What is Codeine Phosphate, and how is it used?

Codeine Phosphate is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderately severe pain. Codeine Phosphate may be used alone or with other medications.

Codeine Phosphate belongs to a class of drugs called Analgesics, Opioids.

It is not known if Codeine Phosphate is safe and effective in children.

What are the possible side effects of Codeine Phosphate?

Codeine Phosphate may cause serious side effects, including:

• Noisy breathing,
• Sighing
• Shallow breathing
• Breathing that stops during sleep
• Slow heart rate
• Weak pulse
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Unusual thoughts or behavior
• Feelings of extreme happiness or sadness
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Problems with urination
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Worsening tiredness or weakness

Please get medical help immediately if you have any of the above mentioned symptoms.

The most common side effects of Codeine Phosphate include:

• Feeling dizzy or drowsy
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain

Could you tell the doctor if any side effect bothers you or if it disappears?

These are not all the possible side effects of Codeine Phosphate. If you would like more information, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.

DESCRIPTION

WARNING – MAY BE HABIT FORMING

Codeine is an alkaloid obtained from opium or prepared from morphine by methylation and occurs as white crystals. Codeine effloresces slowly in dry air and is affected by light. The chemical name of codeine phosphate is 7,8-Didehydro-4,5alpha-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6alpha-ol phosphate (1:1) (salt) hemihydrate and has the empirical formula of C18H21NO3·H3PO4·1/2H20. Its molecular weight is 406.4.

Each soluble tablet contains 30 mg (0.074 mmol) or 60 mg (0.15 mmol) of codeine phosphate. These tablets also contain lactose and sucrose.

Soluble tablets of codeine phosphate are freely soluble in water. They are not sterile and are intended to prepare solutions for parenteral administration. Codeine phosphate is an analgesic.

INDICATIONS

Codeine phosphate is an analgesic that relieves mild to moderate pain.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

For Analgesia, the dose should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain and the patient’s response.

Adults: 15 to 60 mg every 4 to 6 hours (usual adult dose, 30 mg).

Children: 1 Year of Age and older—0.5 mg/kg of b.d. weight or 15 mg/m2 of b.d. surface every 4 to 6 hours.

Soluble tablets of codeine phosphate are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Solutions for injection should be prepared with sterile water and filtered through a 0.22 membrane filter.

Please don’t use the solution if it is more than slightly discolored or contains a precipitate.