Are Tylenol 1's still available OTC in Canada? Why are they listed as CDSA 1?

[NarcoTerrorist]

I don't use Codeine anymore, but I recall as a teenager that Tylenol 1's (acetaminophen 325mg, caffeine 15mg, codeine 8mg per tablet) was something that you could ask the pharmacist for. It was kept behind the counter, but was legal to buy in any quantity.

I recently was searching the "Health Canada Drug Product Database" and have noticed the drug is listed as (CDSA 1) which means it is a controlled drug, in the same class as morphine, diamorphine, methadone, etc.

Does this only apply to the main ingredient (codeine) or the entire product? The drug that killed Michael Jackson, known as Propofol, is NOT a controlled substance according to the health Canada website. Propofol is "Schedule F", which is the 2nd last thing before OTC, there is a "Schedule G" after it, then OTC products. Examples of a "Schedule F" drug are cialis, acyclovir, and calcium carbonate! That sounds a little screwed up if you ask me. Shouldn't Propofol at least be in the same class as the benzodiazepines (Targeted CDSA IV)?

Is it still available OTC or has the status changed with the new narcotics policies in Ontario and other provinces?

Thanks for your help, it's very much appreciated.

Here is the link to the database if anyone is interested. You can find out which drugs are available here in Canada and if they are OTC, Scheduled, Controlled etc. It's in english but there is a version en francais if you prefer it. Just click "francais" in the left top banner to change the language.

http://hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodpharma/databasdon/index-eng.php

==NarcoTerrorist==

 

[Venrak]

It's still OTC.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Moving to appropriate regional forum.

OD --> NASASADD

 

[sekio]

Codeine alkaloid in bulk quantity, or other codeine-only products is Sch. 1

Codeine becomes OTC, to the best of my knowledge, when both of the following are met:
* it's sold in individual dosage forms with less than 8mg per dose
* it's compounded with at least 2 other active ingredients (i.e. methocarbamol/acetaminophen, acetaminophen/caffeine, aspirin/caffeine)

Extracting codeine would still be considered producing a Sch. 1 drug. As far as I know it is considered a Sch. 1 drug with special provisions for OTC sale. It's the only one of its kind in Canada.

But to answer your question, yes, codeine products are still sold OTC in Canada. Tylenol 1, "222", and Robaxin with Codeine are all availiable to my knowledge.

 

[NarcoTerrorist]

I had a feeling they were still legal, the site is misleading though because if you search for tylenol 1 it lists it as CDSA 1, even though it's only talking about the narcotic ingredient.


Thanks! much appreciated.