Clampdown on painkillers helps: industry

The Australian Self-Medication Industry says the "gross overuse" of potent painkillers was rare, and now harder to do following a clampdown on access.

From May, pharmacies were required to take ibuprofen and codeine-combination analgesics off the shelf and place them behind the counter requiring users to explain why they needed them.

A report in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) this week highlighted the cases of 27 people, from 2005 to 2008, who required intensive treatment to break their addiction to the pills.

The patients had suffered a range of gastrointestinal and kidney problems, and one admitted taking up to 100 pills a day.

"This needs to be seen in the context of the vast majority of people who use these products responsibly," said Steven Scarff, the industry body's regulatory and scientific affairs director.

"It should be remembered that the mean dose range of those in the study was 37 to 47 tablets per day, with one patient taking up to 100 tablets per day.

"That level of use constitutes gross overuse, and is far in excess of what is recommended and what is typical for the majority of consumers."

Mr Scarff said the majority of users took the painkillers responsibly and safely in accord with directions on the packet.

He said over-the-counter analgesics were for short-term use for self-limiting conditions, and longer-term use should be under the direction of a GP or pharmacist.

Mr Scarff said the industry supported the MJA report's call for high levels of awareness amongst healthcare professionals and pharmacy staff to identify problem users.

"These products are now only available behind the counter in pharmacies and purchase requires the personal intervention of a pharmacist," Me Scarff said.

"That places pharmacists in a good position to engage with consumers and identify problem users."

Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Nurofen Plus, said the drug had been safely used for pain reliefin more than 50 countries and by millions of people over many years.

Reckitt Benckiser reassures Australian consumers that ibuprofen and codeine-combination medications, when taken according to the directions of the pack, are an appropriate short-term treatment for pain relief in the majority of people," it said in a statement.