Codeine is an opioid used for pain that paracetamol or ibuprofen alone will not control, and sometimes for cough or diarrhoea. It is genuinely useful short term, and genuinely problematic when it is not — dependence and medication-overuse headache both develop quietly over weeks.
Take exactly as prescribed, or for pharmacy combination products, follow the label. Never take more than the stated maximum.
Codeine is not suitable under 12. Between 12 and 18 it is used only where other painkillers have failed, and never after tonsil or adenoid removal.
Many combination products contain paracetamol — never take separate paracetamol alongside them.
Constipation is close to universal and worth planning for from day one: fluid, fibre and, if needed, an osmotic laxative such as macrogol. Bulk-forming laxatives do not work well against opioid constipation.
Also common: drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth and itching. Do not drive until you know how it affects you — driving while impaired by codeine is an offence even when prescribed.
Avoid alcohol, which increases drowsiness and breathing risk.
Taking codeine regularly for more than a couple of weeks can lead to dependence — needing it to feel normal, and feeling unwell without it. It is also a leading cause of medication-overuse headache.
If you have been taking it most days for more than a few weeks, do not simply stop. Come and talk to us, or your GP, about reducing gradually and finding a better long-term approach.
1 Lyng Lane, West Bromwich B70 7RW · Mon–Fri 8:30am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm · 0121 500 5756
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