How does codeine make you feel

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If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks. Do not breastfeed. Codeine can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.

An overdose can damage your liver or cause death. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine. Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Selling or giving away opioid medicine is against the law. If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time that you are using this medicine. Do not stop using acetaminophen and codeine suddenly after long-term use , or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription. Do not keep leftover opioid medication.

Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program.

If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet. Since this medicine is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose.

Do not use two doses at one time. In this article About codeine Before taking codeine How to take codeine Getting the most from your treatment Can codeine cause problems? How to store codeine Important information about all medicines. Codeine for pain relief In this article About codeine Before taking codeine How to take codeine Getting the most from your treatment Can codeine cause problems?

About codeine Type of medicine An opioid painkiller analgesic Used for Pain relief Also called Codeine phosphate Available as Tablets, oral liquid medicine and injection. Common codeine side-effects What can I do if I experience this? Feeling sick nausea or being sick vomiting Stick to simple meals - avoid rich or spicy foods. Also, try taking your doses of codeine after food, as this may help protect your stomach Constipation Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water each day.

If this continues to be a problem, speak with your doctor Feeling dizzy or sleepy If this happens, do not drive and do not use tools or machines. Do not drink alcohol Dry mouth, sweating, tummy pain may be caused by spasm of the bile ducts Speak with your doctor if troublesome. If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

Are you protected against flu? Further reading and references. Join the discussion on the forums. Health Tools Feeling unwell? Assess your symptoms online with our free symptom checker. Do not give codeine to children who are under 18 years old and have had their tonsils or adenoids removed because of a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea.

Codeine is not generally recommended in pregnancy. Tell your doctor before taking codeine if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to use this medicine. This is particularly important because codeine can be addictive.

Take codeine with, or just after, a meal or snack so it's less likely to make you feel sick. You can take codeine at any time of day but try to take it at the same times every day and space your doses evenly. If you're taking codeine as a liquid, it will come with a plastic spoon or syringe to help you measure the correct amount. Ask your pharmacist for one if you don't have it. Do not measure the liquid with a kitchen teaspoon because it won't give the right amount. If your symptoms don't go away, your dose might go up or you may be prescribed a different medicine.

Talk to your doctor if your pain or diarrhoea isn't relieved by the dose of codeine prescribed for you, or if side effects bother you or don't go away. Sometimes, you may need to take codeine for longer. But usually a different medicine will be prescribed for long term pain or diarrhoea, especially if you have side effects like constipation. If you forget to take a dose, check the information on the patient information leaflet inside the packaging or ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice on what to do.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicine. If you need to take codeine for a long time your body can become tolerant to it.

This isn't usually a problem but you could get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly. If you want to stop taking codeine, talk to your doctor first. Your dose can be reduced gradually so you don't get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you stop taking it suddenly it can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as:. If you have been taking codeine for more than a few weeks do not stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first. It's important not to take more than your prescribed dose, even if you think it's not enough to relieve your pain.

Speak to your doctor first, if you think you need a different dose. If you've taken an accidental overdose you may feel very sleepy, sick or dizzy. You may also find it difficult to breathe. In serious cases you can become unconscious and may need emergency treatment in hospital. The amount of codeine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Take the codeine box or leaflet inside the packet plus any remaining medicine with you.

If you've been prescribed codeine, it's particularly important that you:. It's safe to take codeine with paracetamol , ibuprofen or aspirin aspirin is suitable for most people aged 16 years and over. Some painkillers that you can buy without a prescription from pharmacies contain codeine.

They include co-codamol , ibuprofen and codeine such as Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine. Do not take painkillers that you buy with codeine in alongside prescribed codeine. You'll be more likely to get side effects. Like all medicines, codeine can cause side effects in some people - but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. The higher the dose of codeine the more chance that you will get side effects.

Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or don't go away:. Serious side effects happen in less than 1 in people. Call a doctor straight away if you:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to codeine. These are not all the side effects of codeine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. In early pregnancy, it's been linked to problems in the unborn baby.

If you take codeine at the end of pregnancy there's a risk that your newborn baby may get withdrawal symptoms or be born addicted to codeine. However, it's important to treat pain in pregnancy. For some pregnant women with severe pain, codeine might be the best option.

Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what's right for you and your baby. Codeine isn't usually recommended if you're breastfeeding.