Australia's National Drugs and Poisons Scheduling Committee (NDPSC) is apparently considering making one of the most commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available only with a prescription.
The popular Nurofen Plus, which contains 200 milligrams of ibuprofen and 12.8 milligrams of codeine, could soon become a Schedule 8 drug on a par with morphine and methadone.
Nurofen Plus is one of the strongest OTC painkillers available in Australia and is used by many to treat toothache, period pains and a plethora of other common painful conditions; it can be bought OTC in packs of up to 72 tablets but double that amount is available on the internet.
If the NDPSC succeeds in making Nurofen Plus a Schedule 8 drug it will place it in the same category as some of the most addictive medications currently on the market.
It appears that the committee, which is made up of experts, has been inundated with reports the drug is being abused by addicts and drug dealers resulting in a large number of admissions to hospital.
Reports have been received that some codeine addicts have taken up to 24 tablets a day, apparently unaware that the medication's other active ingredient, ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, can cause ulcers in the stomach and duodenum.
There have also been reports that the codeine in the tablets is being extracted by manufacturers of illicit drugs and these reports are currently being investigated.
The committee will hear from drug and alcohol experts before reaching a decision which is expected in June.
Pharmacists have voiced concern over increasing numbers of requests for codeine-combined painkillers and they say the public appears to believe because such products that are widely promoted, they are not harmful.