§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to reduce the incidence of self poisoning with paracetamol by ensuring that it is marketed only when it contains methanion, to minimise liver damage.
§ Mr. SackvilleThere are serious reservations about the addition of an antidote—usually methionine—to such a widely used product, which is safe in normal use. This would expose possibly millions of people for sometimes lengthy periods to the antidote unnecessarily.
The supply of paracetamol is controlled in terms of the strength and pack size which may be supplied without the supervision of a pharmacist and the labelling must clearly state the recommended dose, with a warning that this should not be exceeded.