Codeine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• J64...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2023

For Diarrhea "I have suffered from IBS for around 7 or 8 years without realizing what it was. I just suffered in silence, putting it down to old age creeping in. But it was getting to be insufferable, clenching my buttocks tightly, constant trips to the toilet, and thin, runny bowel movements. Then I realized that when I take Co-codamol tablets for my back pain (which flares up occasionally due to a condition I've had for most of my adult life), all the IBS symptoms magically disappear. If I stop taking them for a couple of days when I'm off work and don't have to go out for any reason, the symptoms come back. So I just keep taking the same daily dose, two 8 mg tablets twice a day, that's all it takes. I've never suffered any unwanted side effects, and thankfully I still go to the toilet once a day, but I go when it suits me, and it's solid, with no more watery movements. I don't know if I'll have to suffer any long-term effects from taking it, but the alternative doesn't appeal to me. It works, that simple."

• Top...
• January 30, 2018

For Diarrhea "Took just one as prescribed by the oncologist who I was seeing for a yearly cancer check. Prescribed one each night for 14 days. Only further investigation if this did not work. Took 1 only. Worked immediately, absolutely brilliant. Haven't taken any more. Trouble is, what was the cause of my diarrhea?"

• mam...
• September 27, 2010

For Pain "I now take Fiorinal with codeine for headaches that are so bad, it was difficult to function day to day. These work extremely well for headaches, and thanks to them, I am now able to function throughout each day, headache-free. Thank you."

• Phi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 29, 2023

For Diarrhea "Same as the others, IBS was ruining my life. Took codeine and got my life back. Bit of a slippery slope though. I've decided after many years to stop taking codeine. Had a couple of bad episodes, plus when stressed, prepare for a bad night. 7 days of codeine-free, and the stomach's bubbling. But I need to quit and get some normality back in my life. If there is such a thing. I feel so alone at times. Life's tough without codeine to help."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2015

For Pain "2 dead teeth awaiting extraction under GA. Tried to bring appointment forward but still waiting. Typical just over Christmas. Swelling caused a gumboil sinus tract. Throbbing and tenderness to the surrounding gum. Can't bite down. Rubbed tooth with tea tree oil and bathing with iced water or sucking ice to reduce swelling, which causes the pain. Taken prescribed pure codeine 30 mgs, naproxen 250 mgs, 4 hourly with milk, breaking the tablets into 4 pieces. Easier for the gut to break down. Works well!"

• Bun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 1, 2016

For Cough "More than a decade of a horrible chronic cough, doc put me on codeine and whatever damage it might be doing to my body, it has been well worth it. I have had to increase dosage considerably, but so far I have not become immune, thank God, because I don't want to live coughing like I have in the past. No side effects that are negative."

• Wis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2024

For Pain "Years ago, I had 3 wisdom teeth removed. Then the 4th because they found an infection. I took Amoxicillin, of course. For the dental pain, two 30mg tablets every 4-6 hours, and 600mg of Ibuprofen. The first week it was two 30mg every 4hrs. Once it healed more, I could space them out, 1 or 2 every 5 hours, depending on the pain. I had a month's worth, 6 a day, lasted just long enough. Still a little pain at the end, but that went away. They serve a valid purpose. After a month of daily use, stopping was no problem. My gums didn't hurt anymore. 8 because when I cleaned the holes in my gums with the little water tube, BOOM, hit the nerve, pain shooting down my arm, Wonky Town, Ouch! It's good. They were generic. So, 30mg Codeine, 15mg caffeine, and 325mg Acetaminophen."

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2015

For Pain "I had 3 of my 4 wisdom teeth taken out this past August. My dentist prescribed me codeine and ibuprofen. Whenever I took the codeine, my pain level was very low, so I'd say it worked pretty well! The only reason I didn't give a ten is because it did make me extremely nauseous at one point."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2010

For Pain "'Graduated' to codeine after finding paracetamol and aspirin were not doing it for my foot (varicose) ulcer pain. Helpful in small doses, but I was surprised at the level of drowsiness it caused, even when off the drug for more than 24 hours. Also, eating lots of fruit is helping to alleviate some of the constipation I was warned about."

• aha...
• June 19, 2009

For Cough "I could barely breathe or eat when I had bronchitis. When I took codeine, I could at least drink water and eat noodles. I don't know how I would have survived without it. Although I had to quit taking it before I finished my prescription because it made me feel 'drunk' if I didn't have major pain."

