Codeine debate reignited
June 29, 2016
With the government shortly
set to issue its decision on OTC
products containing codeine (PD
29 Mar), a WA pain specialist has
issued a statement outlining why
he believes the items should not be
available over the counter.
Professor Stephan Schug,
Director of Pain Medicine at
Royal Perth Hospital and Chair of
Anaesthesiology at the University
of WA, claims there is no evidence
of benefit from current products -
only harms such as addiction and
overdose - and there are safer,
more effective alternatives.
Schug argues there is almost no
evidence of effectiveness of low
dose codeine in combination with
either ibuprofen or paracetamol.
He also says under the current
arrangements the easy availability
of codeine containing medicines is
not limited or monitored well at all.
“Surveys of pharmacists and
codeine dependent people seeking
OTC codeine illustrate a number
of difficulties managing the safe
supply of OTC codeine analgesics.
“It is unreasonable to expect a
pharmacist will be able to detect
codeine dependence based solely
on a customer’s appearance,”
Professor Schug added.
The Pharmacy Guild is currently
rolling out its MedsASSIST system
which aims to help pharmacists
monitor consumer use of codeine
products to ensure effective use,
with the government decision on
codeine promised after Jun 2016.
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