TRAINING
THE CODEINE
Care Initiative
“I take these to help me sleep” or “I take
them to relax”. As pharmacy assistants
and front shop assistants how often have
you not heard these words. Probably very
often – even daily – because the
prevelance of people addicted to
prescription drugs is higher than most of
us think.
In fact, prescription addiction is the
second highest in the US, after marijuana.
This is according to David Bayever, who
told frontshop Training Academy
attendees about codeine addiction and the
Codeine Care initiative. He also told
attendees that while addition to
prescribed opioids had remained stable
for five years until 2009 -2010, the past
two years have seen an eight per cent
increase.
“One recent study found that the
number of people diagnosed with a
substance abuse problem increased
by70% from 2001 to 2009. Doctors
suspect the increased popularity of
prescription painkillers is a primary
drive.”
Prescription drugs are legal, cheaper
and their use is socially more acceptable.
More worrying is that they might replace
certain illicit drugs since their use is
perceived to less harmful.
The Codeine Care initiative in
particular drew a lot of interest and many
questions, with a lively debate taking in
Cape Town.
The reality is that this project is of
utmost importance for the pharmacies
nationwide. South Africa is one of the
highest consumers of codeine in the
world and the highest in Africa. The World
Health Organisation (WHO) has identified
this as a problem. Therefore we need an
innovative solution to assist pharmacists
and their patients to control the potential
misuse of codeine containing substances.
Codeine is an effective painkiller and
Codeine facts and statistics to communicate to
patients/consumers
About codeine
• Codeine is classified as an opioid analgesic or painkiller. It is used to control mild to moderate types of
pain, and works by binding to certain receptors (called opioid receptors) in your brain, which reduces the
pain that you feel. Codeine is also sometimes used to help ease a dry cough.
• Information on how to take codeine can be found on the printed information leaflet from the inside of your
pack, which will give you more information about the medicine and a full list of possible side-effects from
taking it, or scan the TrustaTAG (2D barcode) on pack to access the information on your mobile phone.
• Take the medicine exactly as your pharmacist, doctor or other healthcare professional has told you. Your
recommended dose will also be on the label of your pack.
• You can take codeine before or after food.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue as before.
NEVER take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.
COD
E
CAR
E INI INE
TIAT
IV
E
found in many over the counter
medicines. It is a very successful
ingredient but it can be addictive as well.
The objective of the Codeine Care
Initiative is to produce an innovative
solution to assist pharmacist and patients
to control the potential misuse of codeine
containing substances and to empower
the pharmacist to make an informed
decision.
COD
E
CAR
E INIT INE
IATIV
E
Can codeine cause problems?
Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects, although not everyone
experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but do speak to your
healthcare professional or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue:
• Constipation
• Feeling or being sick
• Feeling dizzy or sleepy
• Abdominal pain
• Dry mouth
• Other common side-effects include: disturbed sleep, headache, mood changes, feeli ?r6??gW6VB??F?ff?7V?F?W276??rW&??R?f?W6???r?7vVF??r?&6???B?F6???r?6?V?BF?RF?V?B?6??7V?W"&RFF?7FVBF?6?FV??S???6?FV??R?2?&6?F?2?v?f??r??R6V?6R?b6???BvV??&V??r?v??6???W2?BGG&7F?fRWfV?gFW"????"6?Vv??2&VV?&V?WfVB?2??W"&?G?&V6??W2W6VBF?6?FV??R???7&V6VBF?6W2&RF?V????&FW ?F?6??WfRF??26?RFW6?&VBVffV7B?v??6??2v?W&RF?RF?vW"?bFF?7F???F??B?7W6R?b6?FV??P??67W'2?F??2V?6?6?V6??7B???V???66W'F????rv?WF?W"F?V?@??v?B&R?7W6??r6?FV??S??(
,*6???RvWBF?&?Vv?vVV?v?F??WBF???r?VF?6??RF?B6??F??26?FV??S??(
,*&R??R&?RF?7F?W6??r6?FV??R?6??F????r?VF?6F???v?F?v?V???Rv?BF???(
,*F???RWfW"fVV?&B?"wV??G?f?"W6??r?VF?6??RF?B6??F??26?FV??Rv?V??Bv2??B?VVFVC??(
,*?2W6??r6?FV??R7&VFVB&?&?V?2&WGvVV???R?B?F?W"V??R????W"?fS??(
,*?fR??RWfW"W?W&?V?6VB???bF?R7??F??2?7FVB??F??2'&?6?W&Rv?V?F???p?6?FV??R?6??F????r?VF?6??R&VwV?&?????W2??????bF?RF?V?B?6??7V?W"?2?7vW&VB( ??W>( ?F????bF?RVW7F???2&?fR??B?2&W7BF??ffW"Gf?6Rv?W&P?&?&?FR???6?VF??r6??F7F??r?W?FW&???V???R7V6?2?fV??R???&R??f?&?F???F?f??B?WB??&R&?WBF?R6?FV??R6&R???F?F?fR?BVffV7F?fR?&W7??6?&?R6V?b?6&R?B6V?b??VF?6F?????f?6?Bwwr?6V?f6&S#Cr?6????F?R6?FV??R6&R???F?F?fR'&?6?W&P??C???dT?$U"#2g&??E6?? ??F?R6?FV??R6&R???F?F?fP??5'&?6?W&P?&???F??r6fR?&W7??6?&?R6V?b??VF?6F????