Co-codamol Advice

Patients on Co-codamol;

Why has my medication been changed?

Some time ago the agency responsible for safe prescribing advised doctors that it was safer for patients to take pain relieving medications such as paracetamol and codeine separately rather than as one tablet. This reduced the chance of overdose and adverse events with combination medicines such as co-codamol. This is now considered standard ‘best practice’ in the prescribing of codeine and paracetamol and indeed any other pain relieving medications.

How do I know I will get the same pain relieving effects?

The dose is calculated by your doctor to give the equivalent dose of codeine and paracetamol to that which you are currently taking. For example; Co-codamol 30/500 is equivalent to 30mg of codeine and 500mg of paracetamol.

How do I adjust the dose with the separate tablets?

The separate tablets allow you to have much more flexibility from day to day as to the amount of pain killer tablets you take. For example they allow you to take a maximum dose of paracetamol whilst taking less codeine if you need to. When the tablets are combined you are forced to take an equal amount of both tablets.

What if I don’t like the switch after I have tried it?

If you have reasons for not liking the switch you can discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist but try it first!