The maximum dose for adolescent patients would be eight pills in a day or 24 hours. Always remember to place a window in between Co-codamol dose, because having excessive amounts can be dangerous. Prolonged use of paracetamol among patients can be harmful and lead to severe damage to the liver.
Ask your doctor if you need to increase your dose or change your dosage of Co-codamol. Do not try to self medicate or prescribe different dosage from what is prescribed by your health care provider. It is used to cure pains and aches in the body which regular pain killers like ibuprofen, paracetamol, and aspirin are unable to cure. Co-codamol can have some side effects, but not everyone is able to experience them. Here are the most common side effects of Co-codamol: feeling sick, sleepiness, and constipation.
Taking too much of this drug can be harmful to the body. Do not attempt to increase the dose or take a double dosage if your pain is terrible. It is very likely to become addicted to codeine that is found in Co-codamol, however this is a rare scenario and will not occur if you are taking painkiller under medical supervision.
Co-codamol is commercially available in various brand names. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the various brands and forms available. How long does Co-codamol take to work? What kind of drug is Co-codamol? This may be more likely when you first start taking co-codamol but could happen at any time — for example when starting another medicine. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive.
If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Even if your ability to drive is not affected, the police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much co-codamol is in your body. UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking co-codamol. Apart from avoiding alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking co-codamol.
Co-codamol does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. However, if co-codamol makes you vomit for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy.
Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. If you're taking co-codamol for a maximum of 3 days and at normal doses, there's no clear evidence that it can reduce fertility in either men or women.
However, if you take high doses of co-codamol for a long time, there's a very small risk it can temporarily reduce fertility in men and women. It can cause a health problem called hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is where the body does not make enough sex hormones. This can make it more difficult for you to conceive. If you're worried about taking co-codamol for longer than 3 days, and how this may affect your fertility, talk to your doctor.
If you take recreational drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, while you're taking co-codamol, you're more likely to get the serious side effects of the codeine in co-codamol. These include breathing difficulties, heart problems, fits and even going into a coma. Some recreational drugs, such as cannabis, also increase common codeine side effects such as sleepiness and dizziness.
Taking heroin while you're on prescribed co-codamol is particularly dangerous. You're more likely to get all the side effects of the codeine in co-codamol, including addiction. Page last reviewed: 3 September Next review due: 3 September Co-codamol for adults On this page About co-codamol for adults Key facts Who can and cannot take co-codamol How and when to take co-codamol Taking co-codamol with other painkillers Side effects How to cope with side effects of co-codamol Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about co-codamol.
About co-codamol for adults Co-codamol is a mixture of 2 different painkillers — paracetamol and codeine. This medicine comes as tablets and capsules. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today?
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 and feeling sick nausea or sleepy. Taking too much co-codamol can be harmful.
Do not 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 co-codamol, but your doctor will explain how to reduce the risks of becoming addicted. If you need to take co-codamol for more than a few weeks, your treatment plan may include details of how and when to stop taking this medicine. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you: have lung problems or breathing difficulties have a head injury have adrenal gland problems have a condition that causes fits or seizures regularly drink more than the maximum recommended amount of alcohol 14 units a week are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or are breastfeeding have liver problems — you may need to take a lower dose are under 18 years old and have had your tonsils or adenoids removed because of a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea.
You can take co-codamol with or without food. Different co-codamol strengths Co-codamol tablets and capsules come in 3 different strengths. They contain 8mg, 15mg or 30mg of codeine. Dosage Adults and young people aged 16 years and older can take 1 or 2 tablets of any strength up to 4 times in 24 hours.
Important The maximum dose of co-codamol for adults and young people aged 16 years and over is 8 tablets in 24 hours. How long to take it for If your doctor has prescribed co-codamol for you, take it as you've been advised. Important If you have been taking co-codamol for more than a few weeks do not stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first. What if I take too much?
Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Important Before taking co-codamol with any other medicines, check the label to see whether they contain paracetamol. Common side effects These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Tell your doctor if the side effects bother you or do not 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 people.
Tell a doctor straight away if you have: a skin rash difficulty peeing changes in your eyesight dizziness Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to co-codamol. What to do about: constipation — eat more high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals.
Try to drink several glasses of water or another non-alcoholic liquid each day. If you can, it may also help to do some gentle exercise. Have small, frequent sips of water if you're being sick. Feelings of sickness should normally wear off after a few days. Talk to your doctor about taking an anti-sickness medicine if it carries on for longer. Do not drink any alcohol as this will make you feel more tired. Do not drink too much alcohol. Talk to your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
Co-codamol and pregnancy While co-codamol can be taken in pregnancy, other painkillers may be more suitable. Co-codamol and breastfeeding It's not recommended to take co-codamol while breastfeeding.
However, paracetamol alone is safe to take while breastfeeding. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Tell your doctor if you're taking: sleeping pills or tranquillisers — particularly benzodiazepines such as diazepam , temazepam or lorazepam antidepressants — some types do not mix with co-codamol medicines to stop you feeling or being sick such as domperidone or metoclopramide blood-thinning medicines anticoagulants such as warfarin medicines to treat infection, particularly rifampicin or ciprofloxacin epilepsy medicines Mixing co-codamol with herbal remedies and supplements It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with co-codamol.
For dosage information always read the packaging and included patient leaflet, one of our expert pharmacists or your doctor will also be able to offer advice.
Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together is safe to do if you are over the age of However children should not be given these medicines together unless you have been told to do so by a healthcare practitioner. You can take ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time or space them apart, although ibuprofen is best taken with food or after you have eaten. Your pharmacist will also be able to offer advice, and help you make sure that you are not exceeding the recommended daily doses.
It is safe to take co-codamol with ibuprofen and aspirin, as long as you read the labels before taking these painkillers. However you should not take co-codamol with paracetamol, as it already contains a dose of paracetamol.
Taking these medications together could put you at risk of a paracetamol overdose. It is safe to take aspirin with paracetamol. Ibuprofen and paracetamol work differently to ease pain, they are also recommended for different types of pain. For example if you have a headache then you should use paracetamol, whereas if you have arthritis ibuprofen will be better.
You can use ibuprofen gel with ibuprofen tablets; however the gel is best for when you are experiencing pain in small areas on the body. If you regularly take ibuprofen to relive pain you may not notice any extra benefit from using gel alongside. Before you start applying ibuprofen to your skin, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor about other medicines you are taking, for example ibuprofen can react with medicines for high blood pressure or other anti-inflammatory painkillers.
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