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Codeine and Dihydrocodeine

Codeine & Dihydrocodeine

Codeine and Dihydrocodeine are opioid painkillers related to morphine. They can be bought in the UK combined with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin for use in acute or moderate pain where the simple painkillers alone are not sufficiently effective at the maximum recommended dose.

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Articles: How To Choose & Use A Painkiller : Codeine Restrictions :

New Restrictions On Using Codeine & Dihydrocodeine

Regulations governing the sale of codeine and dihydrocodeine were reviewed in September 2009. We have added this notice to all such painkillers to advise of the new regulations.

Codeine Restrictions: Because of the danger of addiction we are limiting orders to one pack at a time for products containing codeine or dihydrocodeine, and not accepting further orders within a month. Please read our articles on Codeine Restrictions, Codeine & Dihydrocodeine Information, and How To Choose a Painkiller for more information.

Can cause addiction. For three days use only.
If you need to use this medicine for more than three days at a time, see your doctor, pharmacist or health care professional.
Taking codeine regularly for a long time can lead to addiction, which might cause you to feel restless and irritable when you stop the tablets.
Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.

Codeine & Dihydrocodeine For Pain Relief

Codeine and dihydrocodeine are opioid painkillers related to morphine, but have a weaker action in relieving pain. Their painkilling effect is in the brain, and there are specific receptors in certain brain tissues to these opioid painkillers. These receptors are the same ones that are sensitive to endorphins produced naturally in the brain by strenuous exercise, orgasm, or excitement. Endogenous endorphins produce natural pain relief and cause sleepiness and feelings of pleasure.

Simple painkillers containing paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin should be recommended as first line treatment for mild to moderate pain, and only if these are found to give inadequate pain relief should products containing paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin combined with codeine be used.

Many people use codeine products wrongly. This is because they don't use simple painkillers correctly in the first place. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin should not be over used, but it is still important to take enough for them to work properly, right up to the maximum recommended dose. Only if the maximum recommended dose, taken regularly, isn't strong enough should you even consider using a codeine containing product, and even then only use it for up to three days before consulting your doctor about the pain. Codeine addiction can occur in as little as three days, and should be seriously considered. (See How To Choose & Use A Painkiller).

In my years of experience as a pharmacist, customers have been too quick to use codeine containing products before properly using simple painkillers. The usual problem is that most people don't take the full recommended dose of simple painkillers because they are afraid of side effects, and so they don't get the full effect. Colin Winstanley (SuperLiving's Pharmacist)

Codeine and dihydrocodeine can be bought over the counter in the UK in some circumstances. Codeine by itself is a Prescription Only Medicine and is available in 15mg, 30mg and 60mg strength tablets. However, low doses of codeine with typically 8mg of codeine phosphate are available as a Pharmacy Only Medicine when combined with aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen, and can be bought over the counter from a registered pharmacy in packs of up to 32 tablets.

Codeine For Cough

Codeine supresses coughs and is used as an antitussive as Codeine Linctus which is available to buy over the counter as a Pharmacy Only Medicine in the UK, though we do not sell this due to the chances of addiction and misuse. Dextromethorphan has largely replaced codeine in branded cough mixtures as it has a similar cough supressant action but causes less drowsiness and addictive potential. Pholcodine is closer in structure to Codeine and is still used.

Side Effects Of Codeine & Dihydrocodeine

The main side effects of codeine and dihydrocodeine which may occur are drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and the danger of addiction. Nausea and allergic reactions may also occur. Drowsiness or dizziness can affect concentration, and if this happens is is not advisable tot drive, operate machinery or do anything that could be dangerous. Rebound headache can also be a form of addiction where these products are used for too long to relieve headache, and then headache is a withdrawl effect which causes people to continue to take them.

Addiction To OTC Codeine

Codeine and dihydrocodeine can cause addiction as they are closely related to morphine. This possibility of addiction has long been recognised, and the extent of addiction to over the counter codeine has been estimated at 30,000 in the UK, which may just be the tip of the iceberg, as such addictions are difficult to detect and people are reluctant to admit to it.

Addiction can creep up on people gradually as they become tolerant to codeine, feel worse when they stop taking it, and so carry on, but addiction means that higher and higher doses are needed to get the same effect.

