Adult Dosing
Mild to moderately severe pain
- 15-60 mg PO q4 hrs PRN
- Max: 360 mg/day
- Taper doses to prevent withdrawal signs and symptoms during cessation of therapy
Note: Give with food; in opioid-naive pts, doses >60 mg rarely more effective or well-tolerated
Pediatric Dosing
Mild to moderately severe pain
- Children 2-16 yrs: 0.5 mg/kg (15 mg/m2) q4-6 hrs PRN
[Outline]
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Respiratory depression and death have been reported in children receiving codeine after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. These patients had an evidence of being ultra-rapid metabolizers of codeine resulting from a CYP2D6 polymorphism (US Black Box warning)
- It may cause respiratory depression in elderly, debilitated patients, and those suffering from conditions accompanied by hypoxia, hypercapnia, or upper airway obstruction
- Similar to other opioids, it is a Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability
- If used in conjunction with alcohol, other opioids, or illicit drugs, it may result in additive CNS depressive effects, including respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, coma, or death
- Avoid use in head injury, other intracranial lesions or a pre-existing intracranial hypertension, as it may exaggerate elevation of cerebrospinal fluid pressure
- Restrict use in patients whose ability to maintain blood pressure has already been compromised, as therapy may cause severe hypotension
- Avoid administration in patients with gastrointestinal obstruction, especially paralytic ileus because it diminishes propulsive peristaltic waves in the gastrointestinal tract and may prolong the obstruction
- Use with caution in patients with biliary tract disease, including acute pancreatitis, as it may cause spasm of the Sphincter of Oddi and diminish biliary and pancreatic secretions
- Administration may result in higher than expected serum morphine levels and overdose symptoms due to rapid conversion into its active metabolite, morphine, in individuals who are ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolizers
- Caution must be used with potentially hazardous activities such as driving and operating machinery
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Severe renal impairment
- Severe hepatic impairment
- Elderly or debilitated pts
- GI obstruction
- Hypothyroidism
- Seizure disorder
- CNS depression
- Asthma
- COPD
- IBD
- Urethral stricture
- Pseudomembranous colitis
- Biliary disease
- Ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolizer
- GU obstruction
- Acute abdomen
- Prostatic hypertrophy
- Addison's disease
- Children <2 yrs
Supplemental Patient Information
- Advise patients to strictly follow prescription orders as directed by the physician
- Caution the patients about the potential for severe constipation while taking codeine sulfate; appropriate treatments including laxatives and/or stool softeners should be given from the onset of therapy
- Avoid abrupt discontinuation of the drug as it could precipitate withdrawal symptoms during cessation of therapy. Provide a dose schedule to accomplish an effective and safe tapering and a gradual discontinuation of the medication
- Advise women of childbearing potential who become or are trying to become pregnant to consult a physician before initiating or continuing therapy with codeine sulfate
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Safety conditional. Breastfeeding can cause infant drowsiness. Newborn infants seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of even small dosages, particularly in the first week of life. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 09 December 2010 ). Maternal medication usually compatible with breastfeeding, no observable change was seen in the nursing infant while the mother was ingesting the compound. This information is based upon data from AAP Policy Guidelines (available at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/3/776/T6 last accessed 09 December 2010 ).According to the manufacturer's data, the risk of infant exposure through breast milk should be weighed against the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the baby. Caution should be exercised when codeine is administered to a nursing woman
US Trade Name(s)
US Availability
codeine sulfate (generic)
Canadian Trade Name(s)
Canadian Availability
codeine phosphate (generic)
- SYRUP: 5 mg/mL, 143 mg/30 mL
- TABS: 15, 30 mg
codeine (codeine monohydrate + codeine sulfate trihydrate )
- ETABS: 50, 100, 150, 200 mg
UK Trade Name(s)
UK Availability
codeine phosphate (generic)
Australian Trade Name(s)
Australian Availability
[Outline]