title: Paracetamol-related deaths in Scotland, 1994-2000.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the death rate due to paracetamol poisoning in Scotland and what effect the reduction in over-the-counter paracetamol pack sizes in 1998 had on the death rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records from 1994 to 2000 were examined to identify the number and annual incidence of paracetamol-related deaths. Numbers of deaths before and after the pack size reduction were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were shown due to the pack size reduction. The Scottish paracetamol-related death rate was twice as high as in England and Wales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further measures to reduce paracetamol-related morbidity and mortality in Scotland should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Medicines Monitoring Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY. chris@memo.dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: D Nicholas
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen