[benaffleck]

my friend was prescribed codeine that says on the bottle codeine/acetaminophen 300mg tablet

isn't that 300mg of codeine, and therefore a fatal dose? i read that no more than 60mg should be administered at a time, or is it 300mg of acetaminophen, which is a different thing

in other words, how is taking one of these tablets not overdose?

[benaffleck]

Originally Posted by benaffleck

codeine/acetaminophen 300mg tablet

my mistake

codeine 30/acetaminophen 300mg tablet

does that mean 30mg of codeine?

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by benaffleck

my mistake

codeine 30/acetaminophen 300mg tablet

does that mean 30mg of codeine?

It's 300mg of acetaminophen and 30mg codiene.

[newyorkgal]

I have a question that I really can't figure out the answer to. They mix pain pills with aspirin or tylenol, often at really high doses. If you abuse pain pills, you can kill yourself on the aspirin or tylenol alone, never mind the lethal nature of the pain meds. What's the purpose of mixing pain med with the other ingredients. Is it supposed to aid in the pain relief like you would take aspirin for minor aches and pains? Just wondering.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by benaffleck

my friend was prescribed codeine that says on the bottle codeine/acetaminophen 300mg tablet

isn't that 300mg of codeine, and therefore a fatal dose? i read that no more than 60mg should be administered at a time, or is it 300mg of acetaminophen, which is a different thing

in other words, how is taking one of these tablets not overdose?

ben ... the 300mg is acetaminophen. It's only added to the codiene or hydrocodone or whatever as it works with the narcotic medication to make it work faster. That is why these meds are referred to as instant release meds vs an extended release med like pure oxycodone. Any amount of acetaminophen over 1000mg is a toxic dose to the liver, or up to 4000mg in a 24 hour period is also toxic to the liver. Where Ibuprofen is used it metabolizes through the kidneys rather than the liver. You really have to watch those doses. Anything over three of those pills is toxic to your liver. God bless.

[newyorkgal]

I actually asked the question about the acetophetamin or aspirin. Ben asked about the codiene. In any case, thanks for supplying the answer. I could never figure out why they added that stuff to a pain pill.