Addiction to codeine and dihydrocodeine in some over the counter (OTC) painkillers has long been recognised, and the regulations governing their sale and the instructions for use are regularly reviewed. This was done in 2005. The latest review in September 2009 recommends that all packs now carry a prominent warning on the front of the pack stating “Can cause addiction. For three days use only”. In addition the direction leaflets will now also contain the warnings:

If you need to use this medicine for more than three days at a time, see your doctor, pharmacist or health care professional.
Taking codeine regularly for a long time can lead to addiction, which might cause you to feel restless and irritable when you stop the tablets.
Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.

Additional recommendations are that codeine containing products should not now be recommended for mild pain, only for acute or moderate pain. Neither should they now be recommended for colds, flu, coughs and sore throats.

Rebound headache can also be cause by overusing codeine for headaches, and is a form of addiction which can only be cured by stopping the codeine.

For further information on codeine addiction see NHS Choices, and the help group Codeine Free.

Painkillers Containing Codeine & Dihydrocodeine

Solpadeine Plus and Nurofen Plus are the most popular codeine containing painkillers, however the formulations and dose of codeine is very similar in all codeine containing painkillers such as:

Co-Codamol (32 Tablets) [P]

Co-Codamol Tablets contain codeine and are used for the relief of mild to moderate pain and the symptoms of rheumatic pains, influenza and colds

Our Price: £3.05

Codis 500 (32 Soluble Tablets) [P]

Codis 500 Tablets contain codeine and with its special formulation provides strong pain relief - and because it is soluble quickly gets to work on your pain

Our Price: £4.48

Migraleve Tablets

Migraleve tablets come in two types - the pink to treat all the symptoms and the yellow to provide continuing relief - available separately or together in one pack

Nurofen Plus (32 Tablets) [P]

Nurofen Plus gives double acting relief combining the power of Ibuprofen and Codeine, and is one of the strongest painkillers available without prescription

Our Price: £6.99
£6.69
You Save: £0.30

Panadol Ultra (20 Tablets) [P]

Panadol Ultra Tablets combine Paracetamol & Codeine to provide maximum strength relief for pain requiring stronger pain relief than paracetamol alone

Our Price: £4.25

Paracodol (32 Capsules) [P]

Paracodol Capsules combine Codeine, one of the strongest painkillers available without prescription, with Paracetamol to relieve pain & reduce fever

Our Price: £4.63

Paracodol (32 Soluble Tablets) [P]

Paracodol Soluble Tablets combine Codeine, one of the strongest painkillers available without prescription with Paracetamol to relieve pain & reduce fever

Our Price: £4.93

Solpadeine MAX (30 Tablets) [P]

Solpadeine Max contains Paracetamol and Codeine for the short term treatment of acute moderate pain when other painkillers have not worked.

Our Price: £6.49
£6.19
You Save: £0.30

Solpadeine Plus Tablets & Capsules

Solpadeine Plus contains Paracetamol and the powerful added pain relieving strength of Codeine plus Caffeine and is available in tablets and capsules

Solpadeine Plus (32 Soluble Tablets) [P]

Solpadeine Plus Soluble contains the active ingredients, Paracetamol and Codeine, to provide fast relief from migraine, rheumatic pain, cold and flu pains

Our Price: £5.69
£5.29
You Save: £0.40

Veganin (30 Tablets) [P]

Veganin provides relief from migraine, headache, rheumatic pain. period pain, toothache, neuralgia, sore throat, and the fever,aches & pains of colds and flu

Our Price: £4.73

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long recognised
written by Jane Hughs, April 04, 2011

But when one is literally interrogated about why the usage of a packet of pain killers, its quite a personal situation.

If used the way they are supposed to, there is no harm, and they are very effective for the usage in our household, generally migraine and hellish period cramp, where the highest dosage of other tablets just don’t do the trick.

Shop staff are all too cynical and very impulsively deny sales. Maybe its my young looks, but I have been lied to once, and told, "oh they are just empty boxes".. Why they on the shelf?

Superliving is a site I may have to use in the future, it seems honest and open enough here, where I can read up and educate myself, then make my own choices. Remember, each to their own, we are responsible for our own actions.