Can i take co codamol with ibuprofen

It keeps on working for about 5 hours. If your pain has not gone away, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Depending on why you're taking it, you may need to take it for a few days or weeks at most. For example, if you're in pain after an injury or operation.

You may need to take it for longer if you have a long-term condition such as back pain. Talk to your doctor if you're not sure how long you need to take co-codamol for. It's possible to become addicted to co-codamol.

For this reason, your dose will be reviewed to make sure you are only taking the amount you need to control your pain. Your treatment plan may include details of how and when you will stop taking co-codamol. If you need to take it for a long time your body can become tolerant to it. That means you need higher doses to control your pain over time.

Some people can become more sensitive to pain hyperalgesia. If this happens, your doctor will reduce your dose gradually to help these symptoms. If you have been taking co-codamol for a long time, you can prevent withdrawal symptoms by reducing your dose gradually. Speak to your doctor if you are worried about tolerance, hyperalgesia or becoming addicted.

If you're addicted to co-codamol, you may find it difficult to stop taking it or feel you need to take it more often than necessary. And if you stop taking co-codamol suddenly you may suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

Talk to your doctor if you're worried about addiction. They can also help you stop taking it safely and reduce withdrawal symptoms. You're not recommended to take co-codamol for longer than 3 days if you buy it from a pharmacy. You're able to take co-codamol for longer if your doctor prescribes it for you. If you take co-codamol for a long time your body can become tolerant to it. That means you need higher doses to control your pain. For this reason your doctor will usually review your treatment regularly.

If you've been taking co-codamol for a long time and need to stop taking it, you can prevent withdrawal symptoms by reducing your dose gradually. Your doctor can help you do this. Yes, there are other painkillers you can try. Some painkillers work better than others for certain types of pain. For example, the best painkiller to ease your headache may not be the best one for your backache. Before taking co-codamol, try taking paracetamol to see if that helps your pain. Paracetamol can relieve most types of pain.

Painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen , can reduce inflammation as well as pain. These are good for joint, back and muscular pain. This includes people with stomach ulcers or severe heart, kidney or liver problems. It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of treatment until you see how co-codamol affects you.

Drinking alcohol while you're taking co-codamol can make you feel more sleepy. It can also increase the risk of serious side effects. If you feel sleepy with co-codamol, stop drinking alcohol while you're taking it. Do not drive a car or ride a bike or use tools or machinery if co-codamol makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate or make decisions. This may be more likely when you first start taking co-codamol but could happen at any time — for example when starting another medicine.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Even if your ability to drive is not affected, the police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much co-codamol is in your body. UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking co-codamol.

Apart from avoiding alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking co-codamol. Co-codamol does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. However, if co-codamol makes you vomit for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy.

Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. If you're taking co-codamol for a maximum of 3 days and at normal doses, there's no clear evidence that it can reduce fertility in either men or women.

However, if you take high doses of co-codamol for a long time, there's a very small risk it can temporarily reduce fertility in men and women. It can cause a health problem called hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is where the body does not make enough sex hormones. This can make it more difficult for you to conceive. If you're worried about taking co-codamol for longer than 3 days, and how this may affect your fertility, talk to your doctor.

If you take recreational drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, while you're taking co-codamol, you're more likely to get the serious side effects of the codeine in co-codamol. These include breathing difficulties, heart problems, fits and even going into a coma.

Some recreational drugs, such as cannabis, also increase common codeine side effects such as sleepiness and dizziness. Taking heroin while you're on prescribed co-codamol is particularly dangerous. You're more likely to get all the side effects of the codeine in co-codamol, including addiction. Page last reviewed: 3 September Next review due: 3 September The ibuprofen in combined ibuprofen and codeine means it can be particularly effective for period pain, back pain, strains and sprains.

Before taking combined ibuprofen and codeine, try taking paracetamol to see if that helps your pain. Paracetamol can help relieve most types of pain. Combined ibuprofen and codeine is meant to be taken for short periods only, of up to 3 days. This means it may not be suitable for treating longer term conditions unless your doctor prescribes it.

If you need pain relief for a long-term condition or ongoing pain, your doctor will be able to discuss the best treatment options with you. If you take recreational drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, while you're taking combined ibuprofen and codeine, you're more likely to get the serious side effects of the codeine. These include breathing difficulties, heart problems, seizures or fits, and even going into a coma.

Some recreational drugs, such as cannabis, also increase common side effects that you can get with codeine such as sleepiness and dizziness. Taking heroin while you're taking ibuprofen and codeine is especially dangerous. You're more likely to get all the side effects of the codeine, including addiction. Speak to your doctor if you think you might take recreational drugs while taking ibuprofen and codeine. Drinking alcohol while you're taking combined ibuprofen and codeine can make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects.

It's best to stop drinking alcohol while taking combined ibuprofen and codeine. If you do choose to drink and you feel sleepy, stop drinking alcohol until you finish taking this medicine. Apart from avoiding alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking combined ibuprofen and codeine.

In fact it's best to take ibuprofen and codeine with, or just after, a meal so it does not upset your stomach. Do not take it on an empty stomach. Combined ibuprofen and codeine does not affect any contraceptives, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. There is no clear evidence that taking combined ibuprofen and codeine for a maximum of 3 days will affect your fertility.

