There is adequate warnings on ALL codiene products. Someone addicted to such medications is not going to pay attention to further warnings. Would I be correct in saying that you have a vested interest in selling these products to regulars entering a pharmacy once a week? Its no secret that the Pharmacies were only too glad to advertise such products openly. Up to recent when you walk into any pharmacy, Codiene products would blind you in the face. Pharmacists were only too glad to take money off people they knew well were abusing the system. Now with the Government warnings and the NON DISPLAY of these products openly, Pharmacists are scared out of their lives with the possible lawsuits they could be facing with such irresponsible selling of such products along with the fall in turnover in the worst recession since 1926.
Pharmacies in Dublin are going as far as requesting customers who are putting pressure on requesting such products to fill out questionairres, seeking Name & address, Age, Reason for seeking product, requesting if other medication is being taken. No, the game is up on Pharmacists making a killing on these medicines. The only pharmacy that I am aware that took this issue serious before the warnings were BOOTS. I am sure that there are Irish owned pharmacies who adapted the same outlook, such as the McCabe group of pharmacies.
The next target is Cough Mixtures, i.e. Benyln Tradional for night use etc. Foolish people are drinking these bottles on a daily basis and pharmacies know they are as customers are purchasing these on a weekly basis.
The average Pharmacists are very professional and adhere to the ethical standards as laid out by their professional body. Its the investors in these pharmacies that are going to feel the pinch, but the outcome will be Pharmacists and shop employees loosing their jobs due to falling sales.
So be it in the interest of public safety and awareness.
I think there's an arguement for more sensible labeling. There are many folk out there who have no drug knowledge and who would assume that Nurofen Plus was just a higher dose of Nurofen!
There are added warning on all Nurofen Plus packages over the last three months.
There is still the same warning on ALL N+ packages. Its states clearly:-
If you need to use this medicine continuously for more than 3 days, see your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine contains codeine, 12.8 Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg and is highly addictive. If you take this continuously for headaches for more than three days it can actually make them worse.
Some users also extract the codeine using water filtering, such as is the strength of codeine.
So, its well documentated on both the 12 pack, 24 pack and UK 32 pack.In fact the UK pack has the warning in large letters - FOR THREE DAYS ONLY - CAN CAUSE ADDICTION.
Just feel very sad to see young people abusing such OTC medications. I really hope that they seek professional advice and such abused pain killers can cause horrific deaths.
I would ask for people to leave such medication for genuine people suffering under professional guidance.
I am glad to hear so many responsible people taking this issue very seriously. For examply, one product, Nurofen Plus contains Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg, which is quite strong, even for dental pain. Once I overheard a converstaion of four women in their early 20's, saying 'take three to four Nurofen Plus before drinking and this will dull the hangover the next day'. Frightening to hear such a comment.
According to sources, these products containing codeine will not be issued on prescription in Ireland, unlike the US, New Zealand and Australia.
People are already purchasing the 32 packet of Nurofen Plus from the UK by credit card, delivered in three days. The cost per tab in Ireland is 33 cents ( based on the 24 pack at €8 approx ) while the cost of two packets of 32 N+ comes to €27, to include secure packaging and sterling conversion. This works out at 42 cents per tab, which is not a material difference for the foolish people that go down this road. Furthermore, this is not illegal as it is still an over the counter medication (OTC). The government will have to place such products on prescription at which stage the product is illegal to purchase online as it requires a valid prescription. Assuming your GP will cahrge €55 for the consultation and writes a prescription for a 12 packet of N+, the cost ber tab will soar in excess of €3 per tab.
This is going to financially hurt the genuine people who may need to take such medication (OTC) from time to time as opposed to the abuser who will be responsible for such a necessary move.
Finally, the abuser may need a liver transplant down the road, taking up beds and operations for genuine people who have behaved responsibilily.
Have people no sense with their health. First Head Shops, now gone I hope, then 'so called' professionals purchasing coke, fuelling the market even further and now the issue of codeine OTC products and we are not even trying to solve the disadvantage areas who are operated by organised criminals.
Where is this large prison we were promised and paid €30M for the site???
Don't care who is President as long as its not Bertie Ahearn who contributed in no small way to the downfall of the Irish economy. Pity we can't keep our current President, as she has been outstanding and it will be almost impossible to get the quality and professionalism of other known canditates.
Totally agree. He worked the media to enhance his career, which was fair enough, not he is for the slaughter house. Sorry for his lovely wife and children.
m854321 Forum Posts (8)
CLAMPDOWN ON COEDINE PRODUCTS
There is adequate warnings on ALL codiene products. Someone addicted to such medications is not going to pay attention to further warnings. Would I be correct in saying that you have a vested interest in selling these products to regulars entering a pharmacy once a week? Its no secret that the Pharmacies were only too glad to advertise such products openly. Up to recent when you walk into any pharmacy, Codiene products would blind you in the face. Pharmacists were only too glad to take money off people they knew well were abusing the system. Now with the Government warnings and the NON DISPLAY of these products openly, Pharmacists are scared out of their lives with the possible lawsuits they could be facing with such irresponsible selling of such products along with the fall in turnover in the worst recession since 1926.Pharmacies in Dublin are going as far as requesting customers who are putting pressure on requesting such products to fill out questionairres, seeking Name & address, Age, Reason for seeking product, requesting if other medication is being taken. No, the game is up on Pharmacists making a killing on these medicines. The only pharmacy that I am aware that took this issue serious before the warnings were BOOTS. I am sure that there are Irish owned pharmacies who adapted the same outlook, such as the McCabe group of pharmacies.
The next target is Cough Mixtures, i.e. Benyln Tradional for night use etc. Foolish people are drinking these bottles on a daily basis and pharmacies know they are as customers are purchasing these on a weekly basis.
The average Pharmacists are very professional and adhere to the ethical standards as laid out by their professional body. Its the investors in these pharmacies that are going to feel the pinch, but the outcome will be Pharmacists and shop employees loosing their jobs due to falling sales.
So be it in the interest of public safety and awareness.