Last Updated : August 20, 2021
Details
FilesProject Status:
Completed
Project Line:
Health Technology Review
Project Sub Line:
Rapid Review
Project Number:
RC1374-000
Question
- What is the clinical effectiveness of medications containing low-dose codeine for the treatment of pain?
- What is the clinical effectiveness of medications containing low-dose codeine for the treatment of cough?
Key Message
Codeine and codeine-containing medicines are used to treat people experiencing pain or cough symptoms. Whereas most products containing codeine require a prescription in Canada, some jurisdictions permit over-the-counter sales of products containing low doses of codeine mixed with other non-narcotic medicinal ingredients.
Three overviews of reviews and 13 systematic reviews of variable methodological quality failed to identify studies on the effectiveness of low-dose codeine (i.e., 8 mg of codeine per tablet or 20 mg of codeine per 30 mL in liquid products) for the treatment of pain or coughs.
There is a lack of evidence on the clinical effectiveness of oral analgesics and oral antitussives containing low doses of codeine.
Files
Last Updated : August 20, 2021