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GSK / Solpadeine

How does it work?
Solpadeine max tablets contain two active ingredients: paracetamol and codeine. This combination of medicines is often referred to as co-codamol. (NB. Co-codamol is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Paracetamol is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain and fever. Despite its widespread use for over 100 years, we still don't fully understand how paracetamol works to relieve pain and reduce fever. However, it is now thought that it works by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord.

The body produces prostaglandins in response to injury and certain diseases. One of the effects of prostaglandins is to sensitise nerve endings, causing pain (presumably to prevent us from causing further harm to the area). As paracetamol reduces the production of these nerve sensitising prostaglandins it is thought it may increase our pain threshold, so that although the cause of the pain remains, we can feel it less.

It is thought paracetamol reduces fever by affecting an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature (the hypothalamic heat-regulating center).

Paracetamol is about as effective as aspirin at relieving mild to moderate pain and fever, but unlike aspirin it has no anti-inflammatory effect.

Codeine is a slightly stronger painkiller known as an opioid. Opioid painkillers work by mimicking the action of naturally occurring pain-reducing chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are found in the brain and spinal cord and reduce pain by combining with opioid receptors.

Codeine mimicks the action of natural endorphins by combining with the opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This blocks the transmission of pain signals sent by the nerves to the brain. Therefore, even though the cause of the pain may remain, less pain is actually felt.

Solpadeine max tablets contain 12.8mg of codeine, which in combination with the paracetamol, is effective at relieving mild to moderate pain.

What is it used for?
Mild to moderate pain, such as headache, migraine, sinusitis, toothache, arthritic and rheumatic pain, sciatica and backache (lumbago), strains and sprains and period pain. Relieving aches, pains, sore throat and fever associated with colds and flu.