Solpadeine

Drug name: Solpadeine

Other names used: Solpadeine, Codipar, Kapake, Medocodene, Solpadol, Zapain, Feminax, Migraleve yellow, Panadol ultra, Paracodol, Solpadeine max.

Active Ingredients: paracetamol, codeine phosphate (Co-codamol).

Therapeutic actions: Co-codamol is used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Unlike aspirin, it does not relieve the redness, stiffness, or swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis. However, it may relieve the pain caused by mild forms of arthritis.

Paracetamol is a medicine used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain. It is also useful for reducing fever. It is not fully understood how paracetamol produces these effects.

Codeine belongs to group of medicines called opioids. Opioids mimic the effects of naturally occurring pain reducing chemicals (endorphins) that are found in the brain and spinal cord. They act on the opioid receptors in the brain and block the transmission of pain signals.

This combination is used to reduce fever and to relieve mild to moderate pain caused by a variety of conditions (eg headache, toothache, neuralgia, migraine, period pains).

This medicine is available without a prescription; however, your medical doctor or dentist may have special instructions on the proper dose of acetaminophen for your medical condition.

Indications: Mild to moderate pain, such as headache, migraine, sinusitis, toothache, arthritic and rheumatic pain, sciatica and backache (lumbago), strains and sprains and period pain. Relieving aches, pains, sore throat and fever associated with colds and flu.

Contraindications and cautions: Allergies - tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to Co-codamol or aspirin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - although studies have not been done in pregnant women, Co-codamol has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.
Breast-feeding - although Co-codamol passes into the breast milk in small amounts, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children - this medicine has been tested in children and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
Older adults - Co-codamol has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines - although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
Other medical problems - the presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Co-codamol . Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse or
• Kidney disease (severe) or
• Hepatitis or other liver disease - The chance of serious side effects may be increase

Use with caution in:
Decreased kidney function
Decreased liver function

Not to be used in:
Children under 12 years of age

Adverse effects: Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Rare
  • Yellow eyes or skin
• Symptoms of overdose
  • Diarrhea; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting ; stomach cramps or pain; swelling, pain, or tenderness in the upper abdomen or stomach area

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Rare
• Bloody or black, tarry stools; bloody or cloudy urine; fever with or without chills (not present before treatment and not caused by the condition being treated); pain in lower back and/or side (severe and/or sharp); pinpoint red spots on skin; skin rash, hives, or itching; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; sore throat (not present before treatment and not caused by the condition being treated); sudden decrease in amount of urine; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Don’t let anyone else take your medicines.

Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

You should not take other medicines that contain paracetamol in combination with this medicine, as this can easily result in exceeding the maximum recommended daily dose of paracetamol. Many cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter painkillers contain paracetamol, so be sure to check the ingredients of any other medicines before taking them with this one.

This medicine should not be taken at the same time as, or within 14 days of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for example the antidepressants phenelzine, tranylcypromine or isocarboxacid.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation if this medicine is taken with any of the following (which can also cause drowsiness):

• alcohol
• antipsychotics, eg haloperidol
• barbiturates, eg phenobarbital, amobarbital
• benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
• other opioid painkillers, eg morphine, dihydrocodeine
• sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine
• sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone
• tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.

Cholestyramine reduces the absorption of paracetamol from the gut. It should not be taken within an hour of taking paracetamol or the effect of the paracetamol will be reduced. Metoclopramide and domperidone may increase the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.

Long-term or regular use of paracetamol may increase the anti-blood-clotting effect of warfarin and other anticoagulant medicines, leading to an increased risk of bleeding. This effect does not occur with occasional pain-killing doses. If you are taking an anticoagulant medicine and you are also taking co-codamol regularly, your blood clotting time (INR) should be regularly monitored.

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.