Uses
Pain
Symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain that is not relieved by a non-opiate analgesic.
Combinations of codeine and aspirin or acetaminophen may produce additive analgesic effects because of differing mechanisms of action.
Cough
Symptomatic relief of nonproductive cough, alone or in combination with other antitussives or expectorants.
Dosage and Administration
Administration
Oral Administration
Administer orally.
Dispense a calibrated measuring device with cough preparations intended for children 2–5 years of age.
Dosage
Available as codeine phosphate and codeine sulfate; dosage expressed in terms of the salt.
Pediatric Patients
Cough
Oral
Usual Pediatric Antitussive Dosages
| Age |
Daily Dosage |
| 2–5 years |
1 mg/kg daily in 4 equally divided doses every 4–6 hours |
| 6–11 years |
5–10 mg every 4–6 hours |
| ≥12 years |
10–20 mg every 4–6 hours |
Alternatively, use the following dosages as a guide based on average body weight; reduce dosage for low-weight children.
Antitussive Dosages for Pediatric Patients Based on Weight
| Age |
Daily Dosage |
| 2 years (averaging 12 kg) |
3 mg every 4–6 hours (maximum 12 mg daily) |
| 3 years (averaging 14 kg) |
3.5 mg every 4–6 hours (maximum 14 mg daily) |
| 4 years (averaging 16 kg) |
4 mg every 4–6 hours (maximum 16 mg daily) |
| 5 years (averaging 18 kg) |
4.5 mg every 4–6 hours (maximum 18 mg daily) |
Pain
Oral
3 mg/kg or 100 mg/m2 daily in 6 divided doses. Alternatively, 0.5 mg/kg or 15 mg/m2 every 4–6 hours.
Adults
Cough
Oral
10–20 mg every 4–6 hours.
Pain
Oral
30 mg every 4 hours as needed; usual dosage range is 15–60 mg every 4 hours as needed.
Prescribing Limits
Pediatric Patients
Cough
Oral
Maximum Daily Antitussive Dosages for Pediatric Patients
| Age |
Maximum Daily Dosage |
| 2 years (averaging 12 kg) |
12 mg |
| 3 years (averaging 14 kg) |
14 mg |
| 4 years (averaging 16 kg) |
16 mg |
| 5 years (averaging 18 kg) |
18 mg |
| 6–11 years |
60 mg |
| ≥12 years |
120 mg |
Adults
Cough
Oral
Maximum 120 mg daily.
Pain
Oral
Maximum daily dosage in fixed combination with acetaminophen is 360 mg of codeine phosphate and 4 g of acetaminophen.
Special Populations
Geriatric Patients
Reduce dosage in older patients.
Ultra-rapid Metabolizers of CYP2D6 Substrates
Use lowest effective dosage for shortest period of time. (See Special Populations under Pharmacokinetics.)
Last Updated: February 01, 2009
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