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.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or don't go away:. Serious side effects happen in less than 1 in people. Call a doctor straight away if you:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to codeine. These are not all the side effects of codeine.
For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. In early pregnancy, it's been linked to problems in the unborn baby. If you take codeine at the end of pregnancy there's a risk that your newborn baby may get withdrawal symptoms or be born addicted to codeine. However, it's important to treat pain in pregnancy. For some pregnant women with severe pain, codeine might be the best option.
Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what's right for you and your baby. Codeine isn't usually recommended if you're breastfeeding. Small amounts of codeine pass into breast milk and can cause breathing problems in the baby. Speak to your doctor as they may be able to recommend a different painkiller. Some medicines and codeine interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects.
It's not possible to say that complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with codeine. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
It works in the central nervous system and the brain to block pain signals to the rest of the body. It also reduces the anxiety and stress caused by pain. When codeine blocks the pain, there are other unwanted effects - for example slow or shallow breathing.
It also slows down digestion, which is why codeine can cause constipation. A codeine injection into a vein gives the quickest pain relief. It works almost straight away. Codeine tablets, liquid and cough syrup all work in 30 to 60 minutes, but they wear off after a few hours. Yes, codeine is addictive. For this reason, your dose will be reviewed to make sure you are only taking the amount you need to control your pain, or diarrhoea. Your treatment plan may include details of how and when you will stop taking codeine.
If you need to take it for a long time your body can become tolerant to it. That means you need higher doses to control your pain over time. Some people can become more sensitive to pain hyperalgesia. If this happens, your doctor will reduce your dose gradually to help these symptoms. Speak to your doctor if you are worried about tolerance, hyperalgesia or becoming addicted. If you're addicted to codeine, you may want to take it more often or feel agitated if you delay taking a dose for any reason.
And if you stop taking codeine suddenly you may suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Drinking alcohol while you're on codeine may make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects. It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of treatment until you see how codeine affects you. If you feel sleepy with codeine, stop drinking alcohol while you're taking it.
Children aged 12 to 18 years can take codeine for pain or diarrhoea - but only if other medicines haven't worked. Use the lowest dose that works for no more than 3 days. To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative. Ask your pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Codeine is changed into a strong opioid drug morphine in your body. In some people, this change happens faster and more completely than usual, which increases the risk of very serious side effects.
Get medical help right away if you notice any of the following:. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to Health Canada at Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to codeine, acetaminophen, or caffeine; or to other opioid pain medications such as morphine ; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana cannabis can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana cannabis. Before having surgery or certain medical procedures such as a heart stress test or a procedure to restore a normal heart rhythm if you have an unusually fast heartbeat , tell your doctor or dentist that you use this medication and about all the products you use including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products.
See also Warning section. It may harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant, such as unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, trouble breathing, or unusual limpness.
Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as other opioid pain or cough relievers such as morphine, hydrocodone , alcohol, marijuana cannabis , drugs for sleep or anxiety such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem , muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine , or antihistamines such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine.
Check the labels on all your medicines such as allergy or cough-and-cold products, pain relievers because they may also contain acetaminophen, caffeine, or ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Other medications can affect the removal of this product from your body, which may affect how this product works. Examples include azole antifungals such as ketoconazole , bupropion, fluoxetine, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin , HIV medications such as ritonavir , paroxetine, quinidine, rifamycins such as rifabutin, rifampin , certain drugs used to treat seizures such as carbamazepine, phenytoin , among others.
Avoid drinking large amounts of beverages containing caffeine coffee, tea, colas and eating large amounts of chocolate. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, give them naloxone if available, then call If the person is awake and has no symptoms, call a poison control center right away.
US residents can call their local poison control center at Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at While taking acetaminophen and codeine, you should talk to your doctor about having a rescue medication called naloxone readily available e.
Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood. Your doctor may also prescribe you naloxone if you are living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs. You should make sure that you and your family members, caregivers, or the people who spend time with you know how to recognize an overdose, how to use naloxone, and what to do until emergency medical help arrives.
Your doctor or pharmacist will show you and your family members how to use the medication. Ask your pharmacist for the instructions or visit the manufacturer's website to get the instructions.
If symptoms of an overdose occur, a friend or family member should give the first dose of naloxone, call immediately, and stay with you and watch you closely until emergency medical help arrives. Your symptoms may return within a few minutes after you receive naloxone. If your symptoms return, the person should give you another dose of naloxone. Additional doses may be given every 2 to 3 minutes, if symptoms return before medical help arrives.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to acetaminophen and codeine. Before having any laboratory test especially those that involve methylene blue , tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking acetaminophen and codeine.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Acetaminophen and codeine is a controlled substance. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Generic alternatives may be available. Acetaminophen and Codeine pronounced as a set a mee' noe fen koe' deen.
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Brand names Brand names of combination products Other names. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking acetaminophen and codeine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acetaminophen, codeine, sulfite, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in acetaminophen and codeine products. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take acetaminophen and codeine if you are taking one or more of these medications, or have taken them within the past two weeks.
Many other medications may also interact with acetaminophen and codeine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
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