Cautions with other medicines
Some medicines can affect the way codeine works, and increase the chances of you having side effects.
Tell your doctor if you're taking any medicines:
- to help you sleep
- for depression – some types cannot be taken with codeine
- for high blood pressure
- to help stop you feeling or being sick
- to treat symptoms of an allergy
- to reduce tension or anxiety
- for mental health problems
Taking codeine with other painkillers
It's safe to take codeine with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin (aspirin is suitable for most people aged 16 and over).
Some painkillers that you can buy without a prescription from pharmacies contain codeine. They include co-codamol, ibuprofen and codeine (such as Nurofen Plus) and Solpadeine.
If you are taking prescribed codeine, do not take painkillers that contain codeine that you have bought from a pharmacy at the same time. You'll be more likely to get side effects.
Mixing codeine with herbal remedies and supplements
It is not possible to say that herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with codeine. They are not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines, and are generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.
Important: Medicine safety
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.