APX-Paracetamol/Codeine (Paracetamol And Codeine Phosphate Hemihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is APX-Paracetamol/Codeine Used For?
APX-Paracetamol/Codeine is a combination pain medication that contains two active ingredients working together to provide relief from severe pain.
Primary Uses
This medication is used to relieve severe pain when other treatment options have failed, are not suitable, cannot be tolerated, or are otherwise inappropriate to provide sufficient pain management.
How It Works
Paracetamol and codeine work together to stop pain messages from reaching the brain, providing effective pain relief for severe conditions.
How to Take APX-Paracetamol/Codeine
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole with water.
Dosage Instructions
Adults: Take 1 or 2 tablets for severe pain. This dose may be repeated every 4-6 hours if necessary. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Do not exceed the recommended dose as this may cause liver damage.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one, as this may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
Important: Never take more than the recommended dose – taking too much can cause serious liver damage and overdose.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Ringing in ears
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Low blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts
- Skin rash, itching or hives
- Fast heartbeat
- Severe blisters and bleeding in lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Mouth ulcers, fever and sore throat
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Dizziness, light-headedness
- Extreme mood swings
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Hepatitis symptoms
- Problems passing urine
- Dark colored urine
- Blurred vision
Important Warnings
APX-Paracetamol/Codeine carries serious risks including addiction, dependence, and life-threatening breathing problems. Your doctor will monitor you regularly during treatment.
Who Should Not Take APX-Paracetamol/Codeine
Do not use if you: are allergic to paracetamol or codeine; have acute breathing difficulties like bronchitis, unstable asthma or emphysema; have Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; are a CYP 2D6 ultra-rapid metaboliser; have diarrhea caused by antibiotics or poisoning; have liver failure; have a history of drug or alcohol dependence; have experienced allergic reactions to morphine or oxycodone; are under 18 and have had tonsils/adenoids removed for sleep apnea; are in the third trimester of pregnancy; are in labor (especially with premature babies); are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: lung, heart, liver or kidney problems; pancreas problems; low blood pressure; breathing difficulties, asthma, or chronic breathing conditions; sleep problems like sleep apnea; history of drug or alcohol dependence; liver insufficiency; kidney problems; recent alcohol cessation; malnutrition; Gilbert’s syndrome; gall bladder problems; multiple sclerosis; recent surgery; bowel problems; prostate problems; thyroid or adrenal gland problems; seizures; head injury; brain tumors.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take during the third trimester of pregnancy or during labor, especially with premature babies. This medicine can cause breathing problems and withdrawal effects in newborn babies. Do not use while breastfeeding as the medicine passes into breast milk and may affect the baby.
Life-threatening breathing problems: This medication can cause fatal breathing problems even when used as recommended. Risk is higher when starting treatment, after dose increases, in older patients, or those with lung problems.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with APX-Paracetamol/Codeine and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Dangerous combinations: Using with sleeping tablets, other pain relievers, antihistamines, antidepressants, or alcohol may result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma and death.
- Medicines causing sleepiness or drowsiness
- Tranquillizers and benzodiazepines
- Gabapentin or pregabalin
- Alcohol dependence treatments (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone)
- Medicines containing alcohol
- Cough suppressants
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- Mental illness medications
- MAO inhibitors
- Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs
- Blood thinning medicines
- Epilepsy medications
- Other pain relief medications
- Blood pressure medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Anti-nausea medications
- Propantheline
- Cholestyramine
- Chloramphenicol
- Flucloxacillin, zidovudine, rifampicin
Alcohol & Driving
APX-Paracetamol/Codeine can significantly impair your ability to drive safely and increases drowsiness when combined with alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking APX-Paracetamol/Codeine. Drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of becoming drowsy and can lead to dangerous interactions.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how this medicine affects you. It may cause dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness and vision problems, especially after the first dose. Children should not ride bikes if affected and should be supervised.
Storage
Store below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep away from young children. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you or someone else takes too much APX-Paracetamol/Codeine, immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Overdose symptoms include slow or difficult breathing, drowsiness or unconsciousness, slow heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and mental impairment. Keep the person awake by talking to them. Even if there are no symptoms, contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), your doctor, or go to the nearest emergency department. Take this leaflet and remaining medicine with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication is designed to provide pain relief, with doses taken every 4-6 hours as needed. Your doctor can provide more specific timing information based on your condition.
Yes, you can become addicted to APX-Paracetamol/Codeine even if you take it exactly as prescribed. It may become habit-forming and cause mental and physical dependence. Your doctor will monitor you regularly during treatment.
Stopping suddenly may worsen your pain and cause withdrawal symptoms including nervousness, body aches, loss of appetite, increased heart rate, watery eyes, runny nose, chills, and increased sweating. Always follow your doctor’s instructions for stopping this medication.
No, do not drink alcohol while taking this medication. Alcohol increases drowsiness and when combined with APX-Paracetamol/Codeine can result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
The medication should be swallowed with water. The information provided doesn’t specify food requirements, so consult your doctor or pharmacist about taking it with or without food.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one, as this may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
Elderly patients may be at higher risk for breathing problems when using this medication. The risk of life-threatening breathing difficulties is higher in older patients, so careful monitoring by a doctor is essential.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.