PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Dihydrocodeine Injection BP 50mg/ml

Dihydrococleine Tartrate

In this leaflet:

1.    What Dihydrocodeine Injection is and what it is used for

2.    Before Dihydrocodeine Injection is given

3.    How Dihydrocodeine Injection is given

4.    Possible side effects

5.    Storing Dihydrocodeine Injection 5. Further information

1.    What Dihydrocodeine Injection is and what it is used for

Dihydrocodeine belongs to a group of medicines known as analgesics which are used to relieve pain. Dihydrocodeine is used for the relief of severe pain.

2.    Before Dihydrocodeine Injection is given

You should not be given Dihydrocodeine Injection if you:

•    are allergic (hypersensitive) to dihydrocodeine or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6

•    suffer from breathing difficulties, or you are having an asthma attack

•    have difficulty opening your bowel

•    have a tumour of the adrenal gland known as phaeochromocytoma

Dihydrocodeine Injection should not be given to children under4years of age.

Take special care with Dihydrocodeine Injection, rell your doctor if you:

•    suffer from asthma

•    have an underactive thyroid gland

•    suffer from low blood pressure

•    suffer from seizures (fits) e.g. epilepsy

•    have been diagnosed as suffering from an enlarged prostate gland

•    have any breathing or lung problems

•    are suffering from severe headaches or have suffered a head injury

•    have liver or kidney problems

If any of the above applies to you or your child, please consult your doctor.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without prescription

Medicines that may interact with Dihydrocodeine Injection include:

•    anxiolytics or hypnotics (these are medicines that reduce anxiety or cause sleepiness) e.g. diazepam and chlordiazepoxide.

•    Dihydrocodeine injection should not be administered to patients receiving severe depression treatment known as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine or moclobemide or within two weeks of their withdrawal.

Taking Dihydrocodeine Injection with food and drink:

You areadvised notto drinkalcohol while being treated with Dihydrocodeine Injection.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

Dihydrocodeine injection should not be used if you are pregnant or try to become pregnant unless it is prescribed by your doctor.

Dihydrocodeine is likely to cross the placenta and be present in breast milkand it may cause breathing problems in new born babies.

Effects on the ability to drive and use machines:

Dihydrocodeine Injection may cause drowsiness. If you are affected in this way, however slightly, you should not drive or operate machinery.

This medicine can affect your ability to drive as it may make you sleepy or dizzy.

Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you.

It is an offence to drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive.

However, you would not be committing an offence if:

•    The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and

•    You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber or in the information provided with the medicine and

•    It was not affecting your ability to drive safely Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe foryou to drive while taking this medicine.

Important information about some of the ingredients:

This medicine contains sodium metabisulfite which may cause allergic (hypersensitive) type reactions in some people and can lead to breathing difficulties or collapse. People with a history of asthma or allergies are most likely to experience these problems.