Information about Pholcodine

Generic Name : Pholcodine
Up-to-date prescription details regarding Pholcodine are provided here.

Pronunciation : Phol-co-dine

Learn the correct pronunciation of the Pholcodine, understand it's uses, recommended dosages, its indications, how to take, when to take, when not to take, side effects, special precautions, warnings and its and its storage instructions.

You will also find a list of the medication's International and Indian brand or trade names, as well as its pricing information. For verification of the information presented on this page or for additional clarifications, it's advisable to consult your doctor.

Therapeutic Classification : Antitussives

Trade Names/Brand Names of Pholcodine

India :

Prosip (60ml) | Tixylix (60ml) | Codo-Q Junior | Lincotuss P (60ml)

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Overview of Pholcodine

• Pholcodine is used as an antitussive or a cough suppressant to suppress an unproductive cough that does not produce any mucus.

Why is Pholcodine Prescribed? (Indications)

Pholcodine is prescribed as a cough suppressant (antitussive) and helps to suppress unproductive coughs. It also has mild sedative effects but little or no analgesic effects. The drug is used to relieve a dry cough that does not produce any mucus.

Pholcodine acts primarily by causing depression of the cough reflex, partly by a direct effect on the cough center in the medulla. It is also known as homocodeine.

When should Pholcodine not be taken? (Contraindications)

Pholcodine is contraindicated in -

• Patients when they are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within two weeks after stopping the treatment
• Children less than six years of age
• Patients’ with hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic response to the drug or its excipients
• Patients who are at risk of developing respiratory failure or during an asthma attack as the sedative properties of pholcodine may exacerbate the condition
• Patients with COPD, chronic bronchitis, or bronchiolitis due to sputum retention
• Patients with liver disease since the drug is metabolized in the liver and may accumulate

What is the dosage of Pholcodine?

• Pholcodine is found in certain cough lozenges and as a 5 mg / 5 ml oral solution.

• The recommended dose of the solution is -
Adults and children over 12 years: 5-10ml

• Elderly or debilitated patients: Adult dose or reduced dose if advised by a doctor

How should Pholcodine be taken?

• The dosage may be repeated after 4 hours if necessary.
• Adults can take doses up to six times daily.
• Children of 6-12 years of age can take doses up to four times daily but not for more than five days without the advice of a doctor. The child's condition should be monitored during treatment.

What are the warnings and precautions for Pholcodine?

•Use with caution in

• Patients with a renal, hepatic or respiratory disease, including a history of asthma

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease, or epilepsy

• Diabetics as it contains 4g of sucrose per 5ml solution

• Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance or glucose-galactose malabsorption

• Patients with hepatic impairment

Check with a doctor if safe to use if you suffer from a chronic or a persistent cough, cough accompanied by excessive secretions or if you are an asthma patient.

Alcohol or other CNS depressants may increase pholcodine’s (already containing 6.6 vol % ethanol) effects on the CNS and cause toxicity in relatively smaller doses. On the same count, pholcodine might be harmful to those suffering from alcoholism.

Amaranth (E123) and sunset yellow (E110) present in the drug solution may cause allergic reactions.

What are the side effects of Pholcodine?

Skin: Rash
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, constipation
CNS: Drowsiness, dizziness, excitation, ataxia, confusion
Lungs: Respiratory depression can occur occasionally or after large doses
Others: Sputum retention; hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis

What are the other precautions for Pholcodine?

• Avoid taking with another cough and cold medicine
• Do not exceed the prescribed dose

What are the Drug Interactions of Pholcodine?

• Pholcodine causes the production of antibodies and subsequent risk of anaphylaxis during general anesthesia if essential neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are administered at the same time. This could lead to fatalities.

• If used along with MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping MAOIs treatment, a hypertensive crisis may occur.
• The hypotensive effects of pholcodine monohydrate may increase when used with antihypertensives and diuretics.

• The sedative effect of central nervous system depressants like alcohol, barbiturates, hypnotics, narcotic analgesics, sedatives and tranquilizers get enhanced if taken with pholcodine.