Codeine Phosphate 15mg Tablets
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Codeine Phosphate 15mg Tablets
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Codeine Phosphate 15mg
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral - tablet
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Codeine is indicated in patients older than 12 years of age for the treatment of acute moderate pain which is not considered to be relieved by other analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (alone).
Dry or painful cough Diarrhoea
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Oral route
For Mild to Moderate Pain
Adults:
Codeine should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time. This dose may be taken, up to 4 times a day at intervals of not less than 6 hours. Maximum daily dose of codeine should not exceed 240 mg.
The duration of treatment should be limited to 3 days and if no effective pain relief is achieved the patients/carers should be advised to seek the views of a physician.
Paediatric population:
Children aged 12 years to 18 years:
The recommended codeine dose for children 12 years and older should be 3060mg every 6 hours when necessary up to a maximum dose of codeine of 240 mg daily. The dose is based on the body weight (0.5-1mg/kg).
Children aged less than 12 years:
Codeine should not be used in children below the age of 12 years because of the risk of opioid toxicity due to the variable and unpredictable metabolism of codeine to morphine (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).
Elderly:
Dosage should be reduced in elderly patients.
For dry or painful cough Adults:
15-30mg, 3-4 times daily Children:
Not recommended
Elderly:
Dosage should be reduced in elderly patients
Diarrhoea
Adults:
30mg three to four times daily (range 15-60mg)
Children:
Not recommended
Elderly:
Dosage should be reduced in elderly patients
4.3 Contraindications
Acute respiratory depression, hypersensitivity to codeine or other opioid analgesics or to any of the excipients, obstructive airways disease, liver disease, severe hepatic dysfunction, acute alcoholism.
Use should be avoided in patients with raised intracranial pressure or head injury (in addition to the risk of respiratory depression and increased intracranial pressure, may affect pupillary and other responses vital for neurological assessment).
Codeine should not be given to comatose patients.
Codeine is also contraindicated in conditions where inhibition of peristalsis is to be avoided, where there is a risk of paralytic ileus, where abdominal distension develops, or in acute diarrhoeal conditions such as acute ulcerative colitis or antibiotic associated colitis (e.g. pseudomembranous colitis) or diarrhoea caused by poisoning.
Codeine is also contraindicated in the following:
• In all paediatric patients (0-18 years of age) who undergo tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome due to an increased risk of developing serious and life-threatening adverse reactions (see section 4.4)
• In women during breastfeeding (see section 4.6)
• In patients for whom it is known they are CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolisers
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Use with caution or in reduced doses in asthma and decreased respiratory reserve, avoid use during an acute asthma attack (see 4.3 Contraindications). It should only be used with caution or in reduced dose in elderly patients or debilitated patients, or in patients with hypotension, hypothyroidism, prostatic hypertrophy, adrenocortical insufficiency, inflammatory or obstructive bowel disorders, urethral stricture, shock, convulsive disorders, myasthenia gravis. It should be avoided or the dose reduced in patients with renal or hepatic impairment (see 4.3 Contraindications, liver disease). Use with caution in those with a history of drug abuse. Discontinuation should be carried out gradually in patients who may have developed physical dependence, to avoid precipitating withdrawal symptoms.
CYP2D6 metabolism
Codeine is metabolised by the liver enzyme CYP2D6 into morphine, its active metabolite. If a patient has a deficiency or is completely lacking this enzyme an adequate analgesic effect will not be obtained. Estimates indicate that up to 7% of the Caucasian population may have this deficiency. However, if the patient is an extensive or ultra-rapid metaboliser there is an increased risk of developing side effects of opioid toxicity even at commonly prescribed doses. These patients convert codeine into morphine rapidly resulting in higher than expected serum morphine levels.
General symptoms of opioid toxicity include confusion, somnolence, shallow breathing, small pupils, nausea, vomiting, constipation and lack of appetite. In severe cases this may include symptoms of circulatory and respiratory depression, which may be life-threatening and very rarely fatal.
Estimates of prevalence of ultra-rapid metabolisers in different populations are summarized below:
|
Population |
Prevalence % |
|
African/Ethiopian |
29% |
|
African American |
3.4% to 6.5% |
|
Asian |
1.2% to 2% |
|
Caucasian |
3.6% to 6.5% |
|
Greek |
6.0% |
|
Hungarian |
1.9% |
|
Northern European |
1%-2% |
Post-operative use in children
There have been reports in the published literature that codeine given postoperatively in children after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea, led to rare, but life-threatening adverse events including death (see also section 4.3). All children received doses of codeine that were within the appropriate dose range; however there was evidence that these children were either ultra-rapid or extensive metabolisers in their ability to metabolise codeine to morphine.
