Terpin 32.5mg/5ml / Codeine 16mg/5ml linctus
Lowest controls; includes some codeine preparations
Legal requirements and restrictions
Preparations containing controlled drugs in low concentrations. Subject to minimal controls - mainly invoicing requirements.
Legal requirements
- No special prescription requirements
- No controlled drugs register required
- No safe custody requirements
- Invoices must be retained for 2 years
Other medicines in this category
Codeine linctus, Co-codamol (low strength), Kaolin and morphine
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Browse all Drug Analysis Profiles A–Z
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
Search EudraVigilance database
Browse substances A–Z in the European adverse reaction database
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
3 branded products available
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing all 24 studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 3 · 2018–2023
Showing all 24 studies, sorted by most relevant.
Andrea Miuli, G. Stigliano, A. Lalli, et al.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2020
- Social Media
- Antitussive Agents
- Codeine
M. Choi, Li Wang, C. Coroneos, et al.
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2021
- Ambulatory Surgical Procedures
- Analgesics, Opioid
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
BACKGROUND: Analgesics that contain codeine are commonly prescribed for postoperative pain, but it is unclear how they compare with nonopioid alternatives. We sought to compare the effectiveness of codeine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for adults who underwent outpatient surgery. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing codeine and NSAIDs for postoperative pain in outpatient surgery. We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to October 2019 for eligible studies. Our primary outcome was the patient pain score, converted to a standard 10-point intensity scale. Our secondary outcomes were patient-reported global assessments and adverse effects. We used random-effects models and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS: Forty studies, including 102 trial arms and 5116 patients, met inclusion criteria. The studies had low risk of bias and low-to-moderate heterogeneity. Compared with codeine, NSAIDs were associated with better pain scores at 6 hours (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.93 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71 to 1.15) and at 12 hours (WMD 0.79, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.19). Stronger NSAID superiority at 6 hours was observed among trials where acetaminophen was coadministered at equivalent doses between groups (WMD 1.18, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.48). NSAIDs were associated with better global assessments at 6 hours (WMD -0.88, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.72) and at 24 hours (WMD -0.67, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.40), and were associated with fewer adverse effects, including bleeding events. INTERPRETATION: We found that adult outpatients report better pain scores, better global assessments and fewer adverse effects when their postoperative pain is treated with NSAIDs than with codeine. Clinicians across all specialties can use this information to improve both pain management and opioid stewardship.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
R. Akhigbe, A. Ajayi
PLoS ONE, 2020
- Antioxidants
- Body Weight
- Codeine
BACKGROUND: Codeine, a 3-methylmorphine, and other related opioids have been implicated in androgen suppression, although the associated mechanisms remain unclear. AIM: Therefore, the objective of the current study was to elucidate the in vivo molecular mechanisms underlying codeine-induced androgen suppression. METHODS: This study made use of twenty-one healthy male rabbits, distributed into three groups randomly, control and codeine-treated groups. The control had 1ml of normal saline daily p.o. The codeine-treated groups received either 4mg/kg b.w of codeine or 10mg/kg b.w of codeine p.o. for six weeks. Reproductive hormonal profile, testicular weight, testicular enzymes, oxidative and inflammatory parameters, testicular DNA fragmentation, histological examination and apoptosis marker were evaluated to examine the effects of codeine use. KEY FINDINGS: Oral administration of codeine resulted in testicular atrophy and alterations in testicular histomorphology, elevated testicular enzymes, and suppression of circulatory and intra-testicular testosterone. These changes were associated with a marked rise in oxidative markers and decline in the activities of testicular enzymatic antioxidants, as well as oxidative DNA damage, inflammatory response, testicular DNA fragmentation, and caspase-dependent apoptosis (p<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, chronic codeine use resulted in testicular degeneration and testosterone suppression, which is attributable to TNF-α/nitric oxide-/oxidative stress-mediated caspase-dependent apoptotic testicular cell death and loss of testicular function.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Rimadani Pratiwi, Eka Noviana, Rizky Fauziati, et al.
Molecules, 2021
- Chemistry Techniques, Analytical
- Codeine
Codeine is derived from morphine, an opioid analgesic, and has weaker analgesic and sedative effects than the parent molecule. This weak opioid is commonly used in combination with other drugs for over-the-counter cough relief medication. Due to the psychoactive properties of opioid drugs, the easily obtained codeine often becomes subject to misuse. Codeine misuse has emerged as a concerning public health issue due to its associated adverse effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and hemorrhage. Thus, it is very important to develop reliable analytical techniques to detect codeine for both quality control of pharmaceutical formulations and identifying drug misuse in the community. This review aims to provide critical outlooks on analytical methods applicable to the determination of codeine.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Mehran Dastmalchi, Xue Chen, J. M. Hagel, et al.
