A review of the availability of over-the-counter codeine products is urgently needed after it was revealed that a middle-aged man recently died of complications from an apparent codeine overdose, a government TD has said, reports Independent.
The man, in his 50s, died of complications from long-term use of over-the-counter products containing codeine.
His death will be the focus of a forensic inquest next year.
A total ban on the over-the-counter sale of products containing codeine – a measure introduced by several other counties – is being considered.
The figures showed an increase in painkiller prescriptions being issued by the government’s three main drug schemes – the General Medical Services Scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme and the Long Term Illness Scheme.
Mr Burke said: “Last year, 1,110,288 prescriptions were issued for codeine which represents a 22pc jump over the last ten years and a 17pc increase alone since 2018. Worryingly, numbers for the overall population could be higher than that, as these figures do not include items where the prescription has been paid for privately or for codeine containing products which can currently be purchased over the counter,” reports Independent.
A growing number of pharmacies have been forced to impose local controls on customers known to purchase excessive amounts of such treatments.
However, people traveled to other suburbs and cities to buy codeine on those local controls.
“In addition to codeine, the most commonly prescribed opioid-based medications include fentanyl, tramadol, morphine, and hydromorphone,” Mr Burke said, reports Independent.
The national drug strategy, Supporting Reducing Recidivism, found that Ireland remains a country with a relatively large opiate problem.
“Safety concerns around the misuse of common non-prescription medicines containing codeine are long established by medics and patient advocates amid calls for all codeine drugs to be made prescription-only,” it said, reports Independent.
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