What is Zapain?

Zapain is a pain relief medication for sudden acute pain and moderate pain to severe pain, that contains both pain relievers, paracetamol and codeine. It can be prescribed for short term treatment of certain types of headaches, dental pain, period pain and joint pain. The generic version of Zapain is called co-codamol.

Zapain is sometimes prescribed when milder forms of pain relief such as standalone paracetamol or ibuprofen have not relieved the pain.

The codeine in Zapain can become addictive when it is used long term, so you will be advised that Zapain is likely to be a short term pain medication to avoid dependence and codeine withdrawal symptoms.

It is important to read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects and cautions.

Is Zapain a prescription medication?

Yes, Zapain is a pain killer that is only available on prescription from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist prescriber. Common indications for a Zapain prescription are the same as a prescription for co-codamol tablets, they include toothache, migraine and aching joints associated with arthritis.

How Does Zapain Work?

Zapain contains a combination of paracetamol and codeine.

Paracetamol has been used for generations as a painkiller medication, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. It is likely that paracetamol reduces prostaglandin production in the brain, which in turn increases our tolerance to pain. This means that although the pain might still be there, we feel less bothered by it.

Codeine is part of the drug family called opioids. Opioids work by blocking pain signals in the brain and spinal cord, so that the pain subsides or completely disappears. 

It is beneficial to take more than one type of pain relief medication when trying to manage moderate to severe pain. As Zapain combines two drugs in one tablet, it is favoured by many as it reduces the total number of pills you need to take.

How is Zapain Taken?

Zapain Tablets

Zapain is available as a capsule or a tablet. The capsule or tablet should be swallowed with some water. 

Some people prefer to take Zapain with a meal or snack, as this can help to minimise the risk of feeling sick (nauseous) when taking the medication.

Every patient suffering from chronic pain has a unique individual experience when taking co-codamol tablets as a treatment.

User Reviews for Zapain

To see what people have to say about their experiences with the medication, take a look at Zapain user reviews. There a wide range of customer reviews and experiences with Zapain usage available at iwantgreatcare.org. Similarly, many patients who have used the generic form of Zapain, co-codamol, have also shared there experiences on iwantgreatcare.org.

It's important to note that every individual's experience with a medication will be unique to them. You must speak to a doctor or your healthcare provider for medical advice before taking Zapain tablets. They will assess your suitability for the medication and whether your health condition requires Zapain (co-codamol) or an alternative pain relief treatment.

For additional information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Zapain patient information leaflet

What is the proper dosage of Zapain?

Zapain 30mg/500mg

Zapain is available in one strength, regardless of whether you take a capsule or tablet preparation. 

Each Zapain tablet or capsule contains 500mg of paracetamol and 30mg of codeine. 

The usual dose of Zapain is one or two tablets taken up to four times daily, this is the same as generic co codamol tablets. There should be a 6 hour gap between each dose, and the maximum number of tablets you can take in a 24 hour period is 8.

It is common for two Zapain tablets to be taken at a time. This is equal to a dose of 1000mg (1 gram) of paracetamol. 1000mg is the maximum recommended amount of paracetamol per dose. You must therefore not take any other paracetamol containing medications whilst taking the maximum dose of Zapain.

Codeine can become additive when taken long term. Over a long period, some people can become dependent on codeine or experience symptoms of withdrawal when stopping it. Your prescriber will talk to you about how long you might need Zapain for, and how and when you can expect to stop taking it to avoid dependence.

Does Zapain have any side effects?

Like all medications, Zapain can have some side effects, these are the same as co codamol side effects, with the most common experiences being reported as:

• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting (feeling sick and being sick)
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Confusion
• Feeling drowsy.

If any of these side effect symptoms persist or are troublesome, you should speak to a doctor for advice.

Rarely, some people who take Zapain notice:

• Difficulty passing urine
• Changes to vision or eyesight
• Skin rashes.

If any of these side effects occur, you should speak to a doctor straight away.

If you have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) including breathlessness, lip or tongue swelling, seek medical advice immediately.

What warnings does Zapain come with?

Zapain may not be suitable for everyone. You should tell your doctor if you have:

• Lung problems or breathing difficulties including asthma
• Liver or kidney disease
• A head injury
• Seizures (fits) due to any cause
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Problems with your adrenal glands
• Alcohol or drug addiction, or if you drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week.

Zapain may not be suitable if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.

Some medications can interact with Zapain. You may be advised that Zapain will not suit you if you already take:

• Another medication that contains paracetamol
• Another medication that contains codeine
• Anti-sickness medications
• Blood-thinners including warfarin or heparin
• Sleeping pills
• Benzodiazepines including