TGA explains codeine danger

THE Therapeutic Goods Administration has expanded the information available at its online ͚Codeine Hub’ (W 14 Jul), with additional resources available under the heading ͚Codeine use can be harmful’.

The additional information notes that “most Australians are unaware that over-the-counter medicines containing codeine for pain relief offer very little additional benefit when compared with medicines without codeine.

“The use of such medicines, however, is associated with high health risks, such as developing tolerance or physical dependence on codeine,” the update notes.

The information cites severe withdrawal symptoms such as head and muscle aches, mood swings, insomnia, nausea and diarrhoea.

“Some of these withdrawal symptoms, such as head or muscle aches, mimic the symptoms that low dose codeine products are often used to treat, leading to people incorrectly continuing to take the medicine longer or in higher doses,” the TGA warns.

The update also highlights the contribution of codeine poisoning to both accidental and intentional deaths, and the potential for other issues due to long term use of high doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen in combination codeine medicines such as liver damage, serious internal bleeding, kidney failure and heart attack.

“Codeine is also sometimes used in medicines to relieve the symptoms of cough and cold, however there are safer and more effective medicines available that may provide relief from these conditions... talk to your pharmacist or doctor for advice on what may be best for you,” the TGA added.

The Codeine Information Hub also features a pharmacist fact sheet about talking to patients about changes to codeine access.

siew the new warnings about codeine harm at tga.gov.au.