MHRA and RPS slam Poundland three packs for £1 paracetamol deal

I agree, I saw this promotion in Poundland and was disgusted. We have a responsibility to the public to limit sale of potentially harmful substances. I hope that further action can be taken.
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Why? It is not illegal to sell this many tablets,
Remember, guidelines are not law.

The RPS has no significance in this day and age and has no power.
Why are they? Why should anyone listen to them.

The GPhC are the regulators.

I am just so shocked that pharmacists do not know the law.
I tried to buy 3 packs from Boots and the pharmacists lied to me claiming it was unlawful. I had to educate her and tell her it was not. She still would not sell (and I am a pharmacist).

I went to Tesco and Wilkinsons and purchased multiple packs and went back to Bootsto show her what her foolish refusal did. Nothing.

What is the rule with effvervescent tablets?

"I want to kill myself. We cannot sell you 3 packs, but we will sell you razer blades, knives and alcohol."

These regulations make pharamcist look like morons.

If someone wants 150 tablets, just obey the law and sell them in two different transactions.

Guess what.... it is legal!

"Poundland expressing our concern and asking them to end this promotion immediately," the Society said."

The real question is what business has the RPS writing to Poundland?
Have they forgotten they no longer have any authority. Nobody needs to take any notice of them. They are an irrelevance.

If I were Poundland, I would tell the RPS to mind their own business.

You say you are a pharmacist - you therefore know that each pharmacist is a professional and can make their own decision on what they will or won't sell. Maybe telling you it was illegal to sell more than one pack was ill judged but that was her decision.

'These regulations make pharamcist (sic) look like morons' - with all due respect, how you reacted by buying multiple packs elsewhere and going back in to 'show her what her foolish refusal did' makes us appear more 'like morons' to those watching than her initial refusal to sell you more than one pack did! I suspect that in the eyes of her regular patients and staff, only one person came out of this encounter badly...

And even though it might be legal selling 150 tablets in multiple transactions, I would suggest it is not medically nor ethically prudent - would be interested to know which pharmacy or pharmacies you are the Superintendent of!

Well, why do you think you are so superior to American pharmacists, who can sell 1000 tablets. Opps, they don't sell [P] medicines as they don't exist. Of course these people earn 1.5 to 2x the British pharmacists.

Why are UK pharmacists are so stupid to sell almost 100 Soladine tablets and cry at selling 48 paracetmaol, I ask where is the logic.

I suppose it is not a surprise that Joe Public view pharrmacists as graduate shop assistants and not as professionals, who used to wear butchers coats!
Even mosy banks do not accept pharmacists as people who can certify copies of documents. (Not professional enough).

Go to the pharmacy forum. 90% of pharmacists are so ingorant they think it is unlawful to sell more than 2 packs of paracetamol tablets. Their knowledge of the law is so poor and they still think RPSGB guidelines exist. When the GPhC took over regulation, all RPSGB guidelines ceased to exist and the RPS became a powerless body.

If some idiots wants to kill themselves, there are better ways than buying paracetamol.
More people die in car accidents than from paracetamol overdoses. Shall we ban cars?

Why spoil it for the 99.99% of the population? If want to buy 100 paracetamol tablets, I don't expect an ignorant pharmacist to refuse. That is why it is better to buy medicines from a supermarket and go to a self service checkout. No stupid questions asked, just undertake multiple transactions in private.

This moral and professional high horse is pointless.
Obey the law and nothing else.

Well done Lin.

Still, there is some stuff in the guy who is posting the concern.

1. Why only pondland ?? Any Super will sell 3, 4,5, +++ packs. So what about them ??

2. Accidental Overdose can Happen even with 32 tabs pack. Don't you think so???

3. Why only Paracetamol ??? Why not all those GSL products containing Aspirin??

4. And WHY NOT NEUROFEN ??? It is in Targetted MUR. So how will you know as a pharmacist that the person is taking (god knows how many tablets) and advice how to / how not to overdose ??

Please explain

It is not just poundland - Costco sell 6 x 16 Paracetamol in a bulk pack. Selling 100 paracetamol in one go for me is not an issue and clearly both Poundland and Costco have been doing this for years. I appreciate this guideline was brought in to protect the public and make sure they do not have heaps of tablets lying about the place but don't forget if you buy 2 x 16 GSL Paracetamol, which no one is going to have an issue with and take all of these in one go you are going to be in trouble so not sure about all this fuss.

