Cough Syrup with Codeine

A cough syrup that contains codeine, is a liquid medication that is prescribed in cases of cough supplemented by mild to moderate chest pain. Codeine is the active ingredient that helps relieve pain, although it does not treat the actual cause of the disease, but merely the symptoms. However, the concentration of codeine in cough syrup is very low and normally does not lead to very serious side effects solely due to the codeine component. Yet, this syrup has a high chance of being abused and hence, one needs to know all about cough syrups containing codeine. Given below are details regarding the various effects, side effects and when not to use cough syrup with codeine.

Effects of Codeine

Codeine belongs to the class of medicines known as opiates, which are narcotic analgesics. They also have the effect of being antitussives. Codeine prevents a person from sensing pain by altering the pain perception pathways in the body. When taken orally, codeine is absorbed into the body through the gastrointestinal tract. When codeine reaches the brain, it is converted into morphine. This then suppresses the cough center in the brain, which eventually leads to less coughing. Thus, doctors normally prescribe cough syrups with codeine only in cases where the person has non-productive cough. This is because in cases where the person has productive cough, the cough helps to expel harmful accumulated mucus in the body. Thus, productive cough requires a different kind of medication.

Side Effects of Codeine

• Possible side effects of codeine include itchiness.
• Codeine could also lead to constipation. It could also lead to nausea and vomiting.
• Codeine can also lead to blurred vision or double vision.
• There may be slight sweating and flushing on taking codeine cough syrup.
• Codeine cough syrup increases drowsiness and may even lead to unusual dreams, euphoria, etc. It may also occasionally lead to confusion, hallucinations, and delusions.
• Codeine suppresses the respiratory system, which may occur to an extent that it could lead to respiratory arrest.

When Not to Use Cough Syrup with Codeine

• If you are allergic to any ingredient in the codeine syrup, or if you have had an allergic reaction when you had taken a similar or related medicine in the past, it is best to avoid cough syrups that contain codeine.
• If you have severe drowsiness.
• There are certain other cases where cough syrup with codeine is contraindicated, like if a person has certain breathing problems, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, sleep apnea, etc.
• Along with cough, if a person also has systemic symptoms, like fever or productive cough.
• If a person is suffering from diarrhea which has occurred due to food poisoning or use of antibiotics.
• Codeine can pass through breast milk from where it could reach the mother. Thus, it is strictly contraindicated in pregnant and lactating mothers.
• There may be certain drug interactions which could lead to untoward complications. So if a person has been taking sodium oxybate, barbiturates (increases risk of breathing problems), haloperidol (increases the risk of arrhythmia), local anesthetics (increases risk of seizures), etc. Anticholinergics increase the chances of side effects. Certain drugs may decrease the effectiveness of codeine syrup, like rifampin, quinidine, naltrexone, etc. Furthermore, certain drugs, like levodopa or pergolide may not be as effective if taken with cough syrup.

The most important thing that one needs to consider is that if you have persistent cough, then you should preferably visit the doctor and get the condition diagnosed and treated, rather than going in for over the counter cough syrup with codeine.