Pharmacist would like to see codeine real-time reporting return

Since February 1, people wishing to gain access to painkillers such as Panadeine, Nurofen Plus and Mersyndol have required a prescription from their doctor, rather than being able to access them over the counter as they had previously been able to do.

But with that move came the relaxation of real-time reporting, similar to what is used with pseudoephedrine, and Priceline Pharmacy’s Greg Shearing said that places doctors and pharmacists in a tough position.

“The Pharmacy Guild, which advocates on behalf of pharmacy owners, has been very strong on wanting real-time monitoring in place,” Mr Shearing said.

“Without that doctors are prescribing blind  and pharmacists are dispensing blind as to what this person’s usage of codeine is.

“The system needed to be changed and there were some people falling through the cracks and they were accessing too much codeine. I think everyone is in agreeance with that

“However with the moving of it to prescription-only the real time monitoring has been removed, so now we have a situation where people can access these medications from their doctor without the doctor or pharmacist knowing how much the person has had.”

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) codeine can cause opioid tolerance, dependence, addiction, poisoning and in high doses, even death.

Regular use of medicines containing codeine, for example for chronic pain, has led to some consumers becoming addicted to codeine without realising it. 

“Codeine is an opioid, very similar to morphine and heroine and oxycontin, from the same drug family.” Mr Shearing said.

“Your body converts it to morphine, but it doesn’t give you a rush like if you inject oxycontin.

“A sub-set of people who take codeine that will end up being addicted so we need to identify them and give them the support they need.”