Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacists back S4 codeine

MOST pharmacists believe last year's controversial decision to up-schedule codeine-based analgesics to prescription only will benefit patients, new research reveals.

The study conducted by RMIT's School of Health and Biomedical Sciences between Mar and May 2018, found over 40% of pharmacists believed the change from S3 to S4 would positively impact their ability to manage pain, while a further 30% were neutral.

"Many pharmacists viewed the codeine rescheduling as a positive move, as the tighter restrictions to prescription only will now encourage the patients to be more willing to speak about their pain", the researchers said.

"Furthermore, this will further encourage the patients to come into the pharmacy to discuss the matter with a pharmacist, rather than simply come into the pharmacy for the OTC purchase then depart with limited consultation," they said.

"Additionally, encouraging patients to discuss their pain provides better opportunities for pharmacists to get more involved with pain management discussions/strategies and to recommend alternative pain management strategies/other analgesics available."

While many pharmacists supported the move to up-schedule codeine, the change to S4 has reduced the number of OTC analgesics they can offer patients.

"It was noted by pharmacists that the patients are now disadvantaged, as well as the pharmacists' ability to recommend an appropriate codeine product was limited given that they felt paracetamol with or without NSAIDs (which are the only OTC options available now) are not sufficient in some cases, especially when patients are unable to take NSAIDs," the researchers said.

"An additional concern commented on by many pharmacists was the added burden that is now shifted to the GP/physicians as patients now are forced to see their GPs."

The research was published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - CLICK HERE.