Codeine Legality In Austria: What's The Current Law?

Codeine is a widely used opiate and one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide. It is available over the counter in many countries, but its legality varies by country. In Austria, codeine is legal for medical use under the AMG (Arzneimittelgesetz Österreich) but illegal when sold or possessed without a prescription under the SMG (Suchtmittelgesetz Österreich).

Codeine is a controlled substance in Austria and requires a prescription

Codeine is a weak opiate used for the treatment of pain, coughing, and diarrhoea. It is often sold in combination with other substances, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or caffeine. In Austria, codeine is a controlled substance under the AMG (Arzneimittelgesetz Österreich) and requires a prescription for legal possession. It is illegal to sell or possess codeine without a valid prescription under the SMG (Suchtmittelgesetz Österreich).

In Austria, prescriptions are generally valid for twelve months from the date of issue, and the first dispensing of the medication must take place within one month of the prescription being issued. When travelling to Austria with prescription medications, it is important to carry proof of your personal needs, including a doctor's confirmation, personal details, and the generic name and dosage of the medication.

While codeine is a controlled substance in Austria, it is available over the counter in some other European countries, such as Denmark, Finland, and Romania, albeit with certain restrictions on the dosage and packaging.

Codeine is available over the counter in some countries, but with restrictions on dosage and packaging

Codeine is a widely used opiate and prodrug of morphine, primarily used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhoea. It is also used recreationally. Codeine is available over the counter in some countries, but with restrictions on dosage and packaging.

In the United States, all codeine products are available by prescription only. However, some states follow an exemption for low-dose codeine mixed with a cough syrup, which may be dispensed by a pharmacist without a prescription.

In Canada, codeine is available over the counter in low doses, provided that the preparation contains at least two additional medicinal ingredients other than a narcotic. In 2016, the province of Manitoba banned all non-prescription codeine.

In the United Kingdom, codeine is available over the counter in low doses, in combination with other pain relief medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

In Australia, codeine was available over the counter until 2018, when it was rescheduled as a prescription-only medication.

In France, codeine was available over the counter until 2017, when new regulations required a prescription for all codeine products.

In Ireland, codeine is available over the counter in low doses, but it is kept out of the view of the public, and pharmacists make a judgement about whether it is suitable for the patient.

In Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia, codeine is available over the counter in low doses, typically in combination with other medications.

In South Africa, codeine is available over the counter without a prescription, but some pharmacies require customers to provide their name and address to prevent excessive purchases.

Codeine is a weak opioid and a prodrug for morphine

Codeine is a weak opioid and a prodrug of morphine. It is a commonly used medicine of abuse, derived from opium poppies. It is a selective agonist of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and is mainly used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhoea. It is also used as a recreational drug.

Codeine is a weak analgesic in its original form and must be metabolised into its active metabolite, morphine, by the liver enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Codeine's effectiveness depends on an individual's ability to metabolise it into morphine. There are a number of genetic variants of CYP2D6, resulting in large variability in individual responses to codeine. At one extreme are poor metabolisers, who lack functional CYP2D6 (5-10% of the population) and experience very little therapeutic effect from codeine. At the other extreme, ultra-rapid metabolisers (up to 10% of the Caucasian population and 30% of the African population) have an increased conversion of codeine to morphine, leading to a higher risk of toxicity.

Codeine is available in various forms, including salts such as phosphate, phosphate hemihydrate, hydrochloride, and sulphate, and derivatives such as acetyldihydrocodeine, codeine-N-oxide, dihydrocodeine, and norcodeine. It is often combined with other pain relief medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Codeine is regulated differently around the world. In the US, all codeine products are available only by prescription. In the UK, low-dose codeine products are available over the counter in pharmacies. In Canada, codeine is available without a prescription if it contains not more than 8 mg of codeine per tablet or 20 mg per 30 mL in liquid form. In Australia, as of 2018, preparations containing codeine are not available without a prescription. In Austria, codeine is available by prescription.

Codeine is the most widely used opiate globally

Codeine is available in various forms, including tablets, syrups, and injections. It is also marketed as a single-ingredient drug or in combination preparations. It is often sold as a salt, such as codeine sulfate or codeine phosphate, and can be obtained with a prescription or over the counter, depending on the country.

Codeine has a high risk of misuse, abuse, and addiction, and it is often sought by heroin or other opioid addicts to ward off withdrawal effects. It is a controlled substance in many countries and is typically classified as a Schedule II or III drug.

Codeine has several side effects, including vomiting, constipation, itchiness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, and breathing difficulties. It is not recommended for use in children, and its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding may have adverse effects on the baby.

Overall, codeine is a widely accessible and commonly used opiate for treating pain and other conditions. However, it carries a high risk of misuse and addiction, and its use is carefully regulated in many parts of the world.

Codeine is available in combination with other substances, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen

Codeine is a widely used opioid medicine for pain relief. It is also used in the treatment of coughs. In the European Union (EU), codeine-containing medicines have been approved via national procedures and are available either on prescription or over the counter in the different member states. Codeine is available as a single-ingredient medicine or in combination with other substances such as aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen.

In Austria, the import of drugs and medicines is generally prohibited by the Austrian Medicine Import Act. However, travellers residing outside the European Union are allowed to carry drugs and medicines in their personal luggage in a quantity that would normally be used by an individual with a health problem requiring such treatment. For travellers staying in Austria for up to five days, medication containing addictive substances can be brought into the country without an additional certificate. For stays longer than five days but not exceeding 30 days, travellers will need a prescription from their doctor, and the amount brought in must not exceed the requirements for 30 days. For longer stays, travellers can have the medication prescribed by a doctor in Austria.

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