This is my personal lookup table of OTC painkillers and what doses work together in different combinations for managing pain. Any errors are mine, and if you choose to copy my ideas then at your own risk as I'm not a doctor or pharmacist
I get prescription codeine and NSAIDs these days but don't always have them on me or in the dosages which allow me fine titration either to take a "starting dose" and "add more as needed" as it isn't always possible to guess how much I will need.
| Drug brand | Active ingredient 1 + amount per tablet | Active Ingredient 2 + amount per tablet | Max safe amounts |
| Cocodamol OTC | Codeine 8mg | Paracetamol 500mg | 1000mg paracetamol per 4hrs and 4000mg per 24hrs |
| Nurofen Plus | Codeine 12.8mg | 200mg ibuprofen | 800mg ibuprofen
60mg codeine (240mg per 24hrs)
Not to mix with other NSAIDs eg diclofenac/naproxan |
Paracetamol
(any cheapo brand) | Paracetamol 500mg | | 1000mg per 4hrs and 4000mg per 24hrs |
Ibuprofen
(any cheapo brand) | Ibuprofen 200mg
(sometimes 400mg) | | 800mg per dose and ~3200mg per dayish
Not to mix with other NSAIDs e.g diclofenac/naproxan |
| | | |
| Combination | Values of drugs |
| 1x cocodamol | 8mg codeine (hell snap one in half and you get 4mg codeine and 250mg paracetamol) |
| 1x nurofen plus | 12.8mg codeine + 200mg ibuprofen - I have snapped one of these in half too for 6.4mg codeine and 100mg ibuprofen. |
| 2x cocodamol | 16mg codeine 1000mg paracetamol (leaves you free to add NSAIDs to taste) |
| 1x cocodamol 1x nurofen plus | 20mg codeine (useful amount I find), 500mg paracetamol and 200mg ibuprofen. I would usually top this lot up with more standalone paracetamol and ibuprofen for what it's worth |
| 2x nurofen plus | 25.6mg codeine, 400mg ibuprofen (I'd probably top up ibuprofen and add paracetamol to this for full synergistic effect) |
| 2x cocodamol 1x nurofen plus | 28.8mg codeine, 1000mg paracetamol, 200mg ibuprofen (I'd prob add more standalone ibuprofen to this mix) |
| 2x nurofen plus and 1x cocodamol | 33.6mg codeine (25.6+8); 500mg paracetamol, 400mg ibuprofen. This is into moderate codeine doses and I'd top up the paracetamol for synergistic reasons. |
| 3x nurofen plus | 38.4mg codeine, 600mg ibuprofen (really make sure you eat with this much ibuprofen and I'd probably add 1000mg paracetamol for synergy) |
| 2x nurofen plus and 2x cocodamol | 41.6mg codeine (25.6+16); 1000mg paracetamol and 400mg ibuprofen. |
| 3x nurofen plus and 1x cocodamol | 46.4mg codeine ((3*12.8)+8); 600mg ibuprofen, 500mg paracetamol (I'd add standalone paracetamol) |
| 4x nurofen plus | 51.2mg codeine; 800mg ibuprofen. I have tolerated this much ibuprofen as long as I eat although I would usually prefer a different NSAID at this point but for fast acting short term this can be better |
| 3x nurofen plus and 2x cocodamol | 54.4mg codeine ((3x12.8)+16); 1000mg paracetamol and 600mg ibuprofen. Again eat with this much ibuprofen. |
| 4x nurofen plus and 1x cocodamol | 59.2mg codeine (51.2+8); 800mg ibuprofen and 500mg paracetamol. There is no point in taking more codeine than this as 60mg is about the most that can be metabolised. |