Children with compromised respiratory function
Codeine is not recommended for use in children in whom respiratory function might be compromised including neuromuscular disorders, severe cardiac or respiratory conditions, upper respiratory or lung infections, multiple trauma or extensive surgical procedures. These factors may worsen symptoms of morphine toxicity.
Opioid analgesics should be avoided in patients with biliary tract disorders or used in conjunction with an antispasmodic.
Administration of pethidine and possibly other opioid analgesics to patients taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) has been associated with very severe and sometimes fatal reactions. If the use of codeine is considered essential then great care should be taken in patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping MAOIs (see section 4.5).
The risk-benefit of continued use should be assessed regularly by the prescriber.
The leaflet will state in a prominent position in the ‘before taking’ section:
• Do not take for longer than directed by your prescriber
• Taking codeine regularly for a long time can lead to addiction, which might cause you to feel restless and irritable when you stop the tablets.
• Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.
The label will state (To be displayed prominently on outer pack -not boxed):
• Do not take for longer than directed by your prescriber as taking codeine regularly for a long time can to lead to addiction.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine as it contains lactose.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interactions
Alcohol: the hypotensive, sedative and respiratory depressive effects of alcohol may be enhanced.
Anaesthetics: concomitant administration of codeine and anaesthetics may cause increased CNS depression and/or respiratory depression and/or hypotension
Anti-arrhythmics: codeine delays the absorption of mexiletine. The analgesic activity of codeine is likely to be significantly impaired by quinidine which impairs codeine metabolism.
Antidepressants: The depressant effects of opioid analgesics may be enhanced by tricyclic antidepressants.
Antihistamines: concomitant administration of codeine and antihistamines with sedative properties may cause increased CNS depression and/or respiratory depression and/or hypotension.
MAOIs taken with pethidine have been associated with severe CNS excitation or depression (including hypertension or hypotension). Although this has not been documented with codeine, it is possible that a similar interaction may occur and therefore the use of codeine should be avoided while the patient is taking MAOIs and for 2 weeks after MAOI discontinuation.
Antipsychotics: enhanced sedative and hypotensive effect.
Anxiolytics and hypnotics: enhanced sedative effect.
Domperidone and metoclopramide: codeine antagonises the effect of cisapride, metoclopramide and domperidone on gastrointestinal activity.
Sodium oxybate: concomitant administration of codeine and sodium oxybate may cause increased CNS depression and/or respiratory depression and/or hypotension.
Ulcer-healing drugs: Cimetidine may inhibit the metabolism of codeine resulting in increased plasma concentrations.
Interference with laboratory tests: Opioids may interfere with gastric emptying studies as they delay gastric emptying and with hepatobiliary imaging using technetium Tc 99m disofenin as opioid treatment may cause constriction of the sphincter of Oddi and increase biliary tract pressure.
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
As with all medications caution should be exercised during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. A possible association with respiratory and cardiac malformations has been reported following first trimester exposure to codeine. Regular use of codeine during pregnancy may cause physical dependence in the foetus leading to withdrawal symptoms in the neonate. Administration of codeine during labour may depress respiration in the neonate. Opioid analgesics may cause gastric stasis during labour, increasing the risk of inhalation pneumonia in the mother.
Codeine should not be used during breastfeeding (see section 4.3). At normal therapeutic doses, codeine and its active metabolite may be present in breast milk at very low doses and is unlikely to adversely affect the breast fed infant.
However, if the patient is an ultra-rapid metaboliser of CYP2D6, higher levels of the active metabolite, morphine, may be present in breast milk and on very rare occasions may result in symptoms of opioid toxicity in the infant, which may be fatal.
If symptoms of opioid toxicity develop in either the mother or the infant, then all codeine containing medicines should be stopped and alternative non-opioid analgesics prescribed. In severe cases consideration should be given to prescribing naloxone to reverse these effects.
4.7 Effects on Ability to drive and to use machines
Codeine produces sedation and may also cause changes in vision, including blurred or double vision. If affected, patients should not drive or operate machinery. The effects of alcohol are enhanced by opioid analgesics.
This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient’s ability to drive safely. This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road of Traffic Act 1988. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told:
• The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive
• Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you
• It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine.
