Codeine information hub: Codeine harm and efficacy literature

Recent

• Medicine Today Supplement (2018) 'Upscheduling of codeine: an opportunity to better manage pain and dependence' Vol. 19 (3 Suppl), 1-36.
• Chang AK, Bijur PE, Esses D, Barnaby DP, Baer J (2017) 'Effect of a Single Dose of Oral Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics on Acute Extremity Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial', JAMA, Vol. 318 (17), 1661-1667.
  • Key findings: Nonopioid analgesics are just as effective as opioid analgesics in adult ED patients suffering from acute extremity pain. Due to the different mechanisms of action, the combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol provide additional analgesic effects and reduces the short-term risk of adverse events.

• AMA, Australian Medicine Special Edition, 'The facts about codeine: AMA backs the independence of the TGA', October 2017.
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017, National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016: detailed findings. Drug Statistics series no. 31. Cat. No. PHE 214. Canberra: AIHW
• Mill D, Johnson J, Cook V, Monaghan E and Hotham E (2017) 'Counting the cost of over-the-counter codeine containing analgesic misuse: A retrospective review of hospital admissions over a 5 year period', Drug and Alcohol Review, DOI" 10.1111/dar.12595.

All

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2014. National opioid pharmacotherapy statistics 2013. Drug treatment series no. 23. Canberra: AIHW.
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017, National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016: detailed findings. Drug Statistics series no. 31. Cat. No. PHE 214. Canberra: AIHW
• Busto UE, Sproule BA, Knight K, Romach MK, Sellers EM (1998) 'Severe dependence on oral opiates', Can J Clin Pharmacol, 5, 23-28.
• Cairns R, Brown JA, Buckley NA (2016) 'The impact of codeine re-scheduling on misuse: a retrospective review of calls to Australia's largest poisons centre', Addiction, 111, 1848-1853.
• Chang AK, Bijur PE, Esses D, Barnaby DP, BaerJ (2017) 'Effect of a Single Dose of Oral Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics on Acute Extremity Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial', JAMA, Vol. 318 (17), 1661-1667.
• Derry S, Karlin SM, Moore RA (2015), 'Single dose oral ibuprofen plus codeine for acute postoperative pain in adults'. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2 CD010107. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010107.pub3.
• Derry S, Moore RA, McQuay HJ (2010), 'Single dose oral codeine, as a single agent, for acute postoperative pain in adults'. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 4 CD008099.
• Dobbin M, Tobin C (2008) 'Over-the counter (OTC) ibuprofen/codeine analgesics: misuse and harm (pdf,8.26Mb)*', Victorian Department of Health, Melbourne.
• Dutch MJ. (2008) 'Nurofen Plus misuse: an emerging cause of perforated gastric ulcer', Med J Aust, 188, 56-57.
• Ferguson L, Clarke I, Fisher A, Legg G, Batey R (2010) 'Over the counter and into the grave: morbidity and mortality related to NSAIDS with codeine dependence', APSAD Conference Drug and Alc Rev, 29 (Suppl. 1), 2-82.
• Fitzpatrick L (2016) 'Is codeine too easy to get in Australia? These young addicts think so' Vice. Posted online 5 May 2016. Accessed 25/11/2016
• Frei MY, Nielsen S, Dobbin MDH, Tobin CL (2010) 'Serious morbidity associated with misuse of over-the-counter codeine-ibuprofen analgesics: a series of 27 cases', Med J Aust, 193, 294-296.
• Iedema J (2011) 'Cautions with codeine', Australian prescriber, 34, 133-135.
• Kliner DJ, Pickens R (1982) 'Indicated preference for drugs of abuse', Int J Addict, 17, 543-547.
• McDonough MA (2011) 'Misuse of codeine-containing combination analgesics', Medical Journal of Australia, 194, 486.
• Mill D, Johnson J, Cook V, Monaghan E and Hotham E (2017) 'Counting the cost of over-the-counter codeine containing analgesic misuse: A retrospective review of hospital admissions over a 5 year period', Drug and Alcohol Review, DOI" 10.1111/dar.12595.
• Monheit B, Pietrzak D, Hocking S. (2016) 'Prescription drug abuse - A timely update', Australian Family Physician, 45, 862-866.
• Nielsen S, Cameron J, Pahoki S (2010) 'Over the counter codeine dependence: final report (pdf,1.42Mb)*'.
• Noble M, Treadwell, JR, Tregear, SJ, et al. (2010), 'Long-term opioid management for chronic non-cancer pain', Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (1).
• Pilgrim J, Dobbin M, Drummer OH (2013) 'Fatal misuse of codeine-ibuprofen in Victoria, Australia', Med J Aust, 199(5), 329-330.
• Robinson G. et al. (2010) 'Misuse of over-the-counter codeine-containing analgesics: dependence and other adverse effects', New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 123, 59.
• Rowden AM, Lopez JR. (1989) 'Codeine addiction', Ann Pharmacother, 23, 475-477.
• Roxburgh A, Hall W, Burns L, Pilgrim J, Saar E, Nielsen S (2015) 'Trends and characteristics of accidental and intentional codeine overdose deaths in Australia', Med J Aust, 203(7).
• Shaheed, CA, Maher CG, McLachlan, A (2016) 'Investigating the efficacy and safety of over-the-counter codeine-containing combination analgesics for pain and codeine based antitussives' 21 March 2016. (this report is also referred to as the 'George Institute Report').
• Sproule BAP, Busto UEP, Somer GM, et al. (1999) 'Characteristics of dependent and nondependent regular users of codeine', J Clin Psychopharmacol, 19, 367-372.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2012) 'Safety and efficacy of registered over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines for children aged 2-12 years'.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2015) 'Safety review on codeine use in children and ultra-rapid metabolisers', October 2015.
• Yue QY et al. (1997) 'Quantification of the O- and N-demethylated and the glucuronidated metabolites of codeine relative to the debrisoquine metabolic ratio in urine in ultrarapid, rapid, and poor debrisoquine hydroxylators', Ther Drug Monit, 19, 539-542.
• Zahari A, Ismail R (2014) 'Review: Influence of cytochrome P450, Family 2, Subfamily D, polypeptide 6 (CYP2D6) polymorphisms on pain sensitivity and clinical response to weak opioid analgesics', Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, 29, 29.