Over-the-counter pain medication containing codeine is set to become prescription-only in a bid to reduce addiction and overdoses.
Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte, Mersyndol and Codral will no longer be available over the counter after February 1, and patients who rely on the medication are urged to visit their doctor to find an alternative solution, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Australia will join the ranks of at least 26 other countries that currently require a prescription for codeine-containing products.
Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte, Mersyndol & Codral will no longer be available over the counter
Pain Australia CEO Carol Bennett recommends that anyone who is reliant on over-the-counter pain medication should go to their GP to discuss alternatives for their pain management needs
According to reports, 100 people die in Australia every year from codeine overdoses, and a number more are hospitalised.
Some Australians are reportedly taking ‘dangerously high’ doses of up to 28 pills per day, despite recommendations not to take codeine-based killers more than three days in a row.
There are over 5 million over-the-counter sales of Nurofen Plus, Panadeine Forte, Mersyndol and Codral in Australia each year.
There were 1917 recorded deaths involving either over-the-counter products containing codeine or Oxycodone between 2007 and 2011. In the same time period, 1127 people died from heroin abuse.
Head of Pain services at Royal Melbourne Hospital Dr Malcolm Hogg told the publication that codeine is not a good pain reliever as the human body adapts to it, meaning that you need to take more to get the same amount of relief each time.
He added that codeine should not be used to treat a migraine or period pain and that most people would get better pain relief from a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Banning codeine-based painkillers has the full support of the Australian Medical Association
Dr Malcolm Hogg told the publication that codeine is not a good pain reliever as the human body adapts to it, meaning you need to take more to get the same amount of relief each time
Pain Australia CEO Carol Bennett recommended that anyone who is reliant on over-the-counter pain medication should go to their GP for a full assessment of pain management.
‘One of the most liberating things for people with chronic pain is to understand that it may never go away, so learning how to manage it and live life despite it is often the most empowering thing,’ she said.
The new law has the full support of GPs, health consumer groups and the Australian Medical Association.
The Pain Australia website www.painaustralia.org.au offers good information on how to manage pain effectively without relying on painkillers.