• luk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2023

For Diarrhea "Have had chronic diarrhea for 33 years. Was taking up to 25 mg of loperamide and 13 packets of Questran Lite daily to control it. My specialist of 25 years would not prescribe me codeine. I was referred to a professor, and the first thing he did was suggest I try codeine. I take four 30 mg tablets a day, and I have been able to half my other medications, and my issue is now far easier to manage. Codeine has improved the quality of my life significantly, and if I were put on it years earlier, my suffering could have been greatly reduced. I am very grateful to the fantastic professor who took the opposite approach and has transformed the quality of my life."

• RxM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2023

For Pain "I used codeine for pain for about a month. It was able to help me get through my days without a struggle, but didn't help when I had episodes of severe pain. Additionally, I found myself becoming very dependent on it after only 5 days of use."

• Anonymous
• November 29, 2009

For Pain "I was prescribed codeine when my wisdom teeth were taken out. This should only be used for extreme and chronic pain. It made me feel completely out of it. I was dizzy and felt like I had a brick on my chest the entire time while I was using it."

• A D...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2022

For Pain "Took 1/2 a Mersyndol Forte tablet with a glass of water for general muscle pain. The muscle aches abated within 30 mins. Around 60 mins after taking the Mersyndol Forte, sudden onset of very severe 10/10 on the pain scale, upper epigastric pain/spasms commenced, centered across stomach, liver, and where gall bladder should ordinarily be, had a cholecystectomy not been performed over 10 years ago... Worse than giving birth. Excruciating pain lasted for 4 hours and subsided very slowly over approx 8 hours accompanied by burping. Subsequent to the incident, research on Mersyndol shows there are numerous medical and scientific papers and customer reviews reporting the same issue, with many patients suffering pancreatitis following codeine-induced Sphincter of Oddi spasm in patients who have had their gall bladder removed. There should be a CLEAR WARNING on the box and information sheets of all medications containing codeine for cholecystectomy patients."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Diarrhea "I have IBS-Diarrhea type. A couple of months ago, I had kidney stones, and the doctors gave me morphine in the hospital and codeine to take home. I took the codeine every six hours for three days until the stones passed. I didn't poop for a week and have not had diarrhea since."

• Ian...
• March 8, 2024

For Diarrhea "What I would say is you can go through every over-the-counter drug/product. Some find Imodium or Buscopan of help. However, there’s something about codeine which, in my opinion, helps. 30-500 Co-codamol has helped me. If you ask doctors, it is unlikely you'll ever get a high-end drug (cost). Even consultants seem somewhat aloof to any of the 1234 stages of IBS. They give you a diagnosis, pack you off, and you have to work out how to help yourself. You go back to the doctor, get re-referred, and hope. Regards to all IBS sufferers."

• Hom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2023

For Cough "Having a chronic cough for more than 10 years and after being frustrated from taking every over-the-counter medication, I was diagnosed with acid reflux. Started taking PPIs, and I was coughing less, but still, it never stopped until I tried codeine. Man, what a miracle for coughs. Be warned that it can constipate you."

• LeM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 24, 2025

For Diarrhea "I’ve suffered with IBS diarrhea for years and had several near misses! What gets me the most is the pain of cramps and the chronic lower abdominal pain during an attack. I’ve tried all the usual remedies, but nothing holds a candle to codeine! It works fast, 10-15 minutes, and lasts at least half a day. It stops all my cramps and abdominal pain. Plus, as it is an opioid, it imparts a beneficial mood lift and counters the general unwell feeling during an IBS episode. I will say you have to get tolerant to this medication, as at first it can make you feel nauseous, but persevere and it soon passes. Don’t take too much; 30 mg is enough per dose, twice daily, and you’ll get the benefits without side effects."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2013

For Pain "Excellent pain relief for ovarian cancer. Only downside, terrible constipation that no amount of drinking or eating prunes, kiwi fruit, or bran made any difference."

• dam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2013

For Pain "After morphine, this would probably be the best pain reliever I know of. I have never had any dizziness, blurred vision, or sleepiness, but that's probably just me. Fantastic for wisdom teeth also."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2024

For Chronic Pain "Very good, had chronic pain in the hip, reduced it and made movement easier for me."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2011

For Pain "I took codeine every 6 hours when I had a broken arm. Codeine worked well and took the pain away in about 15 to 20 minutes after taking it, but the pain started coming back again after about 3 hours."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2011

For Pain "A dentist prescribed it to me, and it works very well. The pain goes almost instantly."

• spu...
• July 28, 2008

For Pain "I take this drug for my back pain with other painkillers, and I find this drug very good."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2009

For Pain "It is the only thing that works for my migraines."