Codeine is an opioid pain reliever which is used to treat mild to moderately severe pain and to help reduce coughing. Codeine is available as a single ingredient tablet and also available in multi ingredients products combined with other pain relieving medicines or cold and flu medicines

In some people, codeine breaks down rapidly in the liver and reaches higher than normal levels in the body. This can cause dangerously slow breathing and may cause death, especially in a child.

Do not give codeine to anyone younger than 18 years old.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• breathing problems, sleep apnea;

• asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;

• abnormal curvature of the spine that affects breathing;

• kidney disease;

• a head injury or brain tumor;

• low blood pressure;

• blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);

• a gallbladder or pancreas disorder;

• underactive thyroid;

• Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorder;

• enlarged prostate, urination problems; or

• mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction.

If you use this medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Do not breast-feed while taking codeine. This medicine can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

Codeine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to codeine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Like other narcotic medicines, codeine can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak.

A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;

• a slow heart rate or weak pulse;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• confusion, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• feelings of extreme happiness or sadness;

• seizure (convulsions);

• problems with urination; or

• low cortisol levels--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

• Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.

  Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

  Common codeine side effects include:

  • feeling dizzy or drowsy;

  • nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

  • constipation;

  • sweating; or

  • mild itching or rash.

  This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

• Dosing information

  Usual Adult Dose for Pain:

  Initial dose: 15 to 60 mg orally up to every 4 hours as needed
  Maximum dose: 360 mg in 24 hours