The usual starting dose for adults and children aged 12 years or above for relief of mild to moderate pain is 30mg to 60mg every six hours, as needed. The usual adult starting dose for diarrhoea is 30mg, three or four times daily. No more than 240mg should be taken in 24 hours. In all cases, dosage will be reduced for elderly. Codeine Phosphate tablets should not be taken by children below the age of 12 years due to the risk of severe breathing problems. Always follow your doctors instructions completely. Also, follow any special instructions or warnings that appear on the label that the pharmacist has put on the package. If you do not understand or are in any doubt, ask your pharmacist. Unless instructed differently, take your tablet(s) with a glass of water. If you have been given a blister pack, to obtain a tablet, press on the tablet from the blister (or bubble) pushing it through the foil. Do not remove the tablet from the blister until you are ready to take it.

Codeine is typically prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain. It’s also combined with other medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. For example, it’s commonly found in prescription-strength cough syrup.