• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • News
  • Marketplace
  • Events
  • Education
  • Interviews
    • Career spotlight
  • Opinion
    • Professional Dilemmas
    • Patient perspective
  • PIPcast
  • Jobs

Pharmacy in Practice

EDX/20/1154
Date of prep: December 2020

Prescribing information and
adverse events reporting

For healthcare professionals only

I have seen people slide into addiction after taking OTC opiates

14th September 2020 by PIP editor Leave a Comment

 

Dear PIP Editor,

 

In response to the following article:

 

“GPhC sanction six pharmacies over ‘high volume’ codeine sales”

 

I am very cautious and strict about codeine sales over the counter. I have seen people slide into addiction.

This story refers to codeine linctus which was supplied for the treatment of cough. I don’t feel it should be sold for this purpose.

 

There are a lot of other safer dry cough medications and remedies that could be used.

 

I have seen the same patients coming for OTC opiate containing products sometimes a few times in the same week. When challenged they get aggressive and abusive. I have also seen them go to the pharmacy next door when we refuse sales.

 

This problem is more widespread than people realise I think.

 

I think making codeine-based OTC products prescription-only would be a good idea. I think this would help make sure action is taken right at the source of the problem and addicted patients can be identified and helped.

 

Also, the temptation for pharmacy businesses to put profit before patient safety is restricted and stopped.

 

Yours etc.

 

Elector Shamba

 

Pharmacist

 

The PIP team would love to know your views on over the counter opiates. Answer the questions below and with your permission, we will publish your response to this story as a letter to the editor.

 

We'll use your email address only to get back in touch with you after filling in this form.
We'll use your email address only to get back in touch with you after filling in this form.
We welcome all contributions and personal opinions are encouraged but please do make sure you back up any claims with suitable references.

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Next article  How 56 community pharmacies helped to eradicate hepatitis C

Filed Under: Letters to the editor Tagged With: codeine, OTC codeine

About PIP editor

Pharmacy in Practice is a UK pharmacy publication with its roots in Scotland.

Reader Interactions

Begin the discussion right here Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Stay connected with us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Twitter

Your Pharmacy in Practice Prescription

Categories

Pharmacy in Practice member login

 
 
Forgot Password

Register for our upcoming live Q&A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVNhKJWCGFA

© 2021 · About Pharmacy In Practice · Site mantained by Mike

This site is for healthcare professionals, please confirm you are a healthcare professional to continue.

YES

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Pharmacy In Practice uses cookies, by continuing to use this site we will assume you are ok with that Find out more.