Medicines containing codeine will require a prescription from 2018, after the Therapeutic Goods Administration received a number of submissions about the potential for abuse over over-the-counter medication.
Drugs including codeine include such currently over-the-counter meds like Nurofen Plus and Panadeine.
“Consumers frequently became addicted to codeine,” a TGA statement said.
“Misuse of OTC [over-the-counter] codeine products contributes to severe health outcomes including liver damage, stomach ulceration, respiratory depression and death.”
The TGA statement also suggested that codeine abuse can lead to liver damage; stomach ulceration and perforations; low blood potassium levels; respiratory depression and death. The organisation confirmed that addiction and abuse were a real concern in Australia:
Low dose codeine-containing medicines are not intended to treat long term conditions, however public consultation indicated that many consumers used these products to self-treat chronic pain. This meant that consumers frequently became addicted to codeine.
The 2018 start date is intended to give people time to discuss future treatment options with their doctor if and when their chosen medication becomes prescription only.
This change has been a long time coming. In 2013, a Monash University study identified nine deaths caused by toxicity caused by codeine-ibuprofen drugs like Nurofen Plus. Other researchers have claimed that this figure could vastly underestimate the damage caused by codeine drug addiction.
So if you’re someone who routinely buys Panadeine, the ride’s over as of 2018.
Source: News.com.au.
Photo: Master of None.