Three packs of 16 for £1 just shows me how much the cost of living (or dying if you were planning to overdose with them) has increased. Not that long ago they were 19p each!. Seriously though, you cannot stop those who seriously plan to commit suicide as they can always buy from multiple sources: - but most people who take overdoses do so on impulse, and the smaller maximum purchase guidelines have saved lives by reducing the quantities that people generally have lying around the house available for just such a rash moment.

A very interesting debate going on here. I think , Superintendent is winning. If good practice is not followed should the law not be changed then....In the interest of the public

theres a lot of scaremongering going on with ridiculous comments like "paracetamol should now be a pharmacy-only medicine to ensure safety." and the recent front page articles, I think for most of the public it is common sense and knowledge not to take more than 8 tablets in 24hours, people wanting to do otherwise will do so of their own accord irrespective of where they buy it from and how many they get in one box.

Sorry, DS, posting before from my phone and I wanted to seach a couple of things. You raise some interesting points.

1. Why only pondland ?? Any Super will sell 3, 4,5, +++ packs. So what about them ??

I love 'pondland'. I guess its because of the offer in particular, agree its the same with any multiple sale of 16s but selling 48 for a pound is pushing a sale of excess of 32.

2. Accidental Overdose can Happen even with 32 tabs pack. Don't you think so???

Of course, but as I think back, the feeling was that there would be fewer tablets in the home (assuming the average would be half a box). Maybe too it reinforces the understanding in the public's mind that this is a drug capable of great harm.

3. Why only Paracetamol ??? Why not all those GSL products containing Aspirin??

Paracetamol is the commonest drug taken in overdose in the UK. http://emj.bmj.com/content/19/3/202.full.

So easy to overdose. Some reports, which i grant you may not be totally accurate, give tiny excesses causing death. What a sad death too.


4. And WHY NOT NEUROFEN ??? It is in Targetted MUR. So how will you know as a pharmacist that the person is taking (god knows how many tablets) and advice how to / how not to overdose ??

True of all meds that are sold as GSLs and don't have the advantage of the opportunity of a discussion with a pharmacist.

I would be perfectly happy that the 32 paracetamol guidance is reviewed in the light of effectiveness etc, quite possible as you say, DS, that other meds should be considered for more restriction, BUT I do very much object to unregulated outlets being able to 'get round' this which is for the benefit of the health of the public.

If someone needs to take paracetamol regular for self treatment of a chronic condition, buying bulk paracetamol makes sense: if the chronic condition has been correctly diagnosed. Limiting sale of paracetamol is logical so that we can identify people with chronic conditions that are, as of yet, undiagnosed.

If you feel the need to buy paracetamol in quantities to last more than 7days, then you are likely to have a chronic condition.

Superintendent has missed the point that by questioning or challenging sales of bulk paracetamol we are helping people, and helping with their diagnosis of possibly life threatening diseases.

Buying medicines must be seen as different to buying a pound of sprouts. Self care can be encouraged but with advise going hand in hand with supply. Encouraging the public to buy large quantities and have excess medicines in the home cannot be seen as a sensible attitude to safety and health. I worked in a hospital with a poison centre and often made the antidote for paracetamol. The GSL quantity of 16 is less then the 12gram or (24) tablets which is the quantity which is very dangerous if taken as an overdose.

Why should it be different?
In America, people can buy vast quantities. So what is the difference?
Are you saying the British public are stupid and cannot take care of medicines and Americans can?

If 100 people die due to a Paracetamol overdose, sobeit. They may have used something else if it was not paracetamol.

Why cause hardship to the millions of sensible people because a few people are stupid?

The risk is not enough for me to limit the sale, since anyone ca go to different outlets and buy more.
The restriction is stupid and does not serve anything. It is not a national restriction that can be checked.

Ignore the guidelines and sell what you want, within the law.

Why did you report it? Surely as a pharmacist you should have been aware of the law and known the guidance has no legal weight. It is embarassing to admit you reported this to the MHRA, it displays ignorance of basic law.
Didn't you learn this in your phamacy law exams?

It is surprising how ignorant so many pharmacists are, thinking it was law.

Just so you know, any guidance from the old RPSGB ceases to be valid as they no longer exist.
The RPS is an irrelevant organisation with zero power. You are free to ignore them.

Maybe this has become a moral issue. If I sold three packets of paracetamol tablets, only to discover that the person had overdosed, I would be devastated and I believe that we have a duty of care to our patients. It is true they can buy them elsewhere, and if they are determined nothing will stop them. But I do not want to be the one responsible.