Panadol – The GlaxoSmithKline brand name for 500g of Paracetamol . This 500g of Paracetamol is common among all of the panadol range and acts as an analgesic (pain relief) and anti-pyretic (decreases temperature). It contains no anti-inflammatory substances. The usual adult dose is 1000mg,
which equates to 2 tablets per every 4 hours. The active ingredient paracetamol is absorbed within the gastrointestinal tract with the highest concentration of paracetamol usually occurring 30-60 minutes after administration. Because a reasonable amount of paracetamol remains in the system for 24 hours there is a maximum daily dosage of 4000mg (4 x 2 tablet doses).
Panadeine – Contains the same 500mg of Paracetamol that is in panadol but with an additional 8mg of codeine phosphate. Codeine is from the opiate/narcotic family, with the strength of approximately 17% of morphine. In fact, a small amount of codeine actually converts into morphine when metabolised within the body.
The codeine acts centrally, blocking not only the sensation of pain but also the emotional response to pain within the central nervous system. It does have a mild sedative effect with some people experiencing dizziness and drowsiness and prolonged high doses of codeine can result in addictive behaviours.
Panadeine Extra – Basically is the stronger version of Panadeine. It still has the same 500mg of paracetamol but also has 15mg of codeine added to each tablet. It is an S3 medication which means that although it can be purchased without a prescription it will only be found behind the counter and the pharmacy assistant needs to get clearance from the pharmacist before selling it to you.
Codeine side-note: Opiates such as codeine and morphine have long been known for not only their pain relieving effects but also their smooth muscle relaxation effects. Historically they were often used to treat diarrhoea as they slow the peristaltic movement of faeces through the intestine, increasing the water re-absorption time and thereby resulting in firmer stools. However this also means that in a person with normal bowel motions, the taking of a pain reliever such as Panadeine or Panadeine Extra can result in constipation.
