Codeine is a simple analgesic. For many people, this medication is a very effective way to relieve pain, eliminate cough. Previously, the drug could be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription. However, recently, this drug and its preparations (including cough syrup with Codeine) have been banned for free leave. Many consumers do not understand these changes.
Gives answers to many questions about the prohibition of over-the-counter dispensing of the drug "Codeine" instructions for the tool in question.
The drug belongs to the category of opioid narcotic analgesics. The drug has an antitussive, analgesic, antidiarrheal property.
The mechanism of analgesic action is associated with excitation in the peripheral tissues and various areas of the central nervous system of opiate receptors. This provokes changes in the emotional perception of pain. The antitussive effect is due to suppression at the level of the “bridge” of the cough reflex. By activating opiate intestinal receptors, smooth muscles relax, peristalsis decreases, and sphincter spasm decreases.
Codeine. Instruction Indications
The drug is prescribed to eliminate pain due to cancer, trauma, colic (renal, hepatic), diarrhea, paroxysmal unproductive cough.
The contraindications for taking the medication “Codeine” include pneumonia, bronchial asthma, hypersensitivity, alcohol intoxication, head injury, collapse. The drug is not prescribed for intoxication diarrhea, disorders of the liver or kidneys, epilepsy, hypocoagulation conditions. The medication is also contraindicated during the gestation period, in childhood (up to two years).
If necessary, take the drug during lactation, breastfeeding is stopped.
Codeine. Instructions for use
Adults are prescribed oral administration of 15 to 60 mg every four or six hours to eliminate pain. To relieve symptoms of diarrhea and cough four times daily. In the first case, 30 mg is recommended, in the second - from 10 to 20 mg. The maximum amount of the drug taken per day is 120 mg. Dosages for children are selected only by the attending physician.
Taking the drug, especially over an extended period, causes drug dependence, addiction, hypotension, respiratory depression, vomiting, nausea, atony in the bladder and intestines, arrhythmia, bradycardia. Allergic reactions are also noted.
The instruction recommends stopping the use of the Codeine medication gradually, otherwise withdrawal syndrome may develop .
To a greater extent, the prerequisites for prohibiting the sale of the drug were drug dependence developing during its use. The substance codeine is made from morphine. Being an opiate, the component is quite dangerous for the body. Of course, it effectively relieves pain, as, indeed, other narcotic components. However, with a small increase in dosage, the Codeine preparation begins to act in a slightly different way. In addition to changing the effect, patients note that it is difficult for them to live without a medication.
It should be noted that drug dependence does not develop immediately and not in all cases. So, therapeutic dosages of the drug do not have such a negative effect on the body. In addition, you can get rid of addiction by gradually lowering the dosage of the drug, in the end, it completely disappears.
As mentioned above, free release from pharmacies and medicines containing codeine are prohibited. These include, in particular, Cofex. This syrup is used as an antitussive. In addition, the drug is also used for inflammatory pathologies in the respiratory tract.