Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39297245›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of clinical pharmacology2025

Impact of codeine rescheduling on prescribing of codeine and other opioids: Interrupted time series analyses using Australian general practice data.

Helena Cangadis-Douglass, Ting Xia, J Simon Bell, Suzanne Nielsen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of clinical pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Helena Cangadis-DouglassMonash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Ting XiaMonash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5033-6248
J Simon BellCentre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6115-2767
Suzanne NielsenMonash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5341-1055

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council #2002193National Health and Medical Research Council 2002193National Health and Medical Research Council 2025894
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsWe aimed to determine the impact of codeine rescheduling on prescribing of codeine and other opioids, with a focus on demographic and diagnoses associated with codeine prescribing before and after rescheduling of codeine to prescription-only in February 2018.

methodsWe used interrupted time series analysis (February 2016-February 2020) and probit regression to examine prescribing of codeine and other opioids according to primary care data from 464 general practice clinics in Victoria, Australia.

resultsThe rate of codeine prescribing increased in the month following rescheduling (additional 76 people/10000, 95% confidence interval [CI] 49-103), then declined to baseline rates (slope -2.02, 95% CI 3.79, -0.25). Prescribing of other opioids did not change. Post rescheduling, females were more likely to receive codeine prescriptions compared to males (β = 0.094, 95% CI 0.08-0.108) and those aged 70-79 years were more likely to receive codeine compared to those aged <30 years. Those residing in the least disadvantaged areas had a greater probability of being prescribed codeine than those in more disadvantaged areas after rescheduling (β = 0.154, 95% CI 0.129-0.179). A documented mental health diagnosis (β = 0.067, 95% CI 0.052-0.082) or migraine diagnosis (β = 0.057, 95% CI 0.037-0.078) was associated with increased likelihood of receiving a codeine prescription after rescheduling compared to before in contrast to those without such a diagnosis.

conclusionCodeine rescheduling did not result in a sustained increase in codeine prescribing nor a change in the prescribing of other opioids. Patient factors associated with increased codeine prescribing after compared to before rescheduling included female sex, older age, migraine diagnosis and comorbid mental health conditions. REGISTRATION: EU PAS Register (EUPAS43218).

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidCodeineGeneral PracticeInterrupted Time Series AnalysisPractice Patterns, Physicians'AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsChildDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnalgesics, OpioidCodeineAustraliacodeineinterrupted time series analysisopioidprescribing patternsrescheduling

Identifiers

PMID39297245
PMCPMC11671324

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.