new regulations

When i was sitting at the drs tonight on the news they has about the new regulations coming in for products containing codiene (sp)

I used to work in pharmacy and I understand that people who are addicted to these ingredients "shop" through various stores to get the drugs they are after and I understand why these need to be behind the counter.
I'm just over these people making the rest of us suffer.

Boxes of up to 30 will still be available as over the counter (but behind counters so you can't just take them) anything over this will need a script :o
I don't know about others but I buy a box of panamax (100tabs) every maybe 6 for DH, me and everyone else who comes to my house - and now I have to have a script.

I have an idea - let go back to old style pharmacy where you walk in the door to the front counter and have to ask for EVERYTHING you want :wall: Sorry this is something that really gets under my skin.

Not to mention all the problems that this causes the people who work in pharmacy having to accomodate all these products going behind the counter :wall:

panamax is panadol though isnt it? not codeine based product??

:shakehead: how ridiculous.

I guess, it kind of makes sense though. I do hate the whole 'one bad apple ruins the whole bunch' but if they did nothing there'd be outrage too so yeah :dunno: I personally don't have a huge problem with it, but then we have a HCC and a bulk-billing dr so just takes us a bit more time. be annoying to pay an extra $50 for the dr visit. It'd probably just make it easier to buy 30 when you need then than pay the dr fee for a few extra tabs.
It makes it really inconveniant, like when they stopped over the counter sale of cold and flu medicine, but I personally like that they are limiting availability of addicitive drugs. Now if only they'd make cigarettes/tobacco prescription only...

:

---

panamax is panadol though isnt it? not codeine based product??

---

Yeah - but because it's a bigger pack, Any paracetemol and/or codiene product over pack of 30 will need a script.

:

---

From 1 May 2010, combination analgesics containing up to 12 mg codeine (15.4 mg
codeine phosphate) per dosage unit and up to 5 days treatment will need to be located
within the pharmacy according to Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3) requirements of the
relevant State or Territory. Packs with more than 5 days treatment or 12 mg codeine (15.4
mg codeine phosphate) per dosage unit must be stored and supplied as Prescription
Only Medicines (S4).

---

So only stuff with codeine in it, no just the Panamax (500mg paracetamol). Although I think there is a Panamax with codeine in it? I think its called 'Panamax Co' with 500 mg of paracetamol and 8 mg of codeine phosphate.

Man your good leasha! I was trying to find that info... obviuosly I wasn't looking hard enough!! :redface:

better buy up now ;) hehe

Not to criticise, but I honestly can't see why anyone would need more than 30 panadeine / nurofen plus / panamax co. in the house at a time? Even if you were taking them round the clock, that's enough to last 72 hours straight. If you need codeine for any longer than that, you need to see a doctor for a script.

:

---

Not to criticise, but I honestly can't see why anyone would need more than 30 panadeine / nurofen plus / panamax co. in the house at a time? Even if you were taking them round the clock, that's enough to last 72 hours straight. If you need codeine for any longer than that, you need to see a doctor for a script.

---

:yeahthat: It's a pretty strong drug...I developed a nasssssssteh sensitivity after taking it during gallstone attacks.

:

---

Not to criticise, but I honestly can't see why anyone would need more than 30 panadeine / nurofen plus / panamax co. in the house at a time? Even if you were taking them round the clock, that's enough to last 72 hours straight. If you need codeine for any longer than that, you need to see a doctor for a script.

---

TBH I think some people just don't want to have to go to the chemist as often, and if there were two of you needing it, it wouldn't last very long. We also, tend to divide up the pack between work bags, home handbags. I am sure it isn't necessary to have more than 30, but these are just my thoughts....

To be totally honest i take panadeine or the homebrand version which is paracetamol + approx 8-12mg codeiene depending on the brand very regularly. I have chronic neck/back pain which gives me headaches on a daily basis and plain old panadol/paracetamol does nothing for it. So i take it with the codiene at least several times a week. Sometimes even the panadol extra which is paracetamol + 15mg codeine (and the dose is 2 tablets), when i'm in extreme pain and can't move my right arm (which is a pain because i'm right handed) nothing else works.

So honestly for me to have to get a script for this is a pain in the butt. And i have also been having treatment for my neck pain for several years. I've tried acupuncture, chiropractor and finally have been seeing an osteopath for the past year. But still i get the pain and the headaches, picking up 2 little boys all the time, and household chores aggrivate it.

I can understand the urge to regulate the use of codeiene products, my old boss used to take nurofen plus and got addicted to the codiene in it and eventually developed stomach ulcers from the ibruprofen, and had to slowly come off the codiene. She was just unaware of the potential for addiction. I'm also embarrassed to admit knowing people in my uni days who would extract codeiene from panadeine to take a really large dose of codeiene (not sure why, its hardly a social drug?!). But for this i think its fairly obvious when you're buying several boxes at a time, and i believe the pharmacist has the right to refuse sale, like they did with products containing psuedoephedrine in the past.

So yeah it's frustrating for those who genuinely need it and use it responsibly.


I would also wonder..... don't you think people who did/would use codiene for self medication purposes might just turn to illegal drugs which are a lot easier to get tha having to get a script?? Codiene is similar to heroin.... i'd be really interested to see if theres a rise in heroin usage after May. In fact i have a good friend who works in drug and alcohol research so i will ask her in a few months.

I get the large pack when I purchase. I got told about the new laws coming in.

One strip at work because the first aid officers are no longer allowed to give pain medication for headaches
One in the car
One in my handbag
One in the kitchen
One in the bathroom
One in the bedroom for when we wake up in the middle of the night with a muscle spasm

So yes the packet may keep us going for a while - they don't stay in the box.