This medicine is an opioid painkiller. There is a serious risk of addiction when taking this medicine, especially if used long-term. If you have any questions or concerns about taking opioids safely please speak with your doctor or a pharmacist. The most common side-effects are feeling sick nausea , constipation, feeling sleepy, and dry mouth.
Codeine may affect your reactions. When you first start treatment, do not drive until you know how you react. Codeine is an opioid medicine sometimes called an opiate. It is used to treat mild-to-moderate types of pain. It can be particularly useful when painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen have not been effective. It works by binding to certain tiny areas, called opioid receptors, in your central nervous system brain and spinal cord.
This leads to a decrease in the way you feel pain and your reaction to pain. Codeine is available on a prescription from a doctor. Codeine is also contained in a number of combination medicines, some of which can be bought over-the-counter, without a prescription, in pharmacies. In particular, it is available in combination with the painkiller paracetamol in a medicine called co-codamol. There is a separate medicine leaflet called Co-codamol for pain relief which explains about this medicine.
It's also used for long-standing pain when everyday painkillers, such as paracetamol , ibuprofen and aspirin have not worked. Codeine is also used to treat diarrhoea. Codeine is available on prescription. It comes as tablets, a liquid to swallow and as an injection. Codeine injections are usually only given in hospital. You can buy lower-strength codeine from a pharmacy. It comes mixed with paracetamol co-codamol or with aspirin co-codaprin or with ibuprofen Nurofen Plus.
You can also buy codeine from a pharmacy as a syrup linctus to treat dry coughs. Take our survey. Only give codeine to children aged 12 to 18 years if everyday painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen haven't worked. Codeine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you have:. Do not give codeine to children who are under 18 years old and have had their tonsils or adenoids removed because of a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea.
Codeine is not generally recommended in pregnancy. Tell your doctor before taking codeine if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to use this medicine. This is particularly important because codeine can be addictive. Take codeine with, or just after, a meal or snack so it's less likely to make you feel sick.
You can take codeine at any time of day but try to take it at the same times every day and space your doses evenly. If you're taking codeine as a liquid, it will come with a plastic spoon or syringe to help you measure the correct amount. Ask your pharmacist for one if you don't have it. Do not measure the liquid with a kitchen teaspoon because it won't give the right amount. If your symptoms don't go away, your dose might go up or you may be prescribed a different medicine.
Talk to your doctor if your pain or diarrhoea isn't relieved by the dose of codeine prescribed for you, or if side effects bother you or don't go away.
Sometimes, you may need to take codeine for longer. But usually a different medicine will be prescribed for long term pain or diarrhoea, especially if you have side effects like constipation. If you forget to take a dose, check the information on the patient information leaflet inside the packaging or ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice on what to do. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicine.
If you need to take codeine for a long time your body can become tolerant to it. This isn't usually a problem but you could get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly. If you want to stop taking codeine, talk to your doctor first.
Your dose can be reduced gradually so you don't get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you stop taking it suddenly it can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as:. If you have been taking codeine for more than a few weeks do not stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first.
It's important not to take more than your prescribed dose, even if you think it's not enough to relieve your pain. Speak to your doctor first, if you think you need a different dose. If you've taken an accidental overdose you may feel very sleepy, sick or dizzy.
You may also find it difficult to breathe. In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital. The amount of codeine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Take the codeine box or leaflet inside the packet plus any remaining medicine with you. If you've been prescribed codeine, it's particularly important that you:. It's safe to take codeine with paracetamol , ibuprofen or aspirin aspirin is suitable for most people aged 16 years and over.
Some painkillers that you can buy without a prescription from pharmacies contain codeine. They include co-codamol , ibuprofen and codeine such as Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine. Do not take painkillers that you buy with codeine in alongside prescribed codeine. You'll be more likely to get side effects. Like all medicines, codeine can cause side effects in some people - but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
The higher the dose of codeine the more chance that you will get side effects. Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people.
Other drugs classified as opioids. Other drugs classified as cough suppressants. Doses may be taken up to four times a day at intervals of no less than 6 hours. When prescribing or dispensing codeine-containing medicines for cough and cold, consider that codeine is contra-indicated in: children younger than 12 years old patients of any age known to be CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolisers breastfeeding mothers.
Acute abdomen ; cardiac arrhythmias ; gallstones ; not recommended for adolescents aged 12—18 years with breathing problems Cautions, further information Variation in metabolism The capacity to metabolise codeine to morphine can vary considerably between individuals; there is a marked increase in morphine toxicity in patients who are ultra-rapid codeine metabolisers CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolisers and a reduced therapeutic effect in poor codeine metabolisers.
Individual interactants: Codeine. General side-effects Frequency not known Biliary spasm ; hypothermia ; mood altered ; postural hypotension ; sexual dysfunction ; ureteral spasm. Frequency not known With oral use abdominal cramps ; addiction ; appetite decreased ; depression ; dyskinesia ; dyspnoea ; face oedema ; fatigue ; fever ; hyperglycaemia ; hypersensitivity ; hypotension with high doses ; intracranial pressure increased ; lymphadenopathy ; malaise ; muscle rigidity with high doses ; nightmare ; pancreatitis ; restlessness ; seizure ; splenomegaly ; urinary disorders ; vision disorders With parenteral use dysuria.
If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming and cause mental or physical dependence. This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
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