However, taking ibuprofen tablets in large doses or for a long time can affect ovulation in women. That might make it more difficult for you to get pregnant. This is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofen. Taking codeine can temporarily reduce fertility in men and women. If you take high doses of codeine for a long time, it can cause a health problem called hypogonadism.

Hypogonadism is where the body does not make enough sex hormones. This can make it more difficult for you to conceive. If you're worried about taking combined ibuprofen and codeine for longer than 3 days and how this may affect your fertility, talk to your doctor.

Combined ibuprofen and codeine can make you feel sleepy or dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive or ride a bike, or operate tools or machinery, until you feel better. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected.

It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Even if your ability to drive is not affected, the police have the right to request a saliva sample to check how much combined ibuprofen and codeine is in your body.

UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking codeine. Page last reviewed: 1 June Next review due: 1 June Ibuprofen and codeine - Brand names: Nurofen Plus, Solpadeine Migraine On this page About ibuprofen and codeine Key facts Who can and cannot take ibuprofen and codeine How and when to take ibuprofen and codeine Taking ibuprofen and codeine with other painkillers Side effects of ibuprofen and codeine How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about ibuprofen and codeine.

About ibuprofen and codeine You can buy ibuprofen and codeine combined as a single medicine from pharmacies. It's used to treat a range of aches and pains, including: headache and migraine back pain period pain toothache sprains and strains pain from arthritis It's usually taken when everyday painkillers, such as paracetamol , ibuprofen or aspirin , have not worked on their own.

Each tablet normally contains mg of ibuprofen and Updated: 16 April Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? If you buy combined ibuprofen and codeine from a pharmacy and your pain is not better after 3 days, it's important to ask your doctor for advice about ongoing pain relief.

It's possible to become addicted to the codeine in this medicine, if you take it for too long. Only take it when you need it for pain relief. It's best to take your tablets with food or a drink of milk.

You'll be less likely to get mild indigestion or stomach pain. The most common side effects are indigestion, feeling sleepy and constipation. It's best not to drink alcohol when you're taking combined ibuprofen and codeine. You're more likely to get side effects like feeling sleepy. Important: Not suitable for young children Never give combined ibuprofen and codeine to children under 12 years old.

To make sure combined ibuprofen and codeine is safe for you, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to ibuprofen , other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs , codeine or any other medicine are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant, or breastfeeding are 18 years old or under and have had your tonsils or adenoids taken out to treat a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea have asthma have a head injury have adrenal gland problems have a condition that causes seizures or fits have ever had bleeding in your stomach, a stomach ulcer , or a hole perforation in your stomach have a health problem that means you have an increased chance of bleeding such as haemophilia or thrombocytopenia have liver problems, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis or liver failure have heart disease or severe heart failure have kidney failure have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis regularly drink more than the maximum recommended amount of alcohol 14 units a week.

Dosage Different brands have different doses, so it's important to read the instructions that come with your medicine. Important Do not take more than 6 combined ibuprofen and codeine tablets in 24 hours. How long to take it for If you have bought combined ibuprofen and codeine from a pharmacy, do not use it for more than 3 days. What if I forget to take it? Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. What if I take too much? Taking too much combined ibuprofen and codeine can be dangerous.

It can cause side effects, such as: feeling very sleepy, sick or dizzy finding it difficult to breathe or changes in your heart rate it can become slower or faster becoming unconscious, if you take a lot The amount of ibuprofen and codeine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:.

Important Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain codeine, ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Shop now. Ibuprofen , paracetamol and co-codamol are all forms of medication that offer relief from pain. When choosing medication it can be difficult to know which one will work best or whether you can combine painkillers. Paracetamol works by blocking chemical messengers sent to our brains that tell the brain that we are in pain.

Paracetamol is a common household medicine that is taken to treat pain, such as:. For adults the typical paracetamol dosage is one or two mg tablets every 4 to 6 hours, however always read the packaging and patient information leaflet.

Paracetamol is also recommended as a safe form of pain relief to use if you are pregnant, whereas ibuprofen is not recommended for use in pregnancy. As well as treating pain, ibuprofen can reduce inflammation and swelling caused by conditions that affect your joints like arthritis , or sprains caused by sports injuries.

After taking ibuprofen tablets or capsules you should start to feel better after 20 to 30 minutes, however if you are using ibuprofen gel this can take up to two days of usage to start working. Ibuprofen works by reducing the hormones in our bodies that cause pain and swelling.

Co-coamol is a combination of two different painkillers, paracetamol and codeine. The drug is available in three strengths, each of these contain mg of paracetamol. The lowest strength can be bought in your local pharmacy; however a GP will need to prescribe the higher strength to you. Taking too much co codamol can be harmful so it is important that you take the right dosage and do not increase your dose.

It can also be addictive so it is important that is only taken for three days, or as suggested by your doctor or pharmacist. For dosage information always read the packaging and included patient leaflet, one of our expert pharmacists or your doctor will also be able to offer advice.

Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together is safe to do if you are over the age of