Dosage for pain
The dosage for adults is one or two 30 mg tablets every 4 hours. The dosage for children is one or two 30 mg tablets every 6 hours.
Dosage for cough
The usual dosage for adults and children is one or two 5 ml spoonful of cough syrup every 4 to 6 hours.
Dosage for treatment of diarrhea
The dosage for adults is one or two 30 mg tablets every 4 hours. For liquid, take one or two 5 ml spoon full of it. The dosage for children is one or two 30 mg tablets every 6 hours.
What to know before taking codeine?
Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are allergic to it or other opioid pain medications such as morphine or if you have any other allergies.
To make sure codeine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- brain disorders such as head injury, seizures
- breathing problems such as asthma, sleep apnea, COPD
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- mood disorders
- personal or family history of drug or alcohol addiction
- stomach or intestinal problems
- obesity
- difficulty urinating
- disease of the pancreas
Old age people may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine.
Do not use this drug during pregnancy because it may harm an unborn baby.
Do not breastfeed while using this medicine because it passes into breastmilk and may have undesirable effects on the baby.
What are the side effects of codeine?
The common side effects of codeine include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- lightheadedness
- constipation
- sweating
Serious side effects
- breathing problems such as sleep apnea
- mood changes such as depression, hallucinations
- stomach or abdominal pain
- difficulty urinating
- fast or slow heartbeat
- vision changes
- seizures
- signs of your adrenal glands not working well, such as weight loss, loss of appetite
What to avoid while using codeine?
Certain drugs may interact with codeine. These are as follows:
- antibiotics such as erythromycin
- antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole
- benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, diazepam, flurazepam, and lorazepam
- medicines for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including indinavir, nelfinavir, and ritonavir
- medications for mental illness or nausea
- sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers
Do not drink alcohol while using codeine because it may increase the risk of side effects. The side effects of mixing codeine and alcohol include headache, memory loss, respiratory depression, low blood pressure, and extreme drowsiness.