Analgésiques: tramadol et codéine seront prescrits sur ordonnance sécurisée à partir du 1er décembre

ANSM Seeks to Control Risks Related to Opioid Medications

The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has long been trying to regulate the risks associated with opioid medications, which have caused a public health crisis in the United States, particularly with fentanyl. Recently, the ANSM made a significant decision regarding tramadol and codeine, two opioids that will now require a secure prescription starting December 1st.

New Regulations for Tramadol and Codeine

Tramadol, the primary opioid treatment, and codeine, used for cough and mild to moderate pain relief, will now have stricter prescription requirements due to their potential for misuse and health risks. These medications will only be dispensed with a secure prescription containing specific anti-counterfeiting features.

Stringent Prescription Guidelines

Prescriptions for medications containing tramadol or codeine, alone or combined with other substances, must meet criteria to prevent misuse. Details such as dosage, regimen, and treatment duration should be clearly written out on secure prescriptions. The maximum prescription period for codeine will be reduced to twelve weeks from December 1st, necessitating a new prescription thereafter.

Pharmaceutical Industry Response

Since 2017, all medications with codeine require a medical prescription, and in 2020, tramadol prescriptions were limited to twelve weeks. Pharmaceutical companies have been asked to provide smaller tramadol packs suitable for short-term treatments. Despite these efforts, issues of abuse, overdose, and dependency persist, prompting the need for additional measures.

Looking Towards the Future

Certain opioids, psychotropics, and narcotics already require secure prescriptions, and the ANSM’s recent decision aims to minimize the misuse of highly addictive medications. Although the move is seen positively, some are pushing for the shift to digital prescriptions to combat falsification issues, highlighting the need for progress in healthcare technology.