Laws regarding sales of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen??

Northern_girl_2

I fell foul of this a couple of years ago when I had a really bad ear infection over Christmas. I went to the walk in clinic who gave me anitbiotics for the infection itself but didn't give me a prescrition for painkillers because it was cheaper over the counter.
It hurt like hell (I wouldn't have believed how bad until it happened) and the doctor had suggested 2 paracetamol every 4 hours and 2 ibuprofen every four hours starting two hours after the first paracetamol so I'd be getting pain relief every 2 hours if you see what I mean. Nearest place selling painkillers was a corner shop and, with it being Christmas, I wanted a couple of packets so I didn't have to go out again (and because others at home were bound to want some for their hangovers). They couldn't do it so then had to get myself over to the duty chemist.

It was frustrating at the time but I've read various bits of evidence that suggest it does reduce the suicide rate so guess it's worth putting up with the inconvenience.

nesssie1702

There is legislation in place in terms of sale of paracetamol and aspirin, but not for ibuprofen.
THE PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES (HUMAN USE) AMENDMENT ORDER 1997 THE MEDICINES (SALE OR SUPPLY) (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS)AMENDMENT (NO 2) REGULATIONS 1997

This falls under the Medicines Act 1968.

This legislation came into force on 16 September 1998. It limits the maximum pack size of solid doses of paracetamol and aspirin for general sale to 16 tablets or capsules. It also limits the maximum pack size of solid doses of paracetamol and aspirin to 32 tablets or capsules in pharmacies. The sale or supply of more than 100 aspirin or paracetamol tablets or capsules at one time requires a doctor's prescription.

Most retailers take the stance though that they want to retail painkillers responsibly and therefore restrict sales to two packs (or 32 tablets) at any one time. All to do with the resulting negative publicity should there be a suicide.

Of course, if someone wanted to get their hands on lots of painkillers, there's absolutely nothing to stop them going into every shop in town and buying two packs at a time.

It's inconvenient, but ultimately, it's for safety, as paracetamol is very damaging to the liver.

Ted_Hutchinson

But don't forget that correcting vitamin D deficiency reduces muscle pain. therefore you save yourself the hassle trogging round the shops to get sufficient pain killers.

Here is a source of the 50,000iu used for 12 weeks in this trial to raise status to around 48ng 120nmol/l.

You need to ask for a 25(OH)D test after 3 months or so to check how you are doing and increase/decrease intake by 100iu/d for each 1ng or 2.5nmol/l you need to adjust. Ideally 150nmol/l ~ 60ng/mL is the best target to aim for as that gives you a bigger safety margin.

Digger78

I know this is an "old" thread but I gotta agree with the OP as I was just refused 32 Paracetamol and 32 Ibuprofen from my local morrisons - there usually isnt a problem since you can take both drugs at the same time (no known interaction)

I totally agree with the 32 Paracetamol limit but a 32 tablet limit is just nonsense.

Morrisons and others should train their staff properly instead of just making up that "it's the law"

jenniewb

This thread is one and a half years old!

Digger78

Really? damn......if only I had noticed before posting! O_o

raven-333

Its the same in all the local shops here two packs of painkillers at a time.

System

I buy them both in bulk in Costco

Gordon_Gekko

I know I'll get hammered for bumping this old thread, but it come almost top of the list on a Google search with the terms: 'sale of paracetamol law uk'. Somebody linked to this table earlier in the thread, but The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has revamped it's webpage and the links have been disrupted... so I thought I'd update. :A

The table below clarifies the current UK law when paracetamol is sold under different sets of circumstances. It's taken from the following site:

http://www.rpharms.com/legal-classification-of-medicines-db/paracetamol-legal-status-table.asp

Most people will purchase under GSL (General Sales List) when visiting a supermarket. That is the fourth row down on the table:



The law restricts the pack sizes to 16 in shops other than a pharmacy, but the total number of tablets that can be sold to a person in one transaction is 100 tablets.

The two packs rule appears to be nothing more than a store policy that reflects the RPS advice that pharmacists should restrict sales of paracetamol to one pack of 32 tablets per sale unless there are 'justifiable circumstances' for selling more than one pack. This also explains why Poundland are able to sell 3 packs for a £1, totalling at 48 tablets.

When and where on earth they got the idea from to start applying this to ibuprofen... i have no idea. Nor for that matter is there any justifiable reason why they can't be sold at the same time. Totally different enzyme, totally different metabolism method, no potentiating and no interaction.

Hope that helps somebody feel like less of a criminal when they get quizzed on the checkout!

GG

xycom1

You did well to find that on their awful website.

As others have said, the one-size-fits-all rule of 2 packs maximum per person/transaction is to simplify things. If you want to buy more, go and buy them from a pharmacy.