codeine, cotrimoxazole 497
codeine
CAUTION
Codeine is a pain killer of the opiate family that also calms coughs and helps you relax and sleep. Only use
codeine to calm very bad coughs after you have treated the cause for the cough. Only use codeine for pain
when milder pain medicines do not work.
In what forms
does this
medicine
come?
How much and
when to take
Liquid: 15 mg per ml
Tablets: 15, 30, or 60 mg
Cough syrup: Different strengths
For coughs: 7 to 15 mg
4 times a day, only as needed.
For severe pain: 30 to 60 mg
4 to 6 times a day, as needed.
Side
effects
May cause constipation (difficulty passing
stools) and temporary inability to pass
urine. Nausea, vomiting, itching, headaches.
Information
you
should
know
Codeine is habit forming (addictive).
If you use it for several days, you will
need more for it to keep working.
Signs of
taking
too much
Treatment for
taking too much
Sleepiness, stupor, coma.
Naloxone (Narcan) can be given
as an injection to someone who
has taken too much codeine.
Seek medical help.
Other
medicines
that may
work
for pain:
acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen
for severe pain: morphine
for cough: drink plenty of water, use
home-made cough syrup (see page 303).
cotrimoxazole = trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole
CAUTION
(AzoGantanol, Bactrim, Coptin, Gantanol, Pologrim, Septra, Sulfatrim,TMP/SMX,Trimpex, others)
Cotrimoxazole is a combination of 2 antibiotics (one from the sulfa family) that is used to treat bladder
and kidney infections. It also helps prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, and other infections for people with HIV.
In what forms does
this medicine come?
Tablets:
120 mg (20 mg trimethoprim
+ 100 mg sulfamethoxazole),
480 mg (80 mg trimethoprim
+ 400 mg sulfamethoxazole—
called “single strength”), and
960 mg (160 mg trimethoprim + 800 mg
sulfamethoxazole—called “double strength”)
Oral suspension: 240 mg (40 mg trimethoprim +
200 mg sulfamethoxazole) per 5 ml
How much and
when to take
For bladder infection: Take two
480 tablets by mouth 2 times
a day for 3 days.
For kidney infection: Take two
480 tablets by mouth 2 times
a day for 10 days.
For prevention of diarrhea, pneumonia and other
infections for people with HIV: Take two 480 tablets
every day.
For bloody diarrhea with fever for people with AIDS:
Take two 480 tablets by mouth 2 times a day for
7 days.
For pneumonia for people with AIDS: Take four 480
tablets by mouth 3 times a day for 21days.
For children born to mothers with HIV: Give 120 mg
(2.5 ml of liquid by mouth) to babies less than 6
months old; give 240 mg (5 ml of liquid by mouth)
to children from 6 months to 6 years old, each day.
Who should not take
this medicine?
Women in the last 3 months
of pregnancy should avoid
this medicine. If you are
allergic to sulfa antibiotics,
do not take this drug.
Side
effects
Stop taking it if it causes allergic
reactions like itching or skin rashes.
Also may cause nausea and vomiting.
Warning
Take with lots of water.
Signs of
taking
too much
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
confusion, sweating.
Other
medicines that
may work
for bladder and kidney infection:
cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin,
gentamicin, nitrofurantoin
for bloody diarrhea with fever for
people with AIDS: ciprofloxacin,
norfloxacin
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012