Co-codamol 8/500mg Tablets
(Codeine Phosphate and Paracetamol)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Index
1 What Co-codamol tablets are and what they are used for
2 Before you take
3 How to take
4 Possible side effects
5 How to store
6 Further information
What Co-codamol tablets are and what they are used for
Co-codamol tablets belong to a group of medicines called analgesics and are used for the relief of mild to moderate pain and to reduce body temperature.
Before you take
Do not take Co-codamol tablets and tell your doctor if you:
- are allergic (hypersensitive) to paracetamol, codeine phosphate or other opioids, or any of the ingredients in the tablet (see section 6)
- have diarrhoea caused by poisoning or severe bloody diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis)
- have difficulty breathing, or other chronic lung disease
- are having an asthma attack.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-codamol tablets if you have:
- liver or kidney problems
- diseased adrenal glands (Addison’s disease) or high blood pressure caused by a tumour near a kidney (phaeochromocytoma)
- inflammatory bowel disease
- gall bladder disease or gall stones
- recently had surgery on your gastro-intestinal tract or urinary system
- an enlarged prostate gland and have difficulty urinating and are male
- epilepsy or suffered head injury or raised pressure in the skull (may cause painful eyes, changes in vision or headache behind the eyes)
- an underactive thyroid gland
- muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
- low blood pressure or are in shock
- suffered from alcoholism, drug abuse or dependence or mental illness.
Other important warnings:
- do not take for longer than directed by your prescriber
- taking codeine regularly for a long time can lead to addiction, which might cause you to feel restless and irritable when you stop the tablets
- taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially:
- ciprofloxacin (antibacterial medicine)
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs, e.g. moclobemide)
- oral contraceptives (the “pill”)
- medicines to prevent blood clotting such as warfarin
- cyclizine, metoclopramide or domperidone (to prevent sickness)
- guanethidine or diuretics (“water tablets”) e.g. spironolactone, furosemide (to treat high blood pressure)
- mexiletine (to treat irregular heartbeats)
- loperamide or kaolin (to treat diarrhoea)
- selegiline (for Parkinson’s disease)
- phenytoin (to treat epilepsy)
- cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers)
- atropine or hyoscine (anticholinergic medicines)
- cisapride (to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
- medicines which affect the nervous system such as sleeping tablets, diazepam, hydroxyzine and medicines to treat mental illness
- medicines to treat depression (e.g. tranylcypromine, amitriptyline)
- medicines which affect the liver (e.g. primidone and rifampicin)
- colestyramine (to treat high cholesterol levels)
- muscle relaxants
- barbiturates (e.g. phenobarbital)
- anaesthetics
- opioid antagonists (buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone)
Diet
If your diet is poor or you have a low protein intake, you may be at a higher risk of serious paracetamol poisoning when taking Co-codamol tablets.
Driving and using machines
Co-codamol tablets may cause dizziness, blurred vision or the inability to think clearly. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Co-codamol tablets during pregnancy or whilst breast-feeding, unless advised by your doctor. Regular use during pregnancy may cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
How to take
Always take Co-codamol tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not drink alcohol whilst taking Co-codamol tablets. Swallow the tablets with water.
Take this medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to, it may be dangerous to stop without their advice.
Doses:
- Adults and children over 12 years: 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours up to a maximum of 8 tablets in a day
- Children aged 6 to 12 years: half to 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours up to a maximum of 4 tablets in a day
- Children under 6 years: not recommended
- Elderly: Dosage is usually reduced in the elderly with liver damage.
If you take more than you should
Seek immediate medical advice in the event of an overdose, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of tablets at the same time, or you think a child may have swallowed any contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an overdose include feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, stomach pain or liver damage, coma, clammy skin, fits, confusion, drowsiness, tiredness, low blood pressure, pinpoint pupils, slow heart beat or breathing rate.
If you forget to take the tablets
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.
If you stop taking the tablets
If you stop taking the tablets you may develop the following withdrawal symptoms tremor, difficulty sleeping, feeling or being sick, sweating and increased heart rate, breathing or blood pressure.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Co-codamol tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following effects or any effects not listed.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects or notice any other effects not listed:
- Allergic Reactions - skin rash or itchy skin, difficulty breathing, increased sweating, redness or flushed face, mucosal lesions (such as mouth ulcers), drug fever
- Gastrointestinal system - stomach irritation (mild stomach pain, heartburn and feeling sick), constipation, feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, dry mouth, difficulty in the passage of food through guts, abdominal pain (may be caused by spasm of the bile ducts) and inflammation of the liver or pancreas
- Heart - slow heart rate, palpitations, low blood pressure, inflammation of the heart muscle
- Blood - anaemia, changes in numbers and types of blood cells. If you have an increase in number of nose bleeds or notice that you bruise more easily or have more infections talk to your doctor
- Urinary system - pain and difficulty in passing urine and a less frequent need to do so, kidney problems.
- Nervous system - confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, ‘spinning’ sensation, mood changes, depression, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), restlessness, excitation, fits, increased pressure in the skull (painful eyes, changes in vision or headache behind the eyes), headache, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, reduced alertness, tolerance (medicine has less effect) or dependence (suffer from withdrawal symptoms e.g. tremor, sweating, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, raised blood pressure and feeling or being sick if the medicine is stopped too quickly)
- Eyes - blurred or double vision, extremely small pupils
- Others - trembling, unusual tiredness or weakness, malaise, low body temperature
If you notice any side effects, they get worse, or if you notice any not listed, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Store below 25°C in a dry place, protected from light.
Do not use Co-codamol tablets after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Co-codamol tablets contain
- The active substances (the ingredients that makes the tablets work) are 8mg of codeine phosphate and 500mg paracetamol.
- The other ingredients are colloidal anhydrous silica, maize starch, pregelatinsed maize starch, stearic acid.
What Co-codamol tablets look like and contents of the pack
Co-codamol are white, uncoated tablets.
Pack sizes 100.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
This leaflet was last revised in March 2010
50329605
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