What Should I Avoid While Taking Codeine And Promethazine
This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of codeine and promethazine.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Codeine and promethazine can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when you are outdoors.
Who Can Take Ibuprofen
Some people should avoid using ibuprofen and others should use it with caution. If you have any queries about using ibuprofen or any other medicines, speak to your GP or pharmacist, or phone the NHS 24 111 service.
You shouldn’t take ibuprofen if you:
- have a history of a strong, unpleasant reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs
- have a current or recent stomach ulcer, or you have had one in the past
Alcohol And The Respiratory System
Chronic use of alcoholincreased risk for numerous diseases and health conditionsalcoholic lung disease
Nonetheless, chronic use and abuse of alcohol is known to increase the risk for the development of numerous infectious diseases and disorders, numerous forms of cancer, and other health issues associated with poor nutrition and a lack of attention to self-care. When alcohol is combined with other drugs, such as tobacco products, the risk for health issues is increased even further.
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How Should I Take Codeine
Take codeine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Codeine can slow or stop your breathing. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away codeine is against the law.
Take this medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily to help prevent constipation while you are taking this medicine. Do not use a stool softener without first asking your doctor.
Do not stop using 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. Codeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
How Should This Medication Be Used
Pain Relief: The recommended dose of codeine for pain relief in adults and children over 12 years of age is 15 mg to 60 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed , not exceeding a total daily dose of 360 mg.
Cough: The recommended adult dose of codeine for cough relief is 15 mg to 30 mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed, up to a total daily dose of 120 mg.
The use of codeine is no longer recommended for children due to the increased risk of breathing difficulties and other complications associated with the administration of this medicine.
There are several factors that can be taken into account in determining the dose a person needs: their weight, their health and whether they are taking other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from those listed here, do not change the way you are taking the medicine without consulting your doctor .
This medicine can be habit-forming if taken for long periods of time. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor first. If you stop taking this medicine suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, trouble sleeping, shaking, nausea, tremors, diarrhea, or hallucinations. If you plan to stop treatment, your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the dose to lessen the withdrawal effects.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
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What Is Codeine And Promethazine
Codeine is a narcotic. It is a pain reliever and a cough suppressant. Promethazine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in your body.
Codeine and promethazine is a combination medicine used to treat cold or allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and cough.
Codeine and promethazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Can Codeine Cause Problems
Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with codeine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer’s information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.
| Common codeine side-effects | What can I do if I experience this? |
| Feeling sick or being sick | 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 | Speak with your doctor if troublesome |
Important: people taking opioid medicines, and their family and friends, should be aware of the risk of accidental overdose and know when to seek medical help. The risk is higher if you also take other medicines that make you feel drowsy. Signs you have taken too much medicine include:
- Feeling very sleepy or dizzy.
- Feeling sick or being sick .
- Breathing difficulties.
- Loss of consciousness.
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The Effects Of Certain Drugs On Your Asthma
- Cannabis can trigger asthma symptoms and lead to long-term lung damage, especially if its smoked with tobacco.
- Cocaine use can lead to much worse asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.
- Crack cocaine can lead to serious lung damage, especially if its smoked.
- DXM, PCP and ketamine hallucinogens and dissociative drugs can lead to breathing problems especially if theyre mixed with alcohol.
- Heroin and other opioids, such as fentanyl may cause your breathing to slow down and block air from entering your lungs making asthma symptoms worse.
- Inhalants highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays, such as lighter fluid, can cause breathing difficulties.
- New psychoactive substances , such as spice and mephedrone, contain one or more chemical substance to mimic the effects of other illegal drugs. Theres not enough known about many of these drugs to know about their strength, their effects on people, or what happens when theyre used with other substances or alcohol.
- Poppers liquid nitrates inhaled from the bottle or a cloth or cigarette dipped in the liquid are absorbed into the lungs almost instantly. Any inhaled substances can irritate your lungs and trigger asthma symptoms.
How Should I Take Codeine And Promethazine
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Codeine and promethazine can slow or stop your breathing. Never use codeine and promethazine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away codeine is against the law.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Codeine and promethazine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
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What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Codeine And Promethazine
You should not use this medication if you have asthma, pneumonia, or other lung problems.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 years old. Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
Get emergency medical help if a child taking this medication has breathing problems, blue lips, or severe drowsiness, or if you cannot wake the child up from sleep.
What Side Effects Are Possible With This Medication
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- constipation
- slow heartbeat
- symptoms of cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
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Caffeine Can Help Asthma Too
Caffeine is metabolized in the liver to produce small amounts of theophylline and theobromine. So, another way to get the benefits of theobromine is to consume products that contain caffeine, which include coffee, tea, cola drinks, and cocoa.4,5 So, this gives you an excuse to consume those chocolate-flavored coffee drinks that you love. It gives you an excuse to finally eat the chocolate Easter bunny that you are hiding, waiting for that perfect moment to consume.
Interestingly, the University of Michigan even list dark chocolate as one of the essential foods as a part of their Healing Foods Pyramid. Along with increasing mental acuity and the other benefits of xanthines, dark chocolate also contains antioxidants and flavonoids6, which, as I explain in my post, Can Your Diet Improve Asthma, may help you obtain ideal asthma control.
In fact, they recommend 7 ounces of dark chocolate every week, or an average of 1 ounce per day.
Can You Take Hydrocodone If Allergic To Codeine
Its likely you wont be able to take hydrocodone if you have a true codeine allergy. Both hydrocodone and codeine are phenanthrene opioids. This means that they share a similar chemical structure. As a result, your body may react to them in a similar way, meaning that an allergic reaction to one can cause allergic symptoms in the other.
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Who Can And Can’t Take Codeine
Codeine can be taken by adults and children aged 12 years and older.
Only give codeine to children if everyday painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen haven’t worked.
Codeine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you have:
- had an allergic reaction to codeine or any other medicines in the past
- a lung problem
- myasthenia gravis
- symptoms of ulcerative colitis
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.
What Other Drugs Interact With Codeine
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.
- Severe Interactions of Codeine include:
- alvimopan
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.
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What May Interact With This Medicine
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
- alcohol
- stimulant medicines for attention disorders, weight loss, or to stay awake
- yohimbine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Medications That Can Cause Acid Reflux Rebound
Even some anti-heartburn medications can lead to an increase in stomach acid. This phenomenon, which is called acid rebound, is the bodys attempt to override an acid suppressing medication. In other words, your stomach may react to an acid suppressant by producing even more acid. This can cause very painful heartburn symptoms.
Acid rebound most often occurs when you take a medication called a proton pump inhibitor for a few weeks or longer and then stop. According to Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, the withdrawal from PPIs can cause severe heartburn symptoms. Medications that may cause acid rebound include:
- Omeprazole
- Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate
- Esomeprazole
- Pantoprazole
- Dexlansoprazole
Some studies have suggested that OTC antacids, such as Tums , can also increase the stomachs secretion of acid. In this case, acid rebound may occur because the stomach works to replace the acid that was just neutralized.
If you want to stop taking PPIs or OTC antacids, talk to your doctor about alternatives. You may first need to wean yourself off the medication instead of going cold turkey. From there, your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and alternative medicines, such as an H2 blocker like famotidine or a prokinetic agent.
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Where Should I Keep My Medicine
Keep out of the reach of children. This drug can be abused. Keep this medicine in a safe place to protect it from theft. Do not share this medicine with anyone. Selling or giving away this medicine is dangerous and is against the law.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C . Protect from light. This medicine may cause accidental overdose and death if taken by other adults, children, or pets. Mix any unused medicine with a substance like cat littler or coffee grounds. Then throw the medicine away in a sealed container like a sealed bag or a coffee can with a lid. Do not use the medicine after the expiration date.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Codeine
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- severe asthma or breathing problems
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines or
- frequent asthma attacks or hyperventilation.
In some people, codeine breaks down rapidly in the liver and reaches higher than normal levels in the body. This can cause dangerously slow breathing and may cause death.
Codeine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old.
Do not give this medicine to anyone younger than 18 years old who recently had surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver or kidney disease
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Opioid Drugs And The Respiratory System
Opioids drugs are a large class of prescription analgesic drugs and some illicit drugs. Opioids have received quite a bit of media attention due to a rise in overdoses and recent stories of abuse of prescription opioids.
Opioids are central nervous system depressant drugs that reduce the activity of the neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This central nervous system depressant action also affects the functioning of the respiratory system by slowing down a persons breathing rate. The actions also result in their medical uses as analgesics and contribute to their abuse as they produce a reduction in a persons experience of pain, feelings of relaxation, and euphoria.
In most cases, opioid drugs are not smoked. They are taken in pill form, ground up and snorted, or mixed with liquid and injected. Nonetheless, due to their significant ability to suppress breathing, chronic use of these drugs can lead to respiratory issues. Some of the issues include:
- Worsening existing respiratory issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma
- A significant increase in the risk to develop pulmonary edema, fluid buildup in the lungs, which can be fatal if left unchecked and can also facilitate the development of other respiratory problems
Chronic use of opiate drugs also increases the risk of the development of all forms of cancer, including different cancers of the respiratory system.