Codeine-containing products removed from formulary

Starting on Thursday, Feb. 27, all codeine-containing medications will become nonformulary for the Peaks Region, aligning its acute formulary with the rest of the enterprise.

This change will affect these previously available products at Lutheran Hospital: guaifenesin-codeine liquids, Tylenol #3, and codeine tablets.

This decision was made due to the increased prevalence of adverse drug events, as well as safety concerns for patients who take other opioid medications concomitantly. There are several non-codeine-containing medications that can be used alternatively. Below are some approved interchanges at Lutheran to assist with the transition and ordering preferences.

For more background on the transition, please review the Fact Sheet below.

Physicians and APPs with questions are encouraged to contact Sissi Zhang, PharmD, Lutheran’s clinical pharmacy manager, at sissi.zhang@imail.org.