Codeine Restrictions

There are restrictions on the sale of Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Pholcodine and Dextromethorphan. Please read the following information before ordering such products.

Codeine & Dihydrocodeine Restrictions

Regulations governing the sale of codeine and dihydrocodeine were reviewed in September 2009. The new recommendations are 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.

Codeine and dihydrocodeine are opioid painkillers related to morphine, and it has long been recognised that there is a danger of addiction. The new regulations recognise that this addiction can happen in as little as three days.

Before using codeine products regularly we would recommend reading our articles on How To Choose & Use A Painkiller and also our detailed article on Codeine & Dihydrocodeine Information. 

We are limiting sales of codeine and dihydrocodeine to one pack per order and not accepting further orders for a month.

If you need more than this amount you will need to use these products under the supervision of your doctor. We realise that doctors often recommend the use of these painkillers rather than using stronger prescription strength products. If this is the case we would ask you to see your doctor and obtain a private prescription. We will supply larger amounts on the receipt of a new private prescription with each order. This will ensure that your doctor is aware of how these products are being used and is monitoring your condition. Please contact us directly to order as you cannot order more than one pack through the shopping cart.

Over many years as a practicing pharmacist, it has been my experience that far too many people fail to take the correct dose of standard painkillers,  which then predictably don't work. Unfortunately they are then all too readily to start using stronger products than are necessary. Colin Winstanley (Pharmacist at SuperLiving)

Certain countries prohibit the import of medicines containing Codeine and Dihydrocodeine, and we do not ship such products to these countries. We currently do not ship these products to the USA, Canada and Norway.

Painkillers Containing Codeine Or 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
• Codis 500
• Cuprofen Plus
• Feminax Period Pain
• Migraleve
• Nurofen Plus
• Panadol Ultra
• Paracodol Capsules : Paracodol Soluble Tablets
• Paramol : Paramol Soluble
• Propain : Propaine Plus
• Solpadeine Max
• Solpadeine Migraine
• Solpadeine PlusTablets & Capsules : Solpadeine Plus Soluble
• Syndol
• Veganin

Pholcodene & Dextromethorphan Restrictions

Pholcodene and Dextromethorphan are used as cough supressants, and certain countries impose import regulations on medicines containing these products as they are related to morphine. We are currently not sending these to USA and Norway.

For more information on cough suppressants see How To Treat A Cough

Products Containing Pholcodene Or Dextromethorphan

• Actifed Dry Cough Linctus
• Benylin Dry Cough Non-Drowsy
• Benylin Dry Cough Original
• Cough Nurse Night Time Liquid
• Covonia Night Time Formula 
• Covonia Original Bronchial Balsam
• Day & Night Nurse Capsules 
• Day Nurse Capsules
• Meltus Adult Dry Cough Linctus
• Night Nurse Capsules
• Night Nurse Liquid
• Robitussin Dry Cough
• Sudafed Dry Cough Linctus
• Tixylix Cough & Cold
• Tixylix Night Cough