@article{ref1,
title="Legislation restricting paracetamol sales and patterns of self-harm and death from paracetamol-containing preparations in Scotland",
journal="British journal of clinical pharmacology",
year="2006",
author="Bateman, D. Nicholas and Gorman, D. R. and Bain, M. and Inglis, J. H. C. and House, F. R. and Murphy, Declan G. M.",
volume="62",
number="5",
pages="573-581",
abstract="Aims: To describe how changes in legislation to restrict paracetamol / acetaminophen (sales have affected overdose discharges and death associated with the drug in Scotland. Methods: A descriptive analysis of routine death and hospital discharge data for the entire Scottish population between 1995 and 2004. Patients in Scotland participated who were discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of poisoning; deaths in Scotland from diagnosis of poisoning 1995-2003 were also analysed. Outcome measures were changes in mortality and overdose due to poisoning involving paracetamol. A comparison was made of in-hospital and out-of-hospital mortality in fatalities involving paracetamol. Results: The majority of paracetamol-associated deaths were due to co-proxamol. Deaths associated with paracetamol alone or with ethanol occurred principally in hospital and were a minority of deaths overall. The proportion of in-hospital deaths attributed to paracetamol increased (post/pre ratio 1.347; 95% confidence interval 1.076, 1.639; P = 0.013). Overall numbers of cases discharged with poisoning fell. The proportion of these involving paracetamol in any form increased significantly in all groups except young men aged 10 to <20 years. Conclusions Legislation has not reduced mortality or proportional use of paracetamol in overdose, both of which appear to have increased in Scotland since pack-size limitations. Other approaches are necessary to reduce the death rate from overdoses involving paracetamol.   <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-5251",
doi="10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02668.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02668.x"
}