’s safety profile had changed.
Paracetamol remained available in all existing locations, with no plans to make it prescription-only or remove it from supermarkets.
Many manufacturers had already updated packaging to ensure supply continuity.
With reduced supermarket pack sizes, a pack of 16 tablets lasted two days instead of two-and-a-half when taken at the maximum dosage of two tablets, four times daily.
Anyone experiencing ongoing pain was encouraged to consult a pharmacist or GP.
For those using paracetamol for chronic pain, larger packs remained the most cost-effective option, though they now had to be requested at pharmacy counters.
Pharmacists understood that for many, daily paracetamol use was necessary for managing chronic pain.
With these new rules now in place, do you think they strike the right balance between safety and accessibility, or will they create unnecessary hurdles for those who rely on paracetamol? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A long-standing household staple is now facing new restrictions, sparking debate over safety, accessibility and the balance between precaution and convenience.
The decision follows growing concerns that have led authorities to take action—but not everyone is convinced it’s the right move.
Changes to how paracetamol was sold in Australia came into effect on 1 February.
These adjustments impacted the pack sizes available outside pharmacies and the accessibility of paracetamol within pharmacies.
The reforms, introduced by Australia’s drug regulator, aligned with international efforts to minimise liver toxicity risks and overdose incidents.
There were no new safety concerns when paracetamol was used as directed, and children’s products remained unaffected.
Paracetamol, commonly known under brand names like Panadol, Dymadon and Panamax, was used to relieve mild pain and fever for short durations or prescribed for chronic conditions.
Millions of packs were purchased in Australia annually.
Small packs of up to 20 tablets were available in supermarkets and other retailers like petrol stations, while larger packs of up to 100 tablets were restricted to pharmacies.
When taken as directed, paracetamol was generally safe, but excessive doses could cause severe liver toxicity, which, if untreated, could be fatal.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had considered these changes after a rise in hospital admissions due to paracetamol poisoning.
An expert review revealed that between 2007 and 2020, 40 to 50 deaths occurred annually from paracetamol poisoning.
Hospital admissions increased from 8,617 in 2009–10 to 11,697 in 2016–17, before dropping to 8,723 in 2019–20.
Most hospital cases involved intentional self-poisoning, with nearly half occurring in individuals aged 10 to 24.
Following this, the TGA sought public consultation to determine effective measures for preventing poisonings.
Suggestions included reducing pack sizes, limiting purchase quantities, moving larger packs behind pharmacy counters and imposing age restrictions on access.
Public feedback was mixed—while many acknowledged the need to curb poisonings, concerns arose about accessibility for individuals with chronic pain, particularly in regional areas.
There were also worries about the financial burden if some products became prescription-only.
Despite the tragic yet rare nature of paracetamol-related deaths, the TGA aimed to balance poison prevention with ensuring continued access to the medication.
Supermarket and non-pharmacy packs were reduced from 20 to 16 tablets.
This change aligned Australia with countries like the United Kingdom, which implemented similar restrictions in 1998 and saw a decline in poisonings.
In all states except Queensland and Western Australia, pharmacy packs exceeding 50 tablets were moved behind the pharmacy counter and required pharmacist supervision.
Queensland and WA mandated that any pack containing more than 16 tablets be kept behind the pharmacy counter and sold under pharmacist supervision.
All packs containing more than 50 tablets had to be packaged in blister packs instead of bottles.
Certain products were exempt from these changes, including children’s paracetamol and slow-release formulations such as ‘osteo’ versions.
Prescription-only products and those already stored behind pharmacy counters were also unaffected.
These adjustments were made to reduce accidental overdoses, not because paracetamol’s safety profile had changed.
Paracetamol remained available in all existing locations, with no plans to make it prescription-only or remove it from supermarkets.
Many manufacturers had already updated packaging to ensure supply continuity.
With reduced supermarket pack sizes, a pack of 16 tablets lasted two days instead of two-and-a-half when taken at the maximum dosage of two tablets, four times daily.
Anyone experiencing ongoing pain was encouraged to consult a pharmacist or GP.
For those using paracetamol for chronic pain, larger packs remained the most cost-effective option, though they now had to be requested at pharmacy counters.
Pharmacists understood that for many, daily paracetamol use was necessary for managing chronic pain.
With these new rules now in place, do you think they strike the right balance between safety and accessibility, or will they create unnecessary hurdles for those who rely on paracetamol? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
