Codeine Withdrawn From Sale !

Expect to see empty shelves in the painkiller aisle of most chemists this new year.  From February 1, a new law comes into effect which will require a doctors prescription for products which contain Codeine.  Until now, these have been freely available over the counter and this law change is expected to generate a rush to stockpile by many users.

This will come as a shock to many people. Familiar names such as Panadeine and Nurafen Plus are as freely bought for those suffering pain just  as Vegemite is regarded on supermarket shelves.  In the eyes of many, it it completely harmless, and yet there has been growing concern in medical circles that constant use is leading to Codeine addiction.

Those same medical circles advise that Codeine should be restricted to no more than three days use in a row but so many people have a nagging injury that causes them to use a hundred tablets a day, bought from various pharmacies. Codeine is often used because it is a familiar brand and other drugs that do not contain Codeine do exactly the same job of pain relief.  It is used not only in tablet form, but is present in many cough mixtures and flu medications.

Adding to the alarm,  in the illicit drug scene teenagers have discovered that Codeine can produce that desired " high " and as a result quantity limitations have been put in place to restrict over the counter sales.   It is hoped that requiring a doctors prescription will put a dent in the illicit drug scene and steer many pain sufferers onto safer medication.

Long term Codeine abuse can cause liver damage, induce stomach perforation and internal bleeding, kidney failure, heart attacks and hyperventilation.   Many who overuse Codeine do not realise that this addiction has taken hold until they suffer withdrawal symptoms that appear when use is discontinued.

Products affected by the change include popular pain killers Panadeine and Nurafen Plus,  Mersyndol and cough and flu products under the brands Demazin and Codral.   Precisely the remedies we reach for each winter when the flu season strikes.

From February 1 those in need of pain relief will still have access to products containing paracetamol and ibuprofen and it is likely that with the withdrawal of Codeine drug companies will reformulate their products to meet this new law.  The medical people assure us that these alternatives are equally effective in managing pain but are no longer addictive.

There is an added bonus.  Those who have been taking Codeine long term and suffer withdrawal symptoms may be induced to consult a doctor seeking a Codeine script.  Often, the cause of pain is not being treated and is simple masked by the use of pain killers.  With proper treatment of the cause, in many cases the need for pain relief is terminated or sharply reduced.

The Therapeutic Goods Association has taken this action by compelling evidence of the harm caused by overuse and abuse.  A lot of familiar brands will disappear from Chemists shelves, but the relief of pain will not have been compromised.  Products that do the job as well as Codeine are still available, but without the addiction risk.