Paracetamol

Dangerous when not used correctly

New Zealand. Medsafe has announced that they have received cases of serious adverse events related to medication errors associated with prescribing, dispensing and communication to caregivers in children.

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is generally indicated to treat mild to moderate pain relief.

The Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC) discussed a report of acute hepatic failure in a child given a suspected paracetamol overdose.

Following a review of the cases, advice on actions to take when prescribing and dispensing paracetamol for children were provided. For example, paracetamol should be used only for approved indications (pain, fever). The correct dose should be calculated using body weight. Health-care professionals should prescribe paracetamol precisely and dispense diligently.

Reference : Prescriber Update, Medsafe, September 2019