Codeine (500 mL bottle, 10 mg / 5 mL codeine syrup)

What is Codeine?

codeine cough syrup is used to manage mild to moderate pain, where treatment with an opioid is appropriate, and when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them. Codeine is an opioid and considered a strong prescription pain medicine. It also has cough-suppressing (anti-tussive) properties.

Codeine is available as one of 2 salts: codeine or codeine phosphate:

• Codeine phosphate is highly water-soluble and used in oral liquids, tablets, and injections
• Codeine sulfate is less soluble and primarily used in tablet form
• Codeine sulfate tablets are the only single-ingredient codeine still available in the United States.

How It Works

Codeine works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing pain signals and suppressing the cough reflex. In the body, part of codeine is converted into morphine, which contributes to its effects. This makes it effective but also means it carries risks if misused.

Medical Use and Safety/codeine cough syrup

Codeine is typically used for short-term treatment. In liquid form, it is often prescribed for cough, while tablets are more common for pain relief. Side effects may include drowsiness, constipation, nausea, and slowed breathing. Misuse can lead to dependence or overdose, so it must be used under medical supervision.

How do I Take Codeine/codeine cough syrup

Do not change your dose. Take codeine exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Use the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed.

• For acute (short-term) pain, you may only need to take codeine for a few days. You may have some codeine left over that you did not use. See disposal information at the bottom of this section for directions on how to safely throw away (dispose of) your unused codeine.
• Take your prescribed dose every 4 hours as needed for pain.
• Do not take more than your prescribed dose. If you miss a dose, take your next dose at your usual time.

Call your healthcare provider if the dose you are taking does not control your pain.

If you have been taking codeine regularly, do not stop taking codeine without talking to your healthcare provider.