Co-dydramol

Co-dydramol (BAN) is a non-proprietary name used to denote a compound analgesic, a combination of dihydrocodeine tartrate and paracetamol. Co-dydramol tablets are used for the relief of moderate pain. Co-dydramol is in fact part of a series of combination drugs available in the UK and other countries including Co-codaprin (aspirin and codeine), Co-codamol (codeine phosphate and paracetamol) and Co-proxamol (dextropropoxyphene and paracetamol).

Formulation

All formulations contain 500 mg of paracetamol per tablet and may only be sold at a pharmacy as an over-the-counter item without prescription if containing less than 7.5 mg of dihydrocodeine per tablet. Higher strengths are prescription only medicines. Four strengths of dihydrocodeine tartrate in each tablet are available:

• 7.46 mg dihydrocodeine in the brand Paramol.
• 10 mg dihydrocodeine, BAN of Co-dydramol 10/500, this is also the preparation to be dispensed if no strength is specified on a prescription.
• 20 mg dihydrocodeine, BAN of Co-dydramol 20/500 (branded product Remedeine).
• 30 mg dihydrocodeine, BAN of Co-dydramol 30/500 (branded product Remedeine forte).

Possible Side Effects

• Allergic reactions - skin rash or itchy skin, difficulty breathing, increased sweating, redness or flushed face, mucosal lesions (such as mouth ulcers), drug fever.
• Abdominal pain - may be caused by spasm of the bile ducts and inflammation of the liver or pancreas.
• Gastrointestinal system - stomach irritation (mild stomach pain, heartburn and feeling sick), constipation, feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, dry mouth, difficulty in passage of food through the gut.
• Blood - anaemia, changes in numbers and types of blood cells, nose bleeds, increased risk of infection, bruising.
• Urinary system - pain or difficulty in passing urine.
• Nervous system - confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, 'spinning' sensation, mood changes, depression, hallucinations, restlessness, excitation, fits, increased pressure in the skull (painful eyes, changes in vision), headache, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, reduced alertness. Tolerance or dependence.
• Eyes - blurred or double vision, extremely small pupils.
• Other - trembling, unusual tiredness or weakness, malaise, low body temperature, breathing difficulties, muscle stiffness, changes in sex drive.

References

• British National Formulary 2004
• Merck Index 13th Edition
• Oxford textbook of clinical pharmacology Second Edition (09. October 1992)
• Martindale: The complete drug reference 35th Edition (2007)
• Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th Edition

See also

• Co-proxamol
• Co-codamol
• Co-codaprin

External links