Codapane Forte (Paracetamol And Codeine Phosphate Hemihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Codapane Forte Used For?
Codapane Forte is a prescription pain medication that combines two active ingredients to provide relief from severe pain.
Primary Uses
Codapane Forte 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.
How to Take Codapane Forte
Take Codapane Forte 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. Taking more than the recommended dose 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 when scheduled. 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 unless your doctor tells you to. Taking too much can cause serious liver damage.
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
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Low blood pressure
- Ringing in ears
- Low libido
- 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
- Symptoms of pyroglutamic acidosis
Important Warnings
Codapane Forte carries serious risks and should only be used when other pain treatments are not effective or suitable.
Who Should Not Take Codapane Forte
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 or 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; gallbladder 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 respiratory depression: Codapane Forte can cause life-threatening or fatal breathing problems even when used as recommended. Risk is higher when first starting treatment, after dose increases, in older patients, or those with existing lung problems.
Addiction and dependence: Codapane Forte poses risks of abuse, misuse and addiction which can lead to overdose and death. You can become addicted even when taking it exactly as prescribed.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Codapane Forte and affect how it works or increase the risk of serious side effects.
Dangerous combinations: Using Codapane Forte with other drowsiness-causing medicines, alcohol, or certain other drugs may result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma and death.
- Medicines causing sleepiness or drowsiness
- Tranquilizers and benzodiazepines
- Gabapentin and pregabalin
- Medicines for alcohol/opioid dependence (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone)
- Medicines containing alcohol
- Cough suppressants
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants and medicines for mental illness
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Salicylates and NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen)
- Blood thinning medicines
- Epilepsy medicines
- Other pain relief medications
- Blood pressure medicines
- Muscle relaxants
- Medicines for diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Propantheline
- Cholestyramine
- Chloramphenicol
- Flucloxacillin, zidovudine, rifampicin
Alcohol & Driving
Codapane Forte can significantly impair your ability to drive safely and increases drowsiness when combined with alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Codapane Forte. 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 Codapane Forte affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, light-headedness and vision problems, especially after the first dose. Children should not ride bikes if affected and should be supervised.
Storage
Store Codapane Forte 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 Codapane Forte, immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Overdose symptoms include slow or difficult breathing, drowsiness or unconsciousness, slow heartbeat, nausea, 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 can be taken every 4-6 hours as needed, suggesting it begins working within this timeframe. However, the exact onset time is not specified in the prescribing information.
The medication should be swallowed with water. The prescribing information does not specify whether it should be taken with or without food.
Yes, Codapane Forte poses risks of abuse, misuse and addiction which can lead to overdose and death. You can become addicted even if you take it exactly as prescribed. 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. Continue taking as directed by your doctor.
No, do not drink alcohol while taking Codapane Forte. Alcohol increases drowsiness and when combined with this medication can result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma and death.
The risk of life-threatening breathing problems is higher in older patients. Your doctor will monitor you and adjust the dose as appropriate based on your individual needs and health conditions.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one, as this may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
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.