Codeine and Nausea: What Users Say

• Ead...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 10, 2017

For Pain "I have been taking codeine for 15 years+ with diazepam and Tylenol. I can no longer take anti-inflammatories too, unfortunately. I have a huge tolerance, regularly taking 240-300 mg a day (8-10 tablets). On pain-free days, I need to take 1 tablet about every 12 hours or withdrawal starts after about 18. That is a bit like having a dose of flu for a few days, combined with severe diarrhea in my case. During rare pain-free periods, it isn't worth weaning myself off completely because the pain is never away long. Everyone is different; 60 mg gives me 2 hours max. relief. No constipation, dizziness, or nausea-the latter often experienced briefly on first use (including posters here)-dose problems too big. Constipation is common and worse than the pain, I'm told, so go easy."

• Aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2015

For Pain "I had 3 of my 4 wisdom teeth taken out this past August. My dentist prescribed me codeine and ibuprofen. Whenever I took the codeine, my pain level was very low, so I'd say it worked pretty well! The only reason I didn't give a ten is because it did make me extremely nauseous at one point."

• LeM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 24, 2025

For Diarrhea "I’ve suffered with IBS diarrhea for years and had several near misses! What gets me the most is the pain of cramps and the chronic lower abdominal pain during an attack. I’ve tried all the usual remedies, but nothing holds a candle to codeine! It works fast, 10-15 minutes, and lasts at least half a day. It stops all my cramps and abdominal pain. Plus, as it is an opioid, it imparts a beneficial mood lift and counters the general unwell feeling during an IBS episode. I will say you have to get tolerant to this medication, as at first it can make you feel nauseous, but persevere and it soon passes. Don’t take too much; 30 mg is enough per dose, twice daily, and you’ll get the benefits without side effects."

• Muf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

For Pain "This is golden for pain, but it gave me too much nausea to continue - even more so than the much heavier and stronger morphine sulfate XR!"

• Hal...
• January 5, 2021

For Pain "Prescribed for Crohn's disease, but only take it when absolutely necessary due to the terrible indigestion and nausea it causes."