INGREDIENTS

Paracetamol 500mg
Codeine 30mg

What is Solpadol?

• Solpadol is a type of pain relief that contains both paracetamol and codeine (an opioid painkiller - effective at inhibiting pain receptors)
• Solpadol is a medication that is often used when milder forms of pain relief, such as paracetamol alone or ibuprofen have not relieved the pain
• The generic version of Solpadol is called co codamol.
• Solpadol is only available on prescription from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist prescriber
• Solpadol is commonly prescribed for joint pain, toothache and migraines
• The codeine in Solpadol can become addictive when used long term, so your prescription should be reviewed regularly to avoid dependence or withdrawal
• It is important to read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects and cautions.

Patient Information Leaflet

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Solpadol patient information leaflet.

How does Solpadol Work?

Solpadol contains both paracetamol and codeine.

Paracetamol is a common pain killer that works by blocking the chemical messengers of pain. This minimises your sensation of pain.

Codeine is an opioid pain reliever. It blocks the pain signals that would usually travel along the nerves to the brain. With the pain signals blocked in your nervous system, you can expect your pain to subside or disappear altogether.

Taking two different forms of pain relief can help you manage your pain more effectively. By taking the drugs combined in one tablet, you can also minimise the number of pills you need to take each day. 

How do I take Solpadol?

Solpadol Tablets

Solpadol is available as a caplet or capsule. These forms of Solpadol should be swallowed with water. 

Solpadol Effervescent

Effervescent Solpadol tablets are also available for those who find this preparation easier to take. 

Solpadol can be taken with or without food.

What is the dosage of Solpadol?

Solpadol 30mg 500mg

Solpadol is available in one strength. Each Solpadol capsule, caplet or effervescent tablet contains 500mg paracetamol and 30mg of codeine.

Solpadol Dosage

The usual dose is one or two tablets taken up to four times daily. There should be 6 hours between each dose, and the maximum number of tablets you can take in a 24 hour period is 8 tablets.

It is common for two Solpadol tablets to be taken at a time. This equals a dose of 1000mg (1 gram) of paracetamol, which is the maximum recommended amount of paracetamol per dose. You must therefore not take any other paracetamol containing medications whilst taking the maximum dose of Solpadol.

To avoid addiction to the active ingredient, codeine, Solpadol should not be taken for more than 3 days. Consult a doctor or healthcare professional to discuss your options if no effective pain relief has been experienced with the short term treatment after the initial 3 day period.

Codeine can become additive when taken long term. Over a long period, some people can become dependent on codeine or experience symptoms of withdrawal when stopping it. Your prescriber will talk to you about your likely course of treatment, including when and how you can expect to stop taking it to avoid dependence.

What are the side effects of Solpadol?

Solpadol Side Effects

Like all medications, Solpadol can have some side effects. The most common side effects include:

• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting (feeling sick and being sick)
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Confusion
• Feeling drowsy
• Withdrawal symptoms (one of the active ingredients in Solpadol, codeine, can be a addictive as it is an opioid - opiate addiction is a possibility.)

If any of these side effects persist or are troublesome, you should speak to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional for medical advice.

Occasionally, some people experience difficulty passing urine, changes to vision and skin rashes when taking Solpadol. If any of these side effects occur, you should speak to a doctor straight away.

If you have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) including breathlessness, lip or tongue swelling, call 999 immediately.

What warnings does Solpadol come with?

Solpadol may not be suitable for everyone. You should tell your doctor if you have:

• Lung problems or breathing difficulties including asthma
• Liver or kidney disease
• A head injury
• Seizures (fits) due to any cause
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Problems with your adrenal glands
• Alcohol or drug addiction, or if you drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week.

Solpadol may not be suitable if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.

Some medications can interact with Solpadol. You may be advised that Solpadol will not suit you if you already take:

• Another medication that contains paracetamol
• Another medication that contains codeine
• Anti-sickness medications
• Blood-thinners including warfarin or heparin
• Sleeping pills
• Benzodiazepines including diazepam
• Antidepressants
• Certain antibiotics
• Medications for epilepsy.

You should also tell your prescriber about any herbal remedies or supplements you take. This will allow your prescriber to check that Solpadol will not interact with them.

It is important that your doctor checks that Solpadol will suit you. Your doctor should complete a thorough health questionnaire and review your current medications before prescribing this medication.

Solpadol FAQs

Can pregnant women take Solpadol?

Solpadol is typically not recommended as a suitable treatment for pregnant women as the foetus may develop a dependence to it (due to the active ingredient, codeine), which can lead to withdrawal symptoms in the neonate. Consult your regular healthcare provider or doctor for the appropriate medical advice to assess the risks and your suitability for Solpadol if you are pregnant.

Can women who are breastfeeding take Solpadol?

Solpadol is typically not recommended as a suitable treatment for women who are breastfeeding as the active ingredient, codeine can be secreted in the mother's breast milk causing the infant to suffer respiratory depression. There could also be a risk of opioid toxicity for the infant, if the CYP2D6 enzyme metabolises codeine in the liver into morphine, which can be fatal. You should always consult your regular healthcare provider or doctor to assess the risks before taking Solpadol when breastfeeding.

What withdrawal symptoms can Solpadol have?

Some Solpadol users will experience withdrawal syndrome. Opioid drug withdrawal symptoms can include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate and/or breathing problems, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, insomnia, headache, migraines, weakness, anorexia, anxiety, chills, restlessness amongst other symptoms. A healthcare professional or doctor should be contacted as soon as possible after you start to experience any of these withdrawal symptoms when coming off Solpadol usage.

What experiences have Solpadol users had?

Every patient suffering from severe pain has different pain symptoms and a unique individual experience when taking Solpadol as a treatment.

User Reviews for Solpadol

To see what people have to say about their experiences with the medication, take a look at the Solpadol user reviews available at IWantGreatCare.org.