If the Australian Scheduling Committee succeeds in making Nurofen Plus a Schedule 8 drug it will place it in the same category as some of the most addictive medications currently on the market, for example methadone. This decision is going to be made because the experts of scheduling committee think that Nurofen Plus has become a drug used by addicts and drug dealers, and the number of admissions to hospital because of Nurofen Plus constantly increases.

There have been cases that some codeine addicts have taken about 24 tablets a day. But they didn t mention that ibuprofen, the other active ingredient of this medication, being a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, can cause ulcers in the stomach and duodenum if it is taken in such great amounts. Authorities also report that the codeine is being extracted by manufacturers of illicit drugs from the tablets available OTC. These reports are currently being investigated to make final decision.
The decision of the committee is expected in June. Before this the drug and alcohol experts will present their reports about the mentioned cases.