Yes, there are other painkillers you can try. Some painkillers work better than others for certain types of pain. For example, the best painkiller to ease your headache may not be the best one for your backache. Before taking co-codamol, try taking paracetamol to see if that helps your pain. Paracetamol can relieve most types of pain. Painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen , can reduce inflammation as well as pain.
These are good for joint, back and muscular pain. This includes people with stomach ulcers or severe heart, kidney or liver problems. It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of treatment until you see how co-codamol affects you. Drinking alcohol while you're taking co-codamol can make you feel more sleepy.
It can also increase the risk of serious side effects. If you feel sleepy with co-codamol, stop drinking alcohol while you're taking it. Do not drive a car or ride a bike or use tools or machinery if co-codamol makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. 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. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies. Hide this message. UK Health Security Agency. Contents Print this page. Is this page useful? Maybe Yes this page is useful No this page is not useful. Thank you for your feedback.
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