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Drug Class Description
Opiates (opioids / cough suppressants).Generic Name
Ingelheim PholcodineDrug Description
Dark brown liquid containing 5 mg of Pholcodine BP in each 5 mlPresentation
Liquid for oral administrationIndications
For the symptomatic treatment of dry troublesome coughsAdult Dosage
One or two 5 ml spoonfuls as required. The dose may be increased to three 5 ml spoonfuls if necessary. No more than 60 ml should be taken in 24 hours.
Child Dosage
From 6 to 12 years: one 5 ml spoon four to five times daily. No more than 25ml should be taken in 24 hours.
Do not give to children under 6 years of age.
Pavacol-D may be diluted with sorbitol solution BPC.
No specific information on the use of this product in the elderly is available. Clinical trials have included patients over 65 years and no adverse reactions specific to this age group have been reported.
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients, liver disease or ventilatory failure.
Special Precautions
Cough suppressants may cause sputum retention and this may be harmful in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. If symptoms persist longer than 5 days a physician should be consulted.
As pholcodine is a sedative, caution is needed in those patients who have airway disease e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ventilatory insufficiency, as respiratory depression may occur. Caution is also needed in patients with kidney disease or a history of drug abuse.
Interactions
Alcohol or other CNS depressants.Adverse Reactions
Nausea, sputum retention and constipation occur occasionally after taking pholcodine. Immune system disorder such as hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis have been reported.
Manufacturer
Alliance PharmaceuticalsUpdated
08 June 2009