Codeine User Reviews & Ratings

• dalec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2021

For Diarrhea "I suffer from IBS and Diverticulitis and, although I have a repeat prescription for mebeverine (which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't) I haven't had a solid bowel movement for ages. As any sufferers know, the urgent need for the toilet only minutes after eating anything, really does get you down after long periods and it's sometimes easier to just not eat at all if I'm out somewhere. EXCEPT when I have been prescribed codeine for unrelated symptoms, (back pain, whiplash, etc) at which point by some magic my IBS vanishes overnight and my digestive system genuinely returns to "normal". I've only ever taken low doses of codeine (2 or 3 30mg tablets in 24 hours) and never felt any other side effects, including drowsiness. Is it out of the question for it to be prescribed as a treatment, given its apparently addictive nature?"

• Slash
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2020

For Diarrhea "Had my gallbladder out over 10 years ago and started getting bad frequent diarrhoea and gastric reflux. After many tests was diagnosed with post cholecystectomy syndrome. Chronic diarrhoea left me terrified to leave the house. After years of trial and error my dr prescribed codeine. I accept I am addicted, but it is so much better than the alternative"

• Inspe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2020

For Diarrhea "I had my gall bladder removed in 2000. Not long after I started having other problems and was eventually diagnosed with IBS. I have taken a number of different drugs but codeine was the only one which calmed my stomach down and helped me get through the day. I take 30mg codeine every night. Occasionally if I'm stressed I take an other 30mg but that's it. I don't think I could continue without it."

• PainP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 29, 2018

For Pain "I am 20 years old. I have been suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder for 4 years. For me, the biggest problem of the wide range related to chronic anxiety is chronic pain: huge muscle cramps in shoulders and neck, as well as back pain, bruxism during day and night and frequent headaches. Codeine 30 mg every 6 hours helps me level all of these issues so that I am able to study my University subjects. It has been the only painkiller that helped me so far... I am lucky to have an understanding doctor, given how much are demonizing this helpful medication, due to some irresponsible people."

• Dexy
• November 30, 2019

For Pain "I *need* Codeine for the pain of Fibromyalgia and take 8 codeine phosphate daily. But I'm going to be tapered off due to the addition epidemic. It's unfair on genuine patients that some abuse it, which put changes to guidelines on prescriptions. Just cos some go on their crusades to change laws puts pressure on others."

• Dearie
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 21, 2019

For Diarrhea "I have been taking tylenol 3 for 15 years for my IBS. I was able to live a good life and work but now at 65 the night is full of trips to bathroom and the Drs have told me I must get off the codeine as it is ruining my colon. I was on 3-4 daily and 4-6 lomotil till daily. I am now one month in withdrawal. I go to bathroom 15-30 times a day. Nothing can be done for me for 6 months so they say. This is a REAL DRAG. I am totally home bound at this point. Withdrawal is really tough but I have no desire for the drug emotionally just for the constipation effects. Trying Fodmap diet but it has made no difference yet"

• pxbaa
• January 28, 2009

For Pain "Very effective. I have osteoarthritis and can be pain free with Codeine. It is more effective with Ibuprofen. ALSO profoundly lifts depression due to chronic pain and makes such a better life day to day. Space doses well apart to avoid tolerance. I use only in the morning with very good effect. Using whole daily dose in the morning may get you through the day without a need for a second dose. I would leave at least 6 hours between doses to assure full effect. Don't suffer needlessly. Good luck and hope this helps."

• DBINCG
• December 2, 2008

For Diarrhea "I have severe IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and could not find relief until I was prescribed codeine for it. At this point most of my symptoms are either completely gone or nearly gone. I can say that codeine is a wonder drug when it comes to resolving the symptoms."

• CW55
• March 6, 2016

For Diarrhea "3 bowel resections due to crohn's disease, I now have short bowel syndrome with chronic diarrhea. I have tried every anti-diarrheral drug there is and the only one that has helped is codeine. I consider it a wonder drug for my condition, enabling me to lead a mostly normal life. I have taken the same amount everyday for 6 years. I don't feel "high", but do feel slightly drowsy occasionally. I did have a period of 8 months where I stopped taking it and while I did have some physical symptoms (not mental) in stopping, they were not too bad, the symptom relief I had on the drug far outweighed the negatives. I continue to take and it makes my life easier."

• Collete
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2023

For Diarrhea "I have suffered for years with nighttime cramps and diarrhea, I was prescribed Co-codamol (a combination of codeine and paracetamol) for arthritis pain. I found that Co-codamol stopped diarrhea, it was like a wonder cure. I take half a tablet each night. My GP said it was fine to manage my IBS symptoms this way."

• Ouchy
• October 3, 2014

For Pain "I have extreme toothache, where no amount of paracetamol or ibuprofen can take it off, have been using codeine to take away the pain and it works, only down side is feeling very very sick and cannot even face food, and feeling shaky/drunk."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2013

For Pain "Had 4 wisdom teeth taken out this morning at 8:30am. My dentist prescribed some codeine for the pain. Having never taken codeine before, and the label reading take 1 or 2 pills for pain, I decided to take 2 around 12:30pm. WOW, these things take all of the pain away alright, however, for about 1 - 2 hours they made me very drowsy, out of it and I couldn't look at anything with a screen without it being blurry or me feeling dizzy. I was literally glued to my seat. Thought I was going to throw up at one point too. Should probably only be used for chronic, unbearable pain - otherwise it is not worth the side effects. Still feeling a little woozy now at 10:00pm. Will stick to the softer stuff because it seems like I am really sensitive to it."

