An Illawarra pharmacist says a real-time monitoring system of codeine products – rather than a ban of over-the-counter sales – could have better served those with severe pain.
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From February 1, medicines containing codeine like Panadeine, Mersyndol, Nurofen Plus and Codral will no longer be available without a prescription.
Katerina Novarina, president of the Illawarra Pharmacist Association, said she felt the laws were “a bit tough” on responsible users. She said viable alternatives for people with conditions including migraines, back pain and cold and flu had not been fully investigated.
With these products to be prescription only, she has concerns that those determined to get their hands on them will turn to “doctor shopping” or even emergency departments to get relief.
“While it’s beneficial to have codeine usage monitored, I think making it prescription only is a bit too tough and to some extent it’s going to clog up the doctors’ rooms and emergency sector,” Ms Novarina said.
“I feel that there were alternatives that weren’t addressed – such as the option of monitoring requests for codeine products in real time, like we do with pseudoephedrine.
“Systems (such as MedsASSIST) allow pharmacists to see whether a customer has for instance bought two or three packs in the last few days, and we’re then able to have a clinical conversation with them.”
The decision, made by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt last year based on advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, brings Australia into line with 26 other countries including the US and UK.
A NSW Health spokesman said most acute pain was managed by non-prescription medicines, ibuprofen and paracetamol. The addition of codeine did not add significant benefit and was associated with side effects.
“The intention of this initiative is to improve management of patients in NSW who suffer short and long term pain by reducing the use of codeine where it is not recommended, and reduce the numbers of people with substance use disorder due to misuse of over the counter codeine-containing medicines,’’ he said.
There have been reports of people stockpiling medications ahead of the cut-off date and pharmacists have been bracing themselves for a backlash from customers.
Ms Novarina, of Navin’s Pharmacy in Thirroul, said she had been counselling her customers about the change: “We’ve been talking to them and suggesting possible alternatives for their pain management”.
Pharmacies have little or no stock left, with some drug companies no longer supplying codeine medication and others re-labelling products.