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If you open a medicine cupboard in an Australian home, chances are you’ll find a packet of paracetamol near the adhesive bandages and cotton balls.
Many of us have a relaxed attitude to the use and storage of paracetamol, and it’s easy to see why. We’ve been using the popular pain medication for many years to treat common conditions like headaches and period pain.
We know that paracetamol is safe and effective for most people when taken at the recommended dose. But if taken at higher doses, it can be dangerous, causing serious harm to the liver and even resulting in death.
It can be easy to take too much paracetamol, especially if you regularly use it to manage pain. This includes people with osteoarthritis and chronic pain conditions. Many of us don’t realise that paracetamol is also in many cold and flu products. Using more than one of these products at the same time could result in overdose and poisoning.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to check the packaging to make sure you're taking the right amount. For adults, this is no more than 1 gram of paracetamol (for example: 2 x 500mg tablets or capsules) every 4 to 6 hours and a maximum of 4 grams a day.
The recommended dose for children depends on their body weight. Parents and guardians should carefully read the directions for use on the labels and speak to their doctor or a pharmacist for advice.
Sadly, the number of young people using paracetamol to deliberately hurt themselves is increasing. Often this isn't planned, and they take the paracetamol they can find in their homes.
It’s not always easy to tell if a particular young person is at risk. Some young people may take paracetamol as a way to harm themselves for the first time. Some may have been experiencing mental health symptoms before.
Importantly, there are things we can do to reduce the risk.
Think about how you and your family use and store paracetamol at home. How much paracetamol could you find if you looked in all the obvious spots? Check the medicine cupboard, bedside tables and in handbags and carry bags.
If the amount you find is more than you need for a few days, consider buying smaller packets or leave only a small amount in the medicine cupboard. Put the rest somewhere it can’t be found, like a lockable drawer.
Small changes could make all the difference.
For more information on paracetamol use, see: www.healthdirect.gov.au/paracetamol.
If an overdose occurs, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or go to a hospital emergency department as soon as possible.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
