Addiction warning over codeine

PROLONGED use of over-the-counter medical products which contain codeine may cause addiction, the Irish Medicine Board (IMB) has warned.

Yesterday, the IMB said it had instructed companies producing over-the-counter codeine-containing medicinal products to amend the product information leaflets to state that there is a possibility of physical and psychological dependence associated with prolonged use of these products.

It is expected that all products will carry these updated warnings before the end of the year.