Parents are warned over paracetamol challenge

PHARMACIES and parents in Oldham are being warned to be extra vigilant following the rise in popularity of a dangerous social media challenge.

The paracetamol challenge sees young people daring each other via social media platforms to take a large or excessive quantity of the painkiller, risking liver failure and even death.

Pharmacies and parents are being told to be alert to requests for paracetamol from young people.

Parents are also being warned to keep an eye on their medicine cabinets and any unexplained paracetamol products found in their home.

David Walsh, of Oldham, Tameside and Glossop Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “Although purchases through pharmacies will attract this extra level of vigilance, it is perfectly possible for youngsters to purchase the product in non-pharmacy outlets where this level of scrutiny is absent, and parents should be wary of any unexplained paracetamol products in their children’s possession.”

The local warning comes after Leyla Hannbeck, the head of pharmacy services at the National Pharmaceutical Association, issued a bulletin to pharmacists regarding the challenge.

Although police officers and schools may have written to parents to highlight this latest trend, community pharmacists are also being encouraged to approach local schools to alert them to the dangers of taking excessive amounts of paracetamol.

Pharmacy protocols would normally ensure that customers are reminded to follow the dosage guidelines as recommended on the product packaging and be aware of the dangers of taking paracetamol in combination with products also containing paracetamol, for example, cold and flu remedies.

Initial symptoms of paracetamol poisoning are nausea and vomiting. Taking excessive amounts of paracetamol can result in liver damage which could potentially cause cerebral oedema, encephalopathy, haemorrhage or hypoglycaemia, and even death.

Even if symptoms are not present, anyone who has taken a suspected paracetamol overdose should be referred to hospital urgently.