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.

I reported these three for one pound promotions to the MHRA in 2009.
So why the sudden rush to write to these retailers.
I MHRA have been aware and done nothing for several years.

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!

Whilst I appreciate and generally agree with what Superintendent above has stated, I don't feel that the last statement is really beneficial and certainly not an action I would recommend, especially in the spirit of what the guidelines are meant and how they should be carried out

"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.

In reply to Superintendent, this guidance was brought in not to annoy you but to help to protect people from accidental overdose. We all know that people can get round this by buying from different outlets, but I thought as pharmacists our concern was for the health of our patients and the public.

I'm glad action is being taken. I think it's up to all of us who take the time to explain why we generally sell paracetamol in packs of 32 to challenge outlets who care so little about an accidental overdose that they are willing to forget just how narrow a therapeutic index paracetamol has. Good for Dorothy, good for the MHRA and good for the RPS and I'm for speaking to the manager of any outlet that sells medicines like they were ordinary items of commence when I see it happening.

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!

You should try checking eBay out sometime- I wrote to Rpsgb several years ago about sales of paracetamol on there from the USA where you can buy them in packs of 500. Apparently nothing can be done about this...

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.

want to really protect the public? then restrict sale pf some gsl's that are botainable from garages and everywhere to pharmacies, so public can puchase these meds from the experts (glorified shop keepers) only who give good advice

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

No, the public are intelligent enough to protect themselves. They do not need protecting from shop assistants. If someone wants advice, let them pay for it. Professional charge. Don't force advice upon those who don't want it.

Under your logic, may be paint should only be available from painters and food from dieticians.

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.

Don't be silly Lindsey, paracetamol is a commodity product. Buy any quantity at the lowest price, just as in America. It makes sense.

Why good for the RPS? Who are they? A powerless group with no authority?
Where is the law stating 3 packs of 32 cannot be sold.
Let the government legislate. Oh they won't because MPs wouldn't vote for such nonsense.

Be big enough to admit the guideline is senseless.
Sorry, I will not sell 3 packs as you may kill yourself. Here are some blades. Just slit your throat.

Dorothy must be foolish if she really believes the guidelines have any logic when when other drugs can be purchased in large sizes.

Rx for 200 paracetamol 500mg tablets. The customer (not patient - you don't treat them) pays charges. What will you do?

Sell in 3 transactions OTC . (Totally legal)
Rip the customer off and dispense on the Rx,
Refuse to dispense more than 32 tablets as they may kill themselves?

90% will Rip the customer off. Is this "professional"?

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.

Exactly. 3 packs for £1 is a rip off. A wise person would have purchased in bulk when they were 19p a pack.

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

Akbar, my personal view up to now would have been to have left it up to the professional decision making of the pharmacist. Now I am not so sure. Of course I am normally chatting online with locums, didn't get the view from superintendent before.

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.

Lin,

You have not answered to my post yet.