Codeine Syrup is a painkiller. It’s used to treat pain, for example after an operation or an injury. 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.

• Codeine works by stopping pain signals from travelling along the nerves to the brain.
• The most common side effects of codeine are constipation, feeling sick (nausea) and feeling sleepy.
• It’s possible to become addicted to codeine, but your doctor will explain how to reduce the risks of becoming addicted.
• If you need to take codeine for more than a few weeks, your treatment plan may include details of how and when to stop taking this medicine.
• It may be best not to drink alcohol while taking codeine as you’re more likely to get side effects like feeling sleepy.
• Do not give codeine to children under 12 years old. Only give codeine to children aged 12 to 18 years if everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen haven’t worked.

Codeine can be taken by adults and children aged 12 years and older.

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:

• had an allergic reaction to codeine or any other medicines in the past
• a lung problem
• a head injury
• adrenal gland problems
• an illness which causes seizures
• an addiction to alcohol
• an underactive thyroid gland
• kidney or liver problems
• gallstones
• an enlarged prostate
• low blood pressure
• myasthenia gravis (a rare illness that causes muscle weakness)
• symptoms of ulcerative colitis (a bowel condition)

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 apnea.

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.

Different types of codeine

Codeine comes as:

• tablets – these contain 15mg, 30mg or 60mg of codeine
• a liquid that you swallow – this contains 25mg of codeine in a 5ml spoonful
• cough syrup – this contains 15mg of codeine in a 5ml spoonful
• an injection (usually given in hospital)

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.

Dosage

The usual dose of codeine is 15mg to 60mg.

The usual dose for treating pain:

• adults usually take one or two 30mg tablets every 4 hours, up to a maximum of 8 tablets (240mg) in 24 hours
• children (aged 12 to 17 years) usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonful of liquid) every 6 hours
• elderly people or people with kidney or liver problems usually take a 15mg tablet every 4 hours

The usual dose for treating diarrheas’:

• adults usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonful of liquid)
• children (aged 12 to 17 years) usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonful of liquid)
• elderly people or people with kidney or liver problems usually take a 15mg tablet

You can take this dose 3 or 4 times a day.

The usual dose for treating a cough:

• adults and children usually take one or two 5ml spoonful of cough syrup 3 or 4 times a day.