MHLW Halts Drug Store’s Online Sleeping Pill Sale Due To Suicide Concern
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ordered a Fukuoka-based drug store to stop selling a sleeping pill online upon receiving a complaint that a man had purchased the drug in order to commit suicide. Two years ago, the Saitama male bought 24 boxes of the drug through the drug store online store operated by Rakutan Ichiba, a Japan Ebay equivalent. The 19 year old man also bought an additional six boxes from a nearby drugstore. He took a combined 300 tablets at one time, which has resulted in paralyzed feet. The sleeping pill is limited to once daily dosage. (Click here for more - Japanese language