{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"codeine","kind":"medication","name":"codeine","aliases":["codeine phosphate"],"brands_sg":["Codipront","Pacofen","Panaco","Dhasedyl","Procodin"],"class":"opioid antitussive / analgesic","tags":["cold-flu"],"use_for":"pain, and dry cough in some sg combination linctuses","use_after":"3–4 times daily as required per the pacofen tablet label","use_duration":null,"take_with":"a glass of water, with or without food (healthhub)","pros":["healthhub: with a glass of water, with or without food","sg combination cough linctuses are pharmacy only","cochrane: adult antitussive trials had variable results"],"cons":["healthhub: has the potential to cause addiction","constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness","pacofen label: not for children below 12 years old"],"dose_note":"no singapore dosing text is published for plain CODEINE TABLETS 30 mg [SIN07044P], which the register lists as prescription only; the closest sg label with a stated ceiling is pacofen [SIN06271P] — codeine phosphate 8 mg with paracetamol 500 mg and caffeine 30 mg — which reads 'Adults: 1–2 tablets. These doses may be given 3–4 times daily as required (Max. 6 tablets a day)', i.e. 48 mg of codeine phosphate a day in that product, not a ceiling for codeine on its own; the same label says codeine 'should not be used in children below 12 years old' and that in those 12 and over 'the lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest possible duration'; nhs adds that how much you take 'depends on why you're taking it'; as directed on the label or by your doctor or pharmacist","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["a history of fits — healthhub says this drug may increase the risk of having a fit","asthma, copd or other lung disease — healthhub and the pacofen label both flag it","drug dependence or addiction issues, including alcoholism — healthhub says say so first","pregnant or breastfeeding — nhs says codeine is not usually used while breastfeeding"],"clashes":[{"src":["healthhub_codeine"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: avoid alcohol, it may increase the risk of side effects with this medication","with":"alcohol"},{"src":["nhs_codeine"],"note":"nhs lists them among medicines that may not mix well with codeine","with":"other opioid painkillers, such as co-codamol"},{"src":["nhs_codeine"],"note":"nhs lists them among medicines that may not mix well with codeine","with":"antidepressants and other mental-health medicines"},{"src":["nhs_codeine"],"note":"nhs lists allergy medicines and medicines to help stop you feeling or being sick among those that may not mix well","with":"sedating antihistamines and anti-sickness medicines"},{"src":["nhs_codeine"],"note":"nhs: taking codeine together with them can increase the risk of serious side effects","with":"recreational drugs such as cannabis, cocaine or heroin"}],"sources":[{"id":"healthhub_codeine","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/codeine","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Codeine medication information leaflet (article last reviewed 30 Apr 2022)","quote":"This medication is used to treat pain … also present in some preparations for the treatment of a dry cough … may cause constipation, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting … has the potential to cause addiction … Avoid alcohol","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_codeine_precautions","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/codeine","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Codeine, precautions section (article last reviewed 30 Apr 2022)","quote":"You have a history of fits. This drug may increase the risk of having a fit … a history of lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) … drug dependence or addiction issues, including alcoholism","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_pacofen","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin06271p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary — PACOFEN TABLETS [SIN06271P] (codeine phosphate 8 mg / paracetamol 500 mg / caffeine 30 mg), Dosing section","quote":"Adults: 1–2 tablets. These doses may be given 3–4 times daily as required (Max. 6 tablets a day)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_pacofen_warn","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin06271p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary — PACOFEN TABLETS [SIN06271P], paediatric limit and duration wording","quote":"Codeine should not be used in children below 12 years old. In those 12 years old and above … The lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest possible duration.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_codeine_tab","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin07044p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary — CODEINE TABLETS 30 MG [SIN07044P], product information (no dosing section published)","quote":"CODEINE TABLETS 30 MG [SIN07044P] … CODEINE PHOSPHATE - 30 MG … Licence Holder BEACONS PHARMACEUTICALS PTE. LTD. … Forensic Classification PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code R05DA04","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_register_codeine","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA register of therapeutic products (data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084) — 15 codeine rows, filtered locally 27 Aug 26","quote":"CODEINE TABLETS 30 mg … Prescription Only … Codipront Capsule … Pharmacy Only … PACOFEN TABLETS … PANACO TABLETS … DHASEDYL SYRUP … PROCODIN SYRUP … COPHADYL COUGH LINCTUS … all Pharmacy Only","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_codeine","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/codeine/","label":"NHS — Codeine: a medicine for pain (page last reviewed 9 June 2026)","quote":"How much you need to take and for how long depends on why you're taking it … It's possible to become addicted to codeine … Codeine is not usually used while breastfeeding … it's best not to drink alcohol","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"cochrane2014","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC7061814","label":"Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — OTC medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings (Smith, Schroeder, Fahey 2014; PMC7061814)","quote":"six trials compared antitussives with placebo and had variable results … In the child studies, antitussives … were no more effective than placebo … drugs that are known to have the potential to cause serious harm","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:16.693643+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}