- While individuals suffering from mild to moderate level pain usually begin with everyday painkillers, like paracetamol and ibuprofen, those with higher pain intensities often resort to more potent medications like co-codamol.
- Co-codamol is an over-the-counter analgesic that combines paracetamol and codeine to rapidly kill pain signals.
- Commonly used to treat toothache, migraines, and muscle pain, co-codamol is can be a highly effective medication to get instant relief.
Painkillers are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. These medications belong to different categories with varying intensities. While individuals suffering from mild to moderate level pain usually begin with everyday painkillers, like paracetamol and ibuprofen, those with higher pain intensities often resort to more potent medications like co-codamol. Co-codamol is an over-the-counter analgesic that combines paracetamol and codeine to rapidly kill pain signals.
Commonly used to treat toothache, migraines, and muscle pain, co-codamol is can be a highly effective medication to get instant relief. That said, it is imperative to know about its potential to damage health, especially if taken in high doses for a long time. A doctor should make everyone aware of these possible co-codamol side effects before prescribing it.
FAQs
Co-codamol is a mixture of two pharmaceutical chemicals: paracetamol and codeine. Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used medications for pain relief that interferes with the substances a body secretes in response to injury called prostaglandins. These prostaglandins make the nerves highly sensitive and induce feelings of pain. By reducing their synthesis and secretion, paracetamol kills the effects of pain in the body. Codeine, on the other hand, is a type of opioid that works like the body’s natural painkillers called endorphins. This chemical manages pain by blocking the transference of pain signals to the brain. (source: WHO, 2019)
The safe dose of co-codamol typically varies according to the age group of the users. For adults, experts advise taking two tablets every four to six hours as required, with a maximum dose of eight tablets per day. Children between 16 to 18 years can take one to two tablets every six hours, with a maximum of eight tablets in 24 hours. For children between the ages of 12 and 15 years, one tablet of co-codamol every six hours is recommended, with a total limit of four tablets daily. Remember that you must not take co-codamol for more than three consecutive days. If the medication fails to improve pain even after this time limit, contact a doctor for further advice.
So far, research believes that it is safe to combine co-codamol with most antibiotics. However, it is still better to discuss your circumstances with a doctor before combining the two drug classes to minimize the risks.
No, experts warn against mixing co-codamol with alcohol. The use of alcohol with this medication can potentially worsen its side effects and cause troubles like poor concentration, dizziness, sleeping issues, unusual dreams, and drowsiness.
It is crucial to ensure that all traces of co-codamol are out of your system before you drink alcohol. In general, this requires 24 hours which means that you may have a drink precisely one day after your last dose of this medication. Additionally, remember that many other everyday products, like mouthwashes, may contain alcohol that can mess with your body if you consume co-codamol right after using them.