Nature Chemical Biology, 2019
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Isomerases
M. Khairy, Bahaa G. Mahmoud, C. Banks
Sensors and Actuators B-chemical, 2018
We report a facile and low-cost methodology for the simultaneous determination of codeine (COD) and its common co-formulated drugs acetaminophen (APAP) and caffeine (CAF) utilising cerium oxide nanoparticles modified screen-printed electrodes (CeO2-SPEs) for the first time. Interestingly, CeO2-SPEs offer a promising, sensitive, robust and chemically stable non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of APAP, COD and CAF without any interference / overlapping of voltammetric peaks/signals. The electro-analytical sensing of APAP, COD and CAF were explored using CeO2-SPEs over a wide concentration range with competitively low detection limits (3S/N) of 0.051, 0.043 and 2.4 μmol L−1 respectively. The CeO2-SPEs with nanoscale CeO2 architectures exhibit practical analytical utility for the accurate and simultaneous determination of APAP, COD and CAF in human serum samples with excellent recoveries. The results show exceptional electrochemical performance of CeO2-SPEs in term of simplicity, stability and sensing abilities that can effectively reduce processing costs for scalable production and routine analysis.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
G. Sodeifian, Chandrasekhar Garlapati, Maryam Arbab Nooshabadi, et al.
Scientific Reports, 2023
- Carbon Dioxide
- Codeine
- Acetaminophen
Abstract In this study, the solubilities of codeine phosphate , a widely used pain reliever, in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) were measured under various pressures and temperature conditions. The lowest determined mole fraction of codeine phosphate in SC-CO 2 was 1.297 × 10 −5 at 308 K and 12 MPa, while the highest was 6.502 × 10 −5 at 338 K and 27 MPa. These measured solubilities were then modeled using the equation of state model, specifically the Peng-Robinson model . A selection of density models, including the Chrastil model , Mendez-Santiago and Teja model , Bartle et al. model , Sodeifian et al. model , and Reddy-Garlapati model , were also employed. Additionally, three forms of solid–liquid equilibrium models, commonly called expanded liquid models ( ELMs ), were used. The average solvation enthalpy associated with the solubility of codeine phosphate in SC-CO 2 was calculated to be − 16.97 kJ/mol. The three forms of the ELMs provided a satisfactory correlation to the solubility data, with the corresponding average absolute relative deviation percent (AARD%) under 12.63%. The most accurate ELM model recorded AARD% and AICc values of 8.89% and − 589.79, respectively.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Junqing Xie, V. Strauss, D. Martinez-Laguna, et al.
JAMA, 2021
- Cause of Death
- Accidental Falls
- Ambulatory Care
A. Ajayi, R. Akhigbe
Redox Report : Communications in Free Radical Research, 2020
- DNA Damage
- Apoptosis
- Oxidative Stress
Background: Opioids have been implicated to induce infertility. Although codeine remains the most used opioid for recreational purpose, no study has documented its effect on sperm quality. Elucidating the effect of codeine on sperm cells and the associated mechanisms may provide an insight into preventing drug-induced sperm damage. Twenty-one New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into three groups; control and codeine-treated. The codeine-treated groups received either 4 or 10mg/kg b.w of codeine for six weeks.Results: Codeine treatment led to significant decrease in sperm count, motility, viability, normal morphology, and sperm membrane integrity. This was associated with significant rise in sperm DNA fragmentation, oxidative damage, and caspase 3 activity. The percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation correlates positively with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, and caspase 3 activity, a biomarker of apoptosis. The observed correlation was stronger between sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidative DNA damage than sperm DNA fragmentation and caspase 3 activity.Conclusion: This study revealed that chronic codeine exposure causes sperm DNA fragmentation and poor sperm quality primarily via oxidative stress rather than activation of caspase 3-dependent apoptosis. Findings of the present study may explain drug-induced male factor infertility, particularly, those associated with opioid use.
Abstract licence: CC BY
R. Cairns, A. Schaffer, J. Brown, et al.
Addiction, 2020
- Prescription Drugs
- Opiate Overdose
- Australia
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Globally, codeine is the most-used opioid. In December 2016, Australia announced that low-strength codeine (≤ 15 mg) would be re-scheduled and no longer available for purchase over-the-counter; this was implemented in February 2018. We aimed to evaluate the effect of this scheduling change on codeine misuse and use and misuse of other opioids. DESIGN AND SETTING: Interrupted time-series analysis of monthly opioid exposure calls to New South Wales Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC, captures 50% of Australia's poisoning calls), January 2015- January 2019 and monthly national codeine sales, March 2015-March 2019. We incorporated a washout period (January 2017 - January 2018) between the announcement and implementation, when prescriber/consumer behaviour may have been influenced. PARTICIPANTS: Intentional opioid overdoses resulting in a call to NSWPIC. MEASUREMENTS: We used linear segmented regression to identify abrupt changes in level and slope of fitted lines. Codeine poisonings and sales were stratified into high strength (> 15 mg per dose unit) and low strength (≤ 15 mg). Only low-strength formulations were re-scheduled. FINDINGS: We observed an abrupt -50.8 percentage [95% confidence interval (CI) = -79.0 to -22.6%] level change in monthly codeine-related poisonings and no change in slope in the 12 months after February 2018. There was no increase in calls to the NSWPIC for high-strength products, level change: -37.2% (95% CI = -82.3 to 8%) or non-codeine opioids, level change: -4.4% (95% CI = -33.3 to 24.4%). Overall, the re-scheduling resulted in a level change in opioid calls of -35.8% calls/month (95% CI = -51.2 to -20.4%). Low-strength codeine sales decreased by 87.3% (95% CI = -88.5 to -85.9%), with no increase in high-strength codeine sales in the 14 months following re-scheduling, -4.0% (95% CI = -19.6 to 14.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Codeine re-scheduling in Australia appears to have reduced codeine misuse and sales.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Scientific data (pharmacology, interactions, ADME) is not yet available for this medicine. Clinical sections are sourced from the NHS dm+d database.