AUSTRALIA’S medicines regulator has reclassified codeine-based drugs as prescription-only, prompting criticism from pharmacists.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration today recommended that all over-the-counter medicines containing codeine be rescheduled to become prescription-only medicines.

Under the proposal, popular painkillers such as Nurofen Plus, will only be available with a doctor’s prescription.

Medicines affected by the change could include Codral Original Cold and Flu Tablets, Aspalgin Soluble tablets and Mersyndol Tablets.

The move has been slammed by pharmacists, who described it as “unnecessary over-regulation”.

The Australian Self Medication Industry said “the vast majority of consumers use OTC codeine containing products appropriately”.

AMU CEO Dean Schoombie told The Australian Journal of Pharmacy the decision was an insult to pharmacists.

“The interim decision is based on the assessment on many issues including risk of dependence and adverse events compared to safer products also available over-the-counter,” he told the Journal.

Codeine’s potential for addiction has been well-documented — experts have warned that most people trying to treat their pain are unaware they are at risk of addiction.

Regular Nurofen will not be affected by the move as it does not contain codeine.

Pharmacists say the change will put more pressure on the health system and choke up doctors’ surgeries.

The cost to the economy would be massive, Dr Schoombie told the Australian Journal of Pharmacy.

“Over the counter analgesics containing codeine make up 22 per cent of the volume of analgesics sold in pharmacies and the decision to up-schedule will increase healthcare costs by at least $675 million annually,” he told the AJP.

The proposed date for the change is June 1, 2016.

Codeine is an opioid pain reliever used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. It is also used to reduce coughing. Codeine is not available over-the-counter in the US, most of Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates.