Some medicines and codeine can affect each other and increase the chances of you having side effects.
Tell your GP if you're taking any medicines:
- that can make you feel more sleepy, such as diazepam
- for depression - the effects of codeine or the medicine for depression may increase
- for high blood pressure
- for vomiting or diarrhoea, such as metocloperamide or loperamide
- to treat symptoms of an allergy
- for mental health difficulties
Taking codeine with other painkillers
Before taking any other painkillers, ask your pharmacist or GP for advice.
Codeine comes as a combination or mixed tablet with other painkillers such as paracetamol (Solpadeine) and ibuprofen (Nurofen Plus).
You can buy these without a prescription in pharmacies. You may be at risk of overdose or side effects if you take too much.
If you are taking prescribed codeine, do not take painkillers containing codeine that you have bought from a pharmacy at the same time. You're more likely to get side effects or may be at risk of an overdose.
Mixing codeine with herbal remedies and supplements
Do not take herbal remedies for anxiety or insomnia with codeine, for example valerian. These can increase the drowsy effects of codeine.
Medicine safety
Tell your GP or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.
Codeine and drugs
If you take drugs such as cannabis or cocaine while you're taking codeine, you're more likely to get serious side effects, such as:
- breathing difficulties
- heart problems
- having a fit or seizure
On rare occasions, this may even result in a coma.