April 2, 2018.
An investigation conducted by UFC-Que-Choosing detected the lack of advice from certain pharmacists concerning the dosage of paracetamol. We take stock.
Little or no advice when selling paracetamol
The survey by the consumer association UFC-Que-Choose is a real investigation. Distributed in 772 pharmacies in sixteen different cities and filmed with a hidden camera, the members of the association pretended to be customers. When they arrive at the pharmacy checkout, they present their purchases: paracetamol and Actifed day / night – a medicine to treat colds.
Problem, Actifed also contains paracetamol even if the latter is less concentrated than in classic paracetamol. However, one in four pharmacists does not give any advice to this sick patient who is about to take paracetamol overdoses for several days in a row. Recall that” in no case must not exceed three grams per day – four in case of severe pain – under penalty of causing damage to the liver.
Better alert on the doses to be respected
In order not to exceed the regulatory three grams, one 1000 mg tablet (or two 500 mg) should be swallowed every six to eight hours. If we add to this treatment the four daily Actifed tablets which alone represent two grams of paracetamol, we reach five grams of paracetamol. Far beyond what our body can tolerate.
When we know that the French spent more than 2 billion euros on non-prescription drugs and that the pharmacist is then the only health professional encountered, the latter must be more vigilant. ” The presence of a specific box on the packaging of non-prescription drugs, to inform consumers about the main interactions and contraindications »Pleads UFC-Que-Chooser in its conclusions.
Maylis Choné
Read also: Paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin … which one to choose?