• Homes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2016

For Pain "I am an early 60's male with chronic neck pain as result of too many skiing accidents over many years. Normal pain killers like Aspirin or Naprosan wouldn't even touch the pain however l found Paracetamol / Codeine 500mg / 30mg worked wonders. I take 1 tablet at first and if pain too intense increase to 2 tablets. Because of stomach upsets and slight dizziness l limit myself to 4 tablets daily. Talking to my GP about situation and the fact that l did not want to stay long-term on the Paracetamol / Codeine and he suggested acupuncture which l started to have 2 times a week (10 very sharp but small needles) over a period of 6 weeks and, as result l have only had 1 of my tablets for the last fortnight which is a wonderful turn-around for me."

• JennyT
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

For Diarrhea "I have suffered with severe IBS for years and like many other sufferers, would sooner not eat or drink on occasions just so that I don't spend the entire day on the loo. It is debilitating. I endured a back injury last year and I was prescribed codeine. It's like a miracle and I have my life back. I take one 30mg once in the morning and I am completely back to a one a day firm bowel movement. I hear about how codeine is addictive but just getting my life back I am willing to forgo that."

• Ulce...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2022

For Diarrhea "Hi! I have suffered for many years with soft watery bowls… urgency and needing to go every two minutes after I’ve eaten. Life was hard as some will know. I have since been diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and Proctitis. Codeine was prescribed to me for pain but since then has changed my life! I feel happier, my movements are every 2 days and solid! I don’t have to worry about leaving the house. I know it’s not a good drug to be taking… it’s done wonders for me. Doctors want to take me off it but I’m not wanting to! Would rather live a good life than a long one on the toilet."

• Eadwig
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 10, 2017

For Pain "I have been taking codeine 15yrs+ with diazepam & Tylenol. I can no longer take anti-inflammatories too, unfortunately. I have a huge tolerance, regularly taking 240-300mg a day (8-10 tablets). On pain free days I need to take a 1 tablet about every 12hrs or withdrawal starts after about 18. That is a bit like having a dose of flu for a few days, combined with severe diarrhoea in my case. During rare pain-free periods it isn't worth weaning myself off completely cos the pain is never away long. Everyone different; 60mg gives me 2 hrs max. relief. No constipation, dizziness or nausea-the latter often experienced briefly on 1st use (inc. posters here) -dose probs too big. Constipation is common & worse than the pain, I'm told, so go easy."

• Mr S
• July 5, 2017

For Pain "After hurting my back I was sent home with some Endone which did not relieve my pain. The hospital gave me some Asprin/Codiene dissovable tablets. It was like a warm feeling of relaxation and pain was gone. My back healed within one week and I stopped taking them afterwards. I highly recommend this to someone with spinal pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2017

For Diarrhea "Suffered from Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome for years. Especially needing to empty my bowels every 1 to 2 hours during the night. Codeine was the only thing that stopped this and allowed me to have uninterrupted sleep. Lomotil or Imodium did nothing."

• Sleep...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 28, 2015

For Pain "lI was lucky to have had a Dr that did research with codeine for Narcolepsy. Codeine has a paradoxil effect in Narcoleptics. It works better than any stimulants to not only be able to stay awake but aware without the awful side effects of a stimulant such as jitteriness. I Am able to read, do paper work, budget money, drive things that require concentration that are otherwise extremely difficult and hard to do and get right. Codeine has allowed me to be able to do things I wouldn't be able to do anymore on just stimulants. Gives me some life back. Having Narcolepsy is like having to watch life go by in a dream, it steels your ability to participate in life. Slowly built a tolerance otherwise no problems at all."

• 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 8mg 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."

• rosei...
• January 17, 2016

For Pain "Fantastic would be suffering with out! I take co-codamol 30/500 for tooth ache that I'm getting work on and having to wait a while for referral to go through. But this really does make the pain vanish in about 10 minutes! Only down side is it can make you feel very drowsy and very slight stomach ache but I take to help me sleep as that's when the pain is at it's worst and it does help you sleep. Also causes constipation and the pain free moments only last a few hours."

• Ney
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2020

For Pain "This drug worked amazingly for my pinched nerve in my neck it dulled the pain HOWEVER I got severe case of constipation after taking it over a week and a half. I do want to try it again but I’m going to see my GP about how I can combat this."

• verma...
• May 11, 2012

For Pain "I tried paracetamol and ibuprofen, but they're not as effective as codeine. Codeine is really helping me for muscle spasm I have as I am suffering from cerebral palsy. I'm glad I got it prescribed from my GP doctor."

• Rickee
• April 17, 2013

For Pain "Short lived but effective painkiller. I tend to get more dizzy and lightheaded from it than hydrocodone but the painkilling effects are similar. I rarely took the recommended dose on the bottle because it affected me so much. 1/2 a pill seemed sufficient. Takes only about 30 minutes to start taking effect."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2011

For Pain "I have been experiencing horrible hip pain from a car wreck in which I dislocated it and broke my femur. Doctor have me tramadol first, which didn't help at all then he have me Tylenol/codeine. It has almost gotten rid of the pain. I would have rated it higher except it is causing me blurred vision pretty frequently."