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Codeine

Medication opioid antitussive / analgesic cold & flu
Aka: codeine phosphate
Brands seen in Singapore: Codipront, Pacofen, Panaco, Dhasedyl, Procodin
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Pain, and dry cough in some SG combination linctuses
When to take
3–4 times daily as required per the pacofen tablet label
Take with
A glass of water, with or without food (HealthHub)
Pros & cons
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
Sources
  1. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Codeine medication information leaflet (article last reviewed 30 Apr 2022) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  2. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Codeine, precautions section (article last reviewed 30 Apr 2022) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  3. MOH National Drug Formulary — PACOFEN TABLETS [SIN06271P] (codeine phosphate 8 mg / paracetamol 500 mg / caffeine 30 mg), Dosing section · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Adults: 1–2 tablets. These doses may be given 3–4 times daily as required (Max. 6 tablets a day)”
  4. MOH National Drug Formulary — PACOFEN TABLETS [SIN06271P], paediatric limit and duration wording · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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.”
  5. MOH National Drug Formulary — CODEINE TABLETS 30 MG [SIN07044P], product information (no dosing section published) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  6. HSA register of therapeutic products (data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084) — 15 codeine rows, filtered locally 27 Aug 26 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “CODEINE TABLETS 30 mg … Prescription Only … Codipront Capsule … Pharmacy Only … PACOFEN TABLETS … PANACO TABLETS … DHASEDYL SYRUP … PROCODIN SYRUP … COPHADYL COUGH LINCTUS … all Pharmacy Only”
  7. NHS — Codeine: a medicine for pain (page last reviewed 9 June 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
  8. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — OTC medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings (Smith, Schroeder, Fahey 2014; PMC7061814) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “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”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.