Your codeine FAQs
You might have heard of codeine, maybe you’ve been prescribed it for pain or as a cough medicine, but what is it really?
Today we’re going to take a good look at codeine and answer all of the questions you’ve been asking about this medication and what it can do.Codeine linctus
What is codeine?
Codeine is a painkiller which can be used for stronger, or longer lasting pain.Codeine linctusCodeine linctus in stock
It can help to ease pain that can’t be easily controlled by other everyday painkillers, like ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin.
Codeine can be used at the same time as some other painkillers, giving you the benefits of both medicines and making it easier to keep stronger pains under control.Codeine linctus
For example, you can buy a combination codeine and paracetamol, which is called co-codamol, over the counter at most pharmacies.
Although codeine can be a real help when you’re struggling to manage pain, you should only take it for shorter periods of time, and should speak to your doctor or Chemist 4 U pharmacist if you find that you need to take codeine-based medications for more than 3 days.
When would you use codeine?
Codeine can be used to ease lots of different aches and pains, and some formulations of codeine can also be used to treat diarrhoea or dry coughs.
However, if you’re not sure whether you should take codeine, you should ask your doctor of pharmacist for more advice.
The best rule of thumb to follow when you’re considering taking this medicine, is to only take it when you really need it.
Lots of everyday pains, like headaches, can be managed effectively with paracetamol, ibuprofen, or similar products, so codeine won’t always be necessary.
Some of the most common reasons why people use codeine include:
- Migraines or headaches
- Cramps or period pain
- Dental pain or toothache
- Rheumatic and muscular pain
- Sprains and strains
- Swollen joints
- Neuralgia
- Sciatica
- Lumbago
Is codeine addictive?
If you take too much codeine or take codeine for long periods of time, you may become addicted, although this is rare.codeine cough syrup
If you’re addicted to codeine, you may find that you feel irritated or experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t take your next dose at the usual time.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’re addicted to codeine, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist who will be able to help you to find out whether you’re suffering with addiction.codeine uk,can you buy codeine over counter uk
If you are addicted, your doctor can help you to formulate a plan to treat your addiction and can introduce you to some useful resources and support networks, like Talk to Frank.
What happens when you go through codeine withdrawal?
If you’ve been taking codeine for a while, or take higher strength codeine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking this medicine too quickly.codeine 30mg
If this happens, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Feeling agitated
- Feeling anxious
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Nervous tremors
- Yawning
- Runny nose
- Sleep disturbance or insomnia
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Cramps and muscle spasms
Withdrawal symptoms aren’t any fun, so if you need help managing withdrawal, you should speak to a medical professional.Codeine linctus
I know it sounds like I’m repeating myself until I’m blue in the face with this one, but your doctor or pharmacist really are the best people to see if you’re not sure about anything codeine related.
Why can’t I buy codeine all the time?
If you’ve ever had to buy codeine from a pharmacist, whether that’s online on in person, you may find that you’ve not been able to buy as much codeine as you may have wanted, or that you had to wait for a certain period of time before you were able to buy more.
This is because codeine is an addictive drug, and it can be abused if placed into the wrong hands.
For example, codeine can be mixed with some other medicines to create cocktails that are not only addictive, but extremely dangerous.
This is why the amount of codeine you can buy over the counter is restricted, and as you should only take codeine for 3 days without a prescription, I think we can all agree that this is a very sensible idea.
Why can you buy codeine over the counter?
So, if codeine is addictive and can be abused, why can it be bought over the counter at all?
Well, the fact still remains that codeine is a very effective medicine, and can make all the difference when managing moderate pains, diarrhoea, or dry coughs.
As well as this, the dosage of codeine which is available over the counter is quite low, and it’s difficult to become addicted to this formulation when it’s taken as medical professionals recommend.
The regulations that pharmacies have in place help to reduce the chances of addiction and abuse, so we can still use this very effective painkiller when we really need it.