Rikodeine (Dihydrocodeine Tartrate And Sorbitol)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Rikodeine Used For?
Rikodeine is a cough suppressant that provides temporary relief for persistent dry coughs that won’t go away on their own.
Primary Uses
Rikodeine is specifically used to give temporary relief for an unproductive and dry cough that will not go away. It should only be used when your doctor or pharmacist decides that other treatment options cannot effectively manage your cough or you cannot tolerate them.
How It Works
Rikodeine contains dihydrocodeine tartrate, which is an opioid that works as a cough suppressant to reduce the urge to cough.
Limited Use: Should only be used when other treatments are not effective or cannot be tolerated
How to Take Rikodeine
Rikodeine is a liquid medicine that should be measured accurately and taken only when needed to stop your cough.
Dosage Instructions
Adults and children 12 years and over: take 5 to 10 mL every four to six hours. If you are elderly, take a 5 mL dose until you know how the medicine affects you. For children between 6 to 11 years: give 2.5 to 5 mL every four to six hours (only on the advice of a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse practitioner). Do not take more than 6 doses over a 24 hour period. Accurately measure the dose with a medicine measure – you can buy one from your pharmacist.
When to Stop Taking
Stop using this medicine when the cough has gone. If the coughing continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Important: Use accurate measuring device – household spoons are not accurate enough
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:
- Drowsiness or inability to sleep
- Sweating
- Confusion or dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation, severe abdominal pains or diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Itchy skin and swelling under the skin
- Weakness
- Difficulty passing urine
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Slow, unusual or difficult breathing
- Extreme sleepiness progressing to unconsciousness
- Slow or weak heartbeat
- Cold, clammy skin
- Pinpoint pupils
- Flabby muscles
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts
- Rash, itching or hives
- Fainting
Important Warnings
Rikodeine carries serious risks including respiratory depression, addiction potential, and dangerous interactions with other medications.
Who Should Not Take Rikodeine
Do not take Rikodeine if you are allergic to dihydrocodeine, other opioids, or any ingredients; have severe lung or breathing problems; the medicine is expired; or the packaging shows signs of tampering.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have kidney or liver disease, impaired adrenal or thyroid gland function, asthma or breathing problems, enlarged prostate, urinary tract narrowing, biliary tract disease or pancreas inflammation, seizure conditions, diarrhea, muscle weakness, bowel disorders, low blood pressure, head injury, or regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Taking Rikodeine regularly during the last trimester of pregnancy may cause breathing problems or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Life-threatening risks: Can cause fatal breathing problems, addiction, and dangerous interactions with other medications
Drug Interactions
Rikodeine can interact dangerously with many medications, especially those that cause drowsiness or affect breathing.
Alcohol prohibition: You must not drink alcohol while using Rikodeine – can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems, coma and death
- Sleeping tablets (benzodiazepines)
- Other pain relievers
- Sedating antihistamines
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin)
- Tranquillizers
- Medicines containing alcohol
- Blood pressure medications
- Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting medications
- MAO inhibitors (taken within last 10 days)
- Other cough suppressants
- Quinidine
- Alcohol and opioid dependence treatments (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone)
Alcohol & Driving
Rikodeine can significantly impair your ability to drive safely and must never be combined with alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Rikodeine. Drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of becoming drowsy and can lead to severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma and death.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Rikodeine affects you. Rikodeine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness and problems with vision in some people.
Storage
Keep Rikodeine in the original bottle until ready to use. Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep medicines where children cannot reach them – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is ideal. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you or someone else takes too much Rikodeine and experiences symptoms like slow or difficult breathing, extreme sleepiness, slow heartbeat, cold clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, or flabby muscles, immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Keep the person awake by talking to them or gently shaking them. You can also phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Take this leaflet and remaining medicine with you and tell them about any other medicines or alcohol taken. Some people may experience overdose symptoms even when taking Rikodeine as directed due to individual differences in how the body processes the medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify onset time, but Rikodeine should be taken every 4-6 hours as needed for cough relief.
The source doesn’t mention food restrictions, but you should follow the dosing instructions and measure accurately with a proper medicine measure.
Yes, Rikodeine poses risks of abuse, misuse and addiction. You can become addicted even if you take it exactly as prescribed. It may become habit forming causing mental and physical dependence.
If you stop taking Rikodeine suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms including nervousness, restlessness, trouble sleeping, body aches, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, nausea, increased heart rate, watery eyes, runny nose, chills, and increased sweating.
No, you must not drink alcohol while using Rikodeine. Combining them can result in severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma and death.
Elderly patients should take a 5 mL dose until they know how the medicine affects them, and may have an increased chance of getting side effects. The risk of breathing problems is higher if you are older.
Rikodeine is taken only when needed to stop your cough, so missing a dose isn’t typically a concern. Only take it when you need cough relief, up to 6 doses in 24 hours.
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.