Federal coalition MPs have raised concerns in a partyroom meeting about making codeine prescription-only.
Seven MPs told the meeting on Tuesday they had been lobbied by the Pharmacy Guild, and received feedback from constituents about the folly of the decision to put codeine behind the counter.
Health Minister Greg Hunt told the meeting he was aware of the concerns but the issue was one for the state and territory governments.
Mr Hunt noted it was the unanimous decision of chief medical and health officers in 2015.
It was not within the federal government's power to intervene.
Doctors last week wrote an open letter to health ministers, medical and health consumer advocates warning codeine was not an effective treatment of chronic pain and overuse could lead to death.
The letter was written in response to lobbying by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to alter the decision made by the Therapeutic Good's Administration to make codeine-containing medication drugs prescription only from February.
It's understood the guild is pushing for an alternative model to enable pharmacists to dispense non-prescription codeine for acute pain, especially in rural areas.
The guild has rejected the claims it's putting commercial interests ahead of patients.
It predicts a large increase in GP visits from February 1 by patients who are seeking prescriptions for the medicines.
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