Like all medicines, co-codamol can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Most children have no side effects or only minor ones.
Your child is more likely to have side effects if they take the higher strengths of co-codamol.
Common side effects
These common side effects of co-codamol happen in more than 1 in 100 children. There are things you can do to help your child cope with them:
Constipation
Give your child plenty of high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals. Get them to drink several glasses of water or other liquids each day.
Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
Give co-codamol with or just after a meal or snack. Stick to simple meals and do not give them rich or spicy food.
If they're being sick, give them small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Feelings of sickness should normally wear off after a few days. Talk to your doctor about giving your child an anti-sickness medicine if it carries on for longer.
Feeling sleepy
This side effect should wear off as your child gets used to co-codamol. Talk to their doctor if it carries on.
Headaches
Make sure your child rests and drinks plenty of fluids. Talk to their doctor if the headaches are severe.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering your child or does not go away.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 100 children.
Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if your child has:
- a skin rash
- difficulty peeing
- changes in their eyesight
- dizziness
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to co-codamol.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your child's lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- they're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (they may become very wheezy or seem like they're choking or gasping for air)
- their throat feels tight or they're struggling to swallow
- their skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if they have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet)
- they suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- they faint and cannot be woken up
- they're limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
Your child may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Long-term side effects
If you've bought co-codamol from a pharmacy, do not give it to your child for more than 3 days. If your child's pain has not gone away, talk to a pharmacist or doctor.
If your child needs to take co-codamol for a long time, their body can become tolerant to the codeine in it. That means they need higher doses to control their pain over time.
Some people can become more sensitive to pain (hyperalgesia). If this happens, your child's doctor will reduce the dose gradually to help these symptoms.
It is possible to become addicted to the codeine in co-codamol. For this reason, your child's dose will be reviewed to make sure they're only taking the amount they need to control their pain.
Your child's treatment plan may include details of how and when they will stop taking co-codamol.
If they're having treatment for cancer pain or other severe pain, their pain control will be carefully monitored. Speak to your doctor if you're worried about tolerance, hyperalgesia or becoming addicted.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of co-codamol. For a full list, see the leaflet inside the medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.