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Tighter restrictions for codeine
5 August 2009 | by Simone Roberts
Most over-the-counter (OTC) products containing codeine will be upscheduled to Pharmacist-Only medicines next year.
The National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC) today revealed its decision to move OTC combination analgesics containing codeine (CACC) from Schedule 2 to Schedule 3 in a bid to address concerns of misuse and abuse of the products.
The committee also decided to limit the duration of treatment for the drugs to no more than five days and to limit the maximum daily dose of codeine in the products to no more than 100mg.
Codeine combinations for cough and colds escaped the changes, with the committee stating there was no evidence indicating a problem of misuse of these products.
In its record of reasons, the NDPSC said while upscheduling all codeine combinations to S3 would not stop the addiction problem, it would help mitigate it.
"In particular it would ensure pharmacist involvement and provide an opportunity to pick up signals of misuse or abuse," one committee member said.
"Several comments from addiction specialists indicated that such interactions were a significant trigger for addicts to eventually seek help."
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia failed in its attempts to halt the changes by recommending the use of real time monitoring system NotifyRx, similar to Project STOP, to assist in managing the risks and potential for abuse associated with the drugs.
The committee said the proposed system was impractical for several reasons including the cost of installation and maintenance, possible delays in implementing the system and privacy concerns and suggested the Guild has a "vested interest" in its use.
"Members agreed that, at this time, the consideration should remain focused on limiting access, rather than in introducing some sort of real-time monitoring system," the record said.
"Face to face counselling from a pharmacist should be viewed as the primary tool for mitigating the risk of abuse."
The changes are due to be implemented on 1 May, 2010.
Most over-the-counter (OTC) products containing codeine will be upscheduled to Pharmacist-Only medicines next year.
The committee also decided to limit the duration of treatment for the drugs to no more than five days and to limit the maximum daily dose of codeine in the products to no more than 100mg.
yeah does anyone actually understand that, because to me, that reads like there is no change
I never get asked for id for n+. Dunno why. Qld here.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I'd assume the change from schedule 2 to 3 will mean a pharmacist will have to approve the sale of said codeine-containing-product, your details taken down (usually via ID like a driver's licence) and an appropriate label placed on boxes. Therefore if you buy from the same pharmacy say, more than once a month they'll have those previous transactions on record and will start asking questions. Also you won't be able to order it online as you'd then need a prescription.
So yes, it is a sizeable and noteworthy change.