CPhA welcomes Health Canada's action plan on acetaminophen safety

September 15, 2016 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) welcomes Health Canada’s announcement to take further action to improve acetaminophen safety through a suite of measures, including a final revised labeling standard for non-prescription acetaminophen products, a limit on prescription acetaminophen combination products from containing more than 325mg of acetaminophen, and the creation of new educational products to promote patient safety.

CPhA has long called on the federal government to take additional steps to minimize the risk of liver damage through concrete measures to ensure that acetaminophen is taken appropriately and that patients do not exceed the maximum dose. As an active participant in Health Canada’s technical discussions, CPhA believes that the government’s announcement represents a balanced approach to reinforce the importance of using the lowest effective dose of acetaminophen, without driving patients to other products which may carry their own risks.

CPhA also notes the government’s recent announcement that it intends to introduce regulations to require a prescription for low-dose (8mg or less) codeine products, many of which also contain acetaminophen. CPhA believes that this measure is an important part of a comprehensive approach to improve acetaminophen safety and urges the government to act expeditiously in this area.

Despite these new measures, there continues to be a critical need for patient education and awareness about the appropriate use of acetaminophen products. Pharmacists, who are Canada’s most accessible health care professionals, will play a key role in explaining these changes to Canadians and will continue to counsel patients on safe and appropriate use. CPhA applauds Health Canada’s action to improve acetaminophen safety, and its members are committed to collaborative efforts to support patients in managing the impact of these changes going forward.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Stefi Proulx
Media and Stakeholder Relations Specialist
Canadian Pharmacists Association
sproulx@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 ext 230