Letter: In Brief

Sir: The restriction on the number of paracetamol tablets an individual can buy will do little to save lives. As this drug is available from any pharmacy without prescription, a determined suicide could ensure death by buying tablets from more than one shop.

The restriction to 32 per pack does not help those who may take the tablets on the spur of the moment either, as death can occur from as little as 10g to 15g (20 to 30 tablets).

What would save lives would be to incorporate the antidote to paracetamol, methionine, into the tablets. I understand this modification is possible but considered uneconomic by manufacturers.

STANLEY TYRER

Department of Nursing

University of Salford

Greater Manchester