Prodeinextra (Paracetamol And Codeine Phosphate Hemihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Prodeinextra Used For?
Prodeinextra is a pain relief medication that combines two active ingredients to effectively manage moderate pain and reduce fever.
Primary Uses
Prodeinextra is used to relieve acute moderate pain and fever. It is intended for short-term use only.
How It Works
Paracetamol and codeine work together to stop pain messages from reaching the brain. Paracetamol also acts in the brain to help reduce fever.
Important: This medication should only be used if your doctor decides other treatment options cannot effectively manage your pain or you cannot tolerate them.
How to Take Prodeinextra
Take Prodeinextra exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the dosage instructions carefully to ensure safe and effective pain relief.
Dosage Instructions
The standard dose for adults and children aged 12 years and over is 2 caplets taken every 4 to 6 hours if necessary. Do not take more than 8 caplets in a 24-hour period. Swallow the caplets whole with a little water or other liquid. Do not take for longer than 48 hours (for children aged 12-17 years) or more than 3 days, except on medical advice.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important: Never take more than the recommended dose unless your doctor tells you to. Taking more than recommended may cause liver damage and codeine may be habit forming.
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 dizziness
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Ringing in ears
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Low blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of menstrual cycle
- Infertility
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
- Painful red areas with blisters and peeling skin
- 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
- Extreme mood swings
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Hepatitis symptoms
- Problems passing urine
- Dark colored urine
- Blurred vision
- Symptoms of pyroglutamic acidosis (rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, consciousness changes)
Important Warnings
Prodeinextra contains codeine which carries serious risks including addiction, respiratory depression, and potentially life-threatening complications. Read all warnings carefully before use.
Who Should Not Take Prodeinextra
Do not take if you: are allergic to paracetamol, codeine, morphine, or oxycodone; have severe respiratory disease, unstable asthma, emphysema, or breathing problems; have bronchitis or liver failure; have Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency; are a known CYP 2D6 ultra-rapid metaboliser; have a history of drug or alcohol dependence; have diarrhea caused by antibiotics or poisoning. Do not give to children under 12 years or children aged 12-18 who have had tonsil/adenoid surgery for sleep apnea.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: heart, lung, liver, or kidney problems; low blood pressure; pancreas problems; breathing conditions, asthma, or sleep apnea; compromised respiratory function; history of drug dependence; chronic alcohol use; liver or kidney insufficiency; malnutrition; stomach, gallbladder, urinary, or bowel conditions; prostate problems; adrenal or thyroid problems; multiple sclerosis; head injury; seizures; or if you plan to have surgery.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take during the third trimester of pregnancy or if you are in labor, especially with premature babies. Do not take if breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Prodeinextra passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. The medication may cause withdrawal effects in newborn babies.
Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression: Serious, life-threatening, or fatal breathing problems may occur even when used as recommended. Risk is higher when first starting, after dose increases, in older patients, or those with existing lung problems.
Addiction Risk: Prodeinextra contains codeine which may be habit forming and poses risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction which can lead to overdose and death.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Prodeinextra, potentially causing dangerous effects including severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Dangerous Combinations: Using Prodeinextra with other drowsiness-causing medicines, alcohol, or certain other medications may result in severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
- Sleeping tablets (benzodiazepines)
- Other pain relievers
- Antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin)
- Cannabis
- Tranquillizers and hypnotics
- Medicines containing alcohol
- Anticholinergics
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Salicylates and NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen)
- Blood thinning medicines
- Epilepsy medicines
- Blood pressure medicines
- Muscle relaxants
- Anti-diarrheal, nausea, or vomiting medicines
- Propantheline
- Cholestyramine
- Alcohol/opioid dependence treatments (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone)
- Chloramphenicol
- Flucloxacillin, zidovudine, rifampicin
Alcohol & Driving
Prodeinextra can significantly impair your ability to drive safely and interact dangerously with alcohol. Take these precautions seriously to protect yourself and others.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Prodeinextra. The effects of alcohol could be made worse and may result in severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma, and death when combined with this medication.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Prodeinextra affects you. This medication 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 to avoid potential harm.
Storage
Store Prodeinextra below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep in a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground, away from young children. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you or someone else takes too much Prodeinextra, immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Keep the person awake by talking to them or gently shaking them. Overdose symptoms may include slow or difficult breathing, drowsiness, unconsciousness, slow heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and mental impairment. You can also contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Take this leaflet and remaining medicine with you when seeking medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication should be taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain relief. Individual response times may vary.
The medication should be swallowed whole with a little water or other liquid. Specific food instructions are not mentioned in the prescribing information.
Yes, Prodeinextra contains codeine which may be habit forming and poses risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction. You can become addicted even if you take it exactly as prescribed.
If you stop suddenly, your pain may worsen and you may experience withdrawal symptoms including nervousness, restlessness, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, increased heart rate, watery eyes, runny nose, chills, and increased sweating.
No, you must not drink alcohol while taking Prodeinextra. Combining them may result in severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Do not take for longer than 48 hours (for children aged 12-17 years) or more than 3 days for adults, except on medical advice. It is intended for short-term use only.
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 dose.
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.