New Safety Measures for Codeine Liquid Preparations now in Effect

Back to list

New Safety Measures for Codeine Liquid Preparations now in Effect. 

Amendments to the Drug Schedules Regulation (DSR) under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA), moving certain Schedule I codeine containing liquid preparations to Schedule IA, are now in effect.

Prescriptions for certain codeine containing liquid preparations will now require a Controlled Prescription Program duplicate prescription form. As with all Controlled Prescription Program drugs, these preparations must also be stored in a time-delay safe.

Codeine is an opiate pain killer – most often used to treat mild to moderate pain – that has seen an increase in recreational abuse and diversion. Codeine containing cough syrup products are the most common type of preparations included in this change.

Rescheduling the codeine containing liquid preparations listed below to Schedule 1A will improve oversight of these drugs, increase barriers to their access, and help to address public safety concerns, including:

  • Addiction and non-medical use of these drugs,
  • Prescription forgeries for these drugs, and
  • Pharmacy robberies and thefts targeting these drugs.

This change is intended to address important public safety concerns and will not negatively impact patient care or access in British Columbia. 

Codeine Containing Liquid Preparations Included in Schedule Change
DIN PRODUCT
2298708 ACETAMINOPHEN ELIXIR WITH 8MG CODEINE PHOSPHATE SYRUP
816027 PMS-ACETAMINOPHEN WITH CODEINE ELIXIR
2198630 CALMYLIN ACE
2243063 COVAN SYRUP
2244078 DIMETAPP-C
1934740 ROBITUSSIN AC
2169126 TEVA-COTRIDIN
2244079 DIMETANE EXPECTORANT C
2053403 TEVA-COTRIDIN EXPECTORANT
Considerations for Community Pharmacies 

Managers of Community Pharmacies involved in the dispensing of any of the above codeine containing liquid preparations will be required to implement the following measures on or before January 2, 2020: 

Storage of applicable codeine containing liquid preparations in a time-delay safe.

  • In order to accommodate this change, pharmacy managers may need to reconfigure the shelves in their pharmacy’s safe or transfer current supplies of codeine containing liquid preparations into appropriately sized containers. 

Require the use of CPP duplicate prescription forms when dispensing applicable codeine containing liquid preparations.

  • As of January 2, 2020, BC pharmacists may no longer fill prescriptions for applicable codeine containing liquid preparations unless they have been prescribed in writing using a CPP duplicate prescription pad. 
  • Pharmacists should remind prescribing physicians to ensure use of duplicate prescription pads for these products, if not already doing so. 
  • For more information on the duplicate prescriptions see the Controlled Prescription Program information. 

Questions about the Controlled Prescription Program or pharmacy security requirements can be directed to practicesupport@bcpharmacists.org.  
Additional Resources
Jan 02, 2020