Estonia Ends OTC Access To Codeine

Concerns over addiction to, and deliberate misuse of, codeine in Estonia has led the national regulator to reverse-switch the opioid from OTC to prescription-only status.

Flag of Estonia flies against blue sky with sun behind
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Estonia is set to reverse-switch codeine to prescription-only status in a move which will bring the country in line with most EU member states.

From 1 January 2023, codeine-containing drugs will no longer be available OTC, Estonia’s medicines agency, Ravimiamet, has announced. The regulator said tighter restrictions on codeine dispensing are needed due to...

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