Real time recording of codeine in Australia

Hi Becky07,

Welcome to the group. That's a lot of paracetamol you've been taking. Now itsprobably a good time to start look at it. Liver damage from paracetamol is a very bad thing.

I used to take a lot of panadeine extra as well, I think the most I ever took in a day was 20 which is still very dangerous. People have died simply by taking a few more than 8 tablets per day for a few consecutive days.

If I were you I would be buying some NAC (N-acetyl Cysteine) from the chemist and taking it daily. It's what hospitals use to counter the effects of acute liver damage in paracetamol overdose patients. Not all chemists stock it. I buy mine online.

It will be tough as we all know but quitting codeine can be done and in the long run it will be much better for us all.

Stick around and join in here. It will help you

Wilro

Thank you for that I'll look in to getting some, I just did some reading up on it as I'd not heard of it before.

It's so scary to think about how I will function without the codeine dulling down my emotions. I am so much calmer when I take it, I know that's terrible and I need to deal with the root causes behind why I use it. Honestly if real time monitoring wasn't brought in I don't think I'd do anything about my addiction even though I know deep down its terrible and I hate myself for it and it scares me, maybe this is the push I need.

I know the feeling, my root causes are still an issue for me and I take a fair amount of other medication to try and deal with it. I'm pretty open here publicly about my struggles but there's a personal message feature if you'd prefer to talk to each of us one on one.

The thing I find most difficult is to fill the void that comes without taking codeine.

Well I've managed to make a 40 pack last since Sunday afternoon till Tuesday night, 10 left in it.

I'm worried about when I run out of these, now I've had my id recorded.

I'm going to try and avoid taking any tomorrow ... Mind you I've tried that today too and it didn't work so well. It's a significant reduction, I've just felt so exhausted, headachey, all over the place really.

I know this is the best thing, it's just scary.

Hey Becky.

I know it's hard but trust me the headaches will go. I feel so much better after having 2 weeks of hell. I honestly thought the pain would never go away. I was even starting to think that what i was feeling what normal and that is never actually feel the same as i did when i use to take codine.

Don't get me wrong i still have some struggles. But i look back on the last 2/3 weeks when i decided to make this change and i feel so much better.

I have taken codine on 2 occasions and both times i have felt sick the next day ( i was only taking the recommended dose of 2).

I'm going through some really tough battles at the moment with being told i might have cervical cancer (going for my biopsy today) and having the fear of going into hospital for surgery after almost dying 3 years ago from taking anti inflammatory medication. But that's another story that I'm sure no one wants to read.

I feel like now I'm at the other side and can breath again.

So i just want to also send my support to anyone that needs or on here and also want to pass on my thanks to those on this forum for taking the time to post things to make me push through.

Maybe one day I'll share my story

Oh Wow Surfgirl, I'll be thinking of you.

It sounds like you really are going through a lot at the moment. I'm not religious at all but I hope your results from the biopsy are positive. Posts like yours put things into perspective for the rest of us.

Like you, I've nearly died as a result of of my codeine addiction when ibuprofen caused a stomach and intestine perforation. Unfortunately I keep slipping up though and continue to use.

I finally have an appointment with an addiction specialist on Monday. Apparently he's the best addiction doctor in South Australia so I'm looking forward to it. I'm not strong enough to do it on my own.

I've gone back to Nurofen Plus today, I found a chemist who is not implementing the real time monitoring program. Took about 15 phone calls which shows how desperate I get.

Eventually had to ask relative to pay for the specialist as I'm not working at the moment.

I really hope that each of us posting here will beat this and get our lives and health back on track

Oh, I would love you to post your story. People need to know the damage that anti inflammatory's can cause. I never believed it until it happened to me.

I'm sure the others here would love to hear it too

Tomorrow I have a phone appointment with a representative for the Pharmacy Guild in Canberra to talk about the issues that real time monitoring have caused.

I'm going to press them for information regarding what their expectation was in regards to codeine addiction and their assumptions about simply cutting people off.

People addicted to other opiates, alcohol and amphetamines have a whole range of support services in place.

This decision (in my opinion) has been made with no thought to the thousands of Australians, currently addicted through Nurofen Plus or Panadeine Extra.

Something should be in place to assist, doctors should have been made aware (not one doctor I have seen is aware of real time monitoring) and given options to treat people.

I'll post my findings here tomorrow afternoon

I'd love to read it too if that's ok

It will be interesting to hear what they have to say, looking forward to your post

Hi Becky07,

Give me a few minutes and I'll sent it to you

Hi Becky07,

I've sent it to you in 2 parts as it's more than the 8,000 word limit for private messages

Hope it's worth the real

Wilro

The Pharmacy Guild Released this today

"Pharmacists reminded about MedsASSIST practices

While the Guild is encouraging pharmacies to implement MedsASSIST to increase the system's effectiveness in reducing harm, State and Territory Medicines and Poisons Regulations do not currently mandate recording of OTC codeine medicines.

Pharmacists are reminded not to suggest to consumers that the use of MedsASSIST is required by law but that it is the policy of the particular pharmacy to assist in the safe and appropriate medicine supply.

If a patient does not consent to the collection of their personal information for MedsASSIST, or is not able to produce an ID that is appropriate, pharmacists are able to exercise some degree of discretion about providing a codeine medicine.

In such circumstances, pharmacists can advise that the Pharmacy Board of Australia guidelines for the supply of Pharmacist Only medicines stipulate that a pharmacist must be satisfied that there is a therapeutic need.

A pharmacist may choose not to supply the medicine because they cannot be sure it is appropriate to do so.

Pharmacists may instead elect to offer alternative medicines suitable for pain relief that are available without having to provide identification, or other treatment options including referral.

Pharmacists can refer to the Quick Reference Guide – Points to Remember under pharmacist resources in the MedsASSIST portal for further information.

MedsASSIST is a clinical decision support tool with a focus on patient care and patient pain management support pathways. It is not a codeine policing tool.

Consumers need to be adequately informed about MedsASSIST and ensure the Consumer Counter Information Sheet is displayed in an area consumers can see it."

I'm keen to read that post as well Wilro. You're our unofficial spokesperson!!

Thanks for providing this. You've been awesome at keeping us all up to date. Really, we are all benefitting from your hard work. Thank you!