Plans to reduce size of codeine packs

Products such as Nurofen Plus are pharmacy only. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The agency responsible for controlling medicine in New Zealand said there were proposals to reduce the maximum pack size of codeine analgesics and restrict their sale to pharmacies.

Medsafe group manager Dr Stewart Jessamine said the plans had been drawn up by the Medicines Classification Committee, which discussed codeine and codeine-containing products at its last meeting.

The committee's proposals would also require sales of such products to be recorded.

Jessamine, whose agency is part of the Health Ministry, said products such as Nurofen Plus and Panadeine were pharmacy only.

Although not required to, the ministry understood most pharmacies monitored their sale.

Nurofen Plus manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser did not answer specific questions about a rise in the number of Kiwis addicted to codeine analgesics. They also refused to release sales figures "for commercial reasons".

But in a statement it said all non-prescription codeine-combination medicines were sold under strict guidelines established by Medsafe. They required all over-the-counter products containing codeine to be available only from pharmacies where a qualified pharmacist was present.

All codeine-combination medicines had dosage instructions on the packaging, and when used as directed, were safe and effective for the short-term relief of moderate to strong pain.