• However, you would not be committing an offence (called ‘statutory defence’) if:
o The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and
o You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine and o It was not affecting your ability to drive safely
4.8 Undesirable effects
Regular prolonged use of codeine is known to lead to addiction and tolerance. Symptoms of restlessness and irritability may result when treatment is then stopped.
Prolonged use of a painkiller for headaches can make them worse.
Tolerance and some of the most common side effects - drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, and confusion - generally develops with long term use.
Immune system disorders: maculopapular rash has been seen as part of a hypersensitivity syndrome associated with oral codeine phosphate; fever, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy also occurred.
Endocrine disorders: hyperglycaemia.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: anorexia.
Psychiatric disorders: mental depression, hallucinations and nightmares, restlessness, confusion, mood changes, euphoria and dysphoria.
Nervous system disorders: convulsions (especially in infants and children), dizziness, drowsiness, headache (prolonged use of a painkiller for headaches can make them worse). Raised intracranial pressure may occur in some patients.
Eye disorders: blurred or double vision or other changes in vision. Miosis.
Ear and labyrinth disorders: vertigo
Cardiac disorders: tachycardia, palpitations and bradycardia.
Vascular disorders: postural hypotension, facial flushing. Large doses produce hypotension.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Dyspnoea. Large doses produce respiratory depression.
Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, stomach cramps, pancreatitis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Biliary spasm (may be associated with altered liver enzyme values).
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: allergic reactions such as skin rashes, urticaria, pruritus, sweating and facial oedema.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Uncontrolled muscle movements. Muscle rigidity may occur after high doses.
Renal and urinary disorders: difficulty with micturation, urinary retention, ureteric spasm, dysuria. An antidiuretic effect may also occur with codeine.
Reproductive system and breast disorders: sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, decreased potency. Decreased libido.
General disorders and administration site conditions: malaise, tiredness, hypothermia.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report
any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9 Overdose
Respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, dry mouth, sweating and facial flushing are symptoms of overdose. High doses of codeine may produce hypotension, circulatory failure, sedation, muscle rigidity, nightmares, coma, or excitement and, in children, convulsions may occur.
In acute overdosage with respiratory depression or coma, naloxone is indicated using one of the following dose regimens-
Intravenous Injection: 0.8-2mg repeated at intervals of 2-3 minutes to a maximum of 10mg.
Child: 10pg/kg and, if no response, subsequent doses of 100pg/kg.
Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Injection: As intravenous injection but only if the i.v. route is not feasible. The onset of action is slower with s.c. or i.m. injection.
Continuous intravenous infusion: 2mg diluted in 500ml of intravenous infusion solution at a rate adjusted according to the patient's response.
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Codeine has similar uses to morphine but is much less potent as an analgesic and has only mild sedative effects.
Codeine is a centrally acting weak analgesic. Codeine exerts its effect through p opioid receptors, although codeine has low affinity for these receptors, and its analgesic effect is due to its conversion to morphine. Codeine, particularly in combination with other analgesics such as paracetamol, has been shown to be effective in acute nociceptive pain.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Codeine is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration. It is metabolised in the liver to morphine and norcodeine which are both excreted in the urine partly as conjugates with glucuronic acid.
Most of the excretion products appear in the urine within 6 hours and up to 86% of the dose is excreted in 24 hours. About 70% of the dose is excreted as free codeine, 10% as free and conjugated morphine and a further 10% as free or conjugated norcodeine. Only traces are found in the faeces. The plasma half life is between approximately 3 and 4 hours.
5.3
Preclinical safety data
There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to those included in other sections
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Lactose
Acacia spray dried Maize starch Magnesium stearate Stearic Acid
6.2 Incompatibilities
None
6.3 Shelf life
36 months for polypropylene/polyethylene containers 36 months for blister packaging
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C.
Store in the original container.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
100, 250 and 500 tablets in polypropylene/polyethylene containers.
28, 30, 56, 60, 84 and 90 tablets in polypropylene/polyethylene containers in cartons.
28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90 and 100 tablets in blister pack strips of 20 micron, hard tempered aluminium foil, coated with PVC compatible heat seal lacquer on the reverse side, and PVC film, in cartons.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Not applicable.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Wockhardt UK Ltd Ash Road North Wrexham LL13 9UF United Kingdom
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 29831/0048
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
20/05/1981 / 12/04/2007
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
12/05/2015