Codeine is used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It is also used, usually in combination with other medications, to reduce coughing. Combination products that contain codeine and promethazine should not be used in children younger than 16 years of age. Codeine will help relieve symptoms but will not treat the cause of symptoms or speed recovery. Codeine belongs to a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics and to a class of medications called antitussives. When codeine is used to treat pain, it works by changing the way the body senses pain. When codeine is used to reduce coughing, it works by decreasing the activity in the part of the brain that causes coughing.
Codeine is also available in combination with acetaminophen (Capital and Codeine, Tylenol with Codeine); aspirin; and in many cough and cold medications. This monograph only includes information about the use of codeine. If you are taking a codeine combination product, be sure to read information about all the ingredients in the product you are taking and ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Codeine (alone or in combination with other medications) comes as a tablet, a capsule, and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take codeine exactly as directed.
Codeine can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the solution well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Do not use a household spoon to measure your dose. Use the measuring cup or spoon that came with the medication or use a spoon that is made especially for measuring medication.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
- Ambenyl® Cough Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Bromodiphenhydramine Hydrochloride)
- Bromanyl® Cough Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Bromodiphenhydramine Hydrochloride)
- Brontex®
- Capital and Codeine®
- Cheracol® with Codeine Syrup
- Codimal® PH Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Pyrilamine Maleate)
- Colrex® Compound (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride)
- Cycofed® Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Cycofed® Expectorant Pediatric (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Decohistine® DH (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Decohistine® Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Dihistine® DH Elixir (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Dihistine® Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Fiorinal® with Codeine (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Aspirin, Butabarbital, and Caffeine)
- Gani-Tuss® NR
- Guaifenesin DAC® (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Guiatuss AC® Syrup
- Guiatuss DAC® Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Guiatussin® DAC Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Guiatussin® with Codeine
- HaNew Riversin® AC
- HaNew Riversin® DAC (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- KG-Fed® Expectorant Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- KG-Fed® Pediatric Expectorant Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- KG-Fed® Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Mytussin® AC Cough Syrup
- Mytussin® DAC (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Novahistine® DH (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Novahistine® Expectorant with Codeine (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucofed® (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucofed® Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucofed® Pediatric Expectorant Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucofed® Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucotuss® Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Nucotuss® Pediatric Expectorant (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Pediacof® Cough Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Potassium Iodide)
- Phenergan® VC with Codeine Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Promethazine Hydrochloride)
- Phenergan® with Codeine Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate and Promethazine Hydrochloride)
- Phenhist® DH with Codeine Modified Formula (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Prometh® VC with Codeine Phosphate Cough Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Promethazine Hydrochloride)
- Robafen AC® Syrup
- Robitussin®-DAC (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Robitussin A-C® Syrup
- Ryna-C® (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Ryna-CX® (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Triacin-C® Cough Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, and Triprolidine Hydrochloride)
- Tussar®-2 Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Tussar® SF Syrup (as a combination product containing Codeine Phosphate, Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride)
- Tussi-Organidin® NR
- Tussi-Organidin®-S NR
- Tylenol with Codeine (No. 2, No. 3, No. 4)®
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