Painkillers & Anti-Inflammatories
Opiate pain killers for treating some types of moderate to severe pain
Please note that DocTap do not prescribe Codeine or Dihydrocodeine as they have the potential to be abused. As an alternative our doctors can prescribe Co-codamol which is a combination of codeine and paracetamol.
Codeine and Dihydrocodeine are a type of painkillers called 'opiates' because they are related to opium (and morphine).
This makes them good choices for pain relief; but also need to be used with caution. It is used to treat moderate types of pain. They are usually best used after trial of simple OTC pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Codeine can be used for short term relief of mild to moderate pain that has not responded well to paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is important that it is used to treat acute onset pain, and not long term pain. Codeine can be found in certain combination pain relief tablets that can be bought over the counter so it is important to check the packaging.
Dihydrocodeine tends to be used for moderate to severe types of pain.
Codeine and Dihydrocodeine work by binding to the opioid centres in your central nervous system i.e. the brain and spinal cord; and therefore reduce the sensation and your reaction to pain.
The usual dose for Codeine is 15-60mg at a maximum of 4 times per day.
It is important to start at the lowest dose needed for your condition; this is because of the potential unwanted side effects of these medications.
It is important to note that tolerance soon develops with these medications which is why it is best to save them for short term pain relief.
The most common side effects of these two drugs are nausea, sickness, constipation, feeling dizzy and dry mouth.
As it can cause drowsiness it its important not to drive when taking these medications.
If you take this for more than a few weeks, particularly at higher doses, then there is a risk of dependence (withdrawal symptoms on stopping) and tolerance (ever increasing doses needed to control the pain.)
It is important to avoid alcohol when taking opioid pain medications as they will increase the side effects of alcohol in your system. Do not increase the dose without checking with your doctor first.
Do not take with alcohol to avoid excessive sleepiness/sedation
Can cause respiratory depression and withdrawal symptoms in baby.
Best to avoid, but may be used if the potential benefits outweigh the risks