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Caution with the forthcoming rescheduling of over-the-counter codeine-containing analgesics

Stephan A Schug, Malcolm DH Dobbin and Jennifer L Pilgrim
Med J Aust 2018; 208 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/mja16.00881
Published online: 15 January 2018

To the Editor:


  • 1 University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
  • 2 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC


Correspondence: jennifer.pilgrim@monash.edu

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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  • 5. Mill D, Johnson J, Cock V, et al. Counting the cost of over-the-counter codeine containing analgesic misuse as measured by data related to hospital admissions to a tertiary teaching hospital over a 5-year period [unpublished presentation]. Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and Drugs, APSAD Scientific Alcohol and Drug Conference; Sydney (Australia), 30 Oct – 2 Nov 2016.
  • 6. Pilgrim JL, Dobbin M, Drummer OH. Fatal misuse of codeine–ibuprofen analgesics in Victoria, Australia. Med J Aust 2013; 199: 329-331. <MJA full text>
  • 7. Moore RA, Wiffen PJ, Derry S, et al. Non-prescription (OTC) oral analgesics for acute pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 (11): CD010794.

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