Co-codamol 30/500mg

Description

•  Co-codamol tablets and capsules come in 3 strengths. You can buy the lowest strength co-codamol from pharmacies but the higher strengths are only available on prescription.

• The most common side effects of co-codamol are constipation, feeling sick, and sleepiness.
• Taking too much can be harmful. Don’t be tempted to increase the dose or take a double dose if your pain is very bad.
• It’s possible to become addicted to the codeine in it, but this is rare if you’re taking it as a painkiller under medical supervision.
• Co-codamol is also known by many different brand names. Talk to your pharmacist if you have any questions about different brands.
  

  Who can and can’t take co-codamol

  It can be taken by anyone aged 12 years or over, but for under-16s, read our information on co-codamol for children. Under-18 year-olds should only take it if other painkillers haven’t worked.

  Co-codamol isn’t suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you:

  • have lung problems or breathing difficulties
  • have a head injury
  • have adrenal gland problems
  • have an illness which causes fits
  • regularly drink more than the maximum recommended amount of alcohol (14 units a week)
  • are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant or are breastfeeding – co-codamol is not usually recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding
  • have liver problems
  • are less than 18 years old and have had your tonsils or adenoids removed because of a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

  Side effects

  Like all medicines, co-codamol can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

  You are more likely to have side effects if you take the higher strengths of co-codamol.

  Common side effects

  These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

  Tell your doctor if the side effects bother you or don’t go away:

  • constipation
  • feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
  • feeling sleepy
  • headaches

  Serious side effects

  Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 100 people.

  Tell a doctor straight away if you have:

  • a skin rash
  • difficulty peeing
  • changes in your eyesight
  • dizziness

  4. How and when to take it

  It comes as tablets and capsules. Swallow them whole with a drink of water, with or without food.

  Co-codamol also comes as soluble tablets that dissolve in water to make a drink.

  Different co-codamol strengths

  It tablets and capsules come in 3 different strengths.

  They contain 8mg, 15mg or 30mg of codeine.

  All 3 strengths contain 500mg of paracetamol – the same as in a standard paracetamol tablet or capsule.

  The strength of co-codamol appears as 2 numbers on the packet. For example, the strength may be written as 8/500. This means it contains 8mg of codeine and 500mg of paracetamol.

  You can buy the lowest strength of co-codamol (8/500) without a prescription, but only from a pharmacy. The higher strengths (15/500 and 30/500) are only available on prescription from a doctor.

  How much to take

  The normal dose for pain in:

  • teenagers aged 16 years to 18 years is 1 or 2 tablets (of any strength) up to 4 times in 24 hours. Always leave at least 6 hours between doses. The maximum dose is 8 co-codamol tablets in 24 hours.
  • adults over the age of 18 are 2 co-codamol tablets (of any strength) up to 4 times in 24 hours. Always leave at least 4 hours between doses. The maximum dose is 8 co-codamol tablets in 24 hours.

  It’s important to leave a gap between doses of co-codamol. Taking too much co-codamol can be very dangerous. That’s because the paracetamol in it can cause liver damage. Don’t increase the dose of co-codamol or take a double dose if your pain is very bad.