Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
. 1982 Oct;14(4):539–543. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1982.tb02025.x

Codeine added to paracetamol induced adverse effects but did not increase analgesia.

P Skjelbred, P Løkken
PMCID: PMC1427610  PMID: 7138738

Abstract

1 In a double-blind crossover study identical oral surgical procedures were performed on two separate occasions in 24 outpatients. 2 At one operation they were given tablets containing paracetamol + codeine phosphate (400 mg + 30 mg), and at the other plain paracetamol (400 mg). The day of operation 2 tablets were taken 3, 6 and 9 h after surgery, the following two days 1 tablet four times daily. 3 Several measurements/assessments were recorded for a paired comparison of the postoperative courses. 4 No increase In the analgesic effect could be demonstrated by addition of codeine to paracetamol. 5 On the day of operation 18 patients reported adverse effects like nausea, dizziness and drowsiness with paracetamol + codeine, while only 3 patients experienced side effects with paracetamol alone (P less than 0.001). 6 Measurements revealed almost identical swelling after the two operations. 7 Compared with results obtained in previous studies, the present findings indicate that paracetamol may exert anti-inflammatory activity and reduce postoperative swelling, even when given 3 h after surgery. 8 On the day of operation and the following two days 20 patients preferred the treatment with plain paracetamol, while only 4 favoured paracetamol + codeine (P less than 0.001).

Full text

PDF
539

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Album B., Olsen I., Lokken P. Bilateral surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar teeth as a model for drug evaluation: a test with oxyphenbutazone (Tanderil). Int J Oral Surg. 1977 Jun;6(3):177–189. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9785(77)80051-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Arrigo-Reina R., Ferri S. Evidence of an involvement of the opioid peptidergic system in the reaction to stressful conditions. Eur J Pharmacol. 1980 May 30;64(1):85–88. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(80)90372-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Beaver W. T., McMillan D. Methodological considerations in the evaluation of analgesic combinations: acetaminophen (paracetamol) and hydrocodone in postpartum pain. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Oct;10 (Suppl 2):215S–223S. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Beaver W. T. Mild analgesics. A review of their clinical pharmacology. II. Am J Med Sci. 1966 May;251(5):576–concl. doi: 10.1097/00000441-196605000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bloomfield S. S., Barden T. P., Mitchell J. Asprin and codeine in two postpartum pain models. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1976 Oct;20(4):499–503. doi: 10.1002/cpt1976204499. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bullingham R. E., McQuay H. J., Moore R. A., Weir L. An oral buprenorphine and paracetamol combination compared with paracetamol alone: a single dose double-blind postoperative study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1981 Dec;12(6):863–867. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01322.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Cooper S. A., Beaver W. T. A model to evaluate mild analgesics in oral surgery outpatients. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1976 Aug;20(2):241–250. doi: 10.1002/cpt1976202241. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lökken P., Olsen I., Bruaset I., Norman-Pedersen K. Bilateral surgical removal of impacted lower third molar teeth as a model for drug evaluation: a test with ibuprofen. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1975 Apr 4;8(3-4):209–216. doi: 10.1007/BF00567117. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Løkken P., Skjelbred P. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of paracetamol evaluated by bilateral oral surgery. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Oct;10 (Suppl 2):253S–260S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb01808.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Petersen J. K. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of diflunisal and codeine after removal of impacted third molars. Curr Med Res Opin. 1978;5(7):525–535. doi: 10.1185/03007997809108996. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Skjelbred P., Album B., Lokken P. Acetylsalicylic acid vs paracetamol: effects on post-operative course. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1977 Dec 2;12(4):257–264. doi: 10.1007/BF00607424. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Skjelbred P., Løkken P. Phenazone versus placebo: effects on post-operative course. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Oct;18(4):327–331. doi: 10.1007/BF00561390. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Skjelbred P., Løkken P. Post-operative pain and inflammatory reaction reduced by injection of a corticosteroid. A controlled trial in bilateral oral surgery. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1982;21(5):391–396. doi: 10.1007/BF00542325. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sunshine A. Clinical evaluation of mild analgesics in post partum pain. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Oct;10 (Suppl 2):335S–337S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb01818.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES