New laws making over-the-counter medications containing codeine available by prescription only will take effect on Thursday.
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Doctors and patients alike have been divided by the legislation, which will see products containing codeine from brands including Panadeine, Nurofen, and Codral removed from shelves.
Associate Professor and GP Dr Ayman Shenouda of Glenrock Country Practice said these changes were in patients’ best interests.
“I think it's a good decision because and we often forget codeine is an addictive medication, and before you start patients on addictive medications you need to be mindful of their history,” Dr Shenouda said.
“This is all about the helping the patients and looking after them adequately – if you don’t, you could be sending their life into a disaster.”
Dr Shenouda acknowledged that these changes will likely result in longer waiting times and heavier loads on GPs in the region.
“It will affect timing and create a bit of an extra load of work, so there is an extra effort attached, but it's for the best interests of our patients,” he said.
The people making these decisions have never had to be in this situation in their lives, and it’s obvious they haven’t consulted with people that have been.
- A Wagga mother with Crohn's disease
A Wagga mother, who did not wish to be named, suffers from Crohn's disease and occasionally uses over-the-counter medications containing codeine to manager the chronic pain that accompanies her condition.
She is extremely worried about what the new codeine laws will mean for her and other patients.
“One major side effect is body aches and pains, so it will feel like I’ve got the flu 24 hours a day and seven days a week for two weeks at time,” she said.
“With my disease in particular, it can happen instantly – I’ve been getting ready for work or walking out the front door and then suddenly I’m doubled over in pain.”
While the legitimacy of her condition means she will be able to access the medication via a GP’s prescription, she said the issue is more complicated than that.
“I'm going to have to try get into a local GP, but the way I'm seeing it is that I can't afford to keep doing that on top of all my other medical expenses,” she said.
“It's hard enough to get a doctor’s appointment now, let alone when you're going to have another 100 plus people waiting.
“The people making these decisions have never had to be in this situation in their lives, and it’s obvious they haven’t consulted with people that have been.”
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