recommendations to avoid a shortage

Between the approach of winter, with its seasonal illnesses, and a resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic, the health authorities are concerned to see a resurgence of a possible shortage of Doliprane and other drugs based on paracetamol. . They therefore call on doctors, pharmacists and patients to ensure the proper use of these drugs in order to avoid stock-outs.

In a press release published on Wednesday October 19, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), the College of General Medicine (CMG) and the pharmacists’ unions (FSPF and USPO) therefore formulate a whole series of “recommendations” intended to prevent the foreseeable increase in demand from generating a shortage. With the objective of “moderate the use of paracetamol” so that it always remains available for those who need it most.

Adapt dosages to needs

The first recommendations concern pharmacists. They are invited to properly adapt the doses sold to the needs of patients, to no longer sell the product online. And, even, to limit “two boxes per patient” purchase by customers without a prescription.

The authorities are also calling on doctors to exercise moderation. “Prescribers” are thus invited to avoid “to prescribe paracetamol to (their) patients who do not need it immediately”. They are also encouraged to reduce doses “when the situation permits” by suggesting “three doses per day every eight hours (instead of four doses per day every six hours)”.

Do not stock up

Finally, patients themselves must act responsibly. “Do not stock up on paracetamol if you do not need it immediately”, urge health authorities. No need to fill your medicine cabinet, they remind us, since “the production and deliveries of paracetamol have been adjusted to allow a safe and continuous supply throughout the territory”.

Before taking paracetamol, patients are also advised to check that they do not already have it in the other medications they use. This is often the case in drugs “used for pain, fever, allergies, cold or flu symptoms”. In this case, it is advisable to pay close attention to the dosages in order to avoid “an overdose likely to cause serious and irreversible damage to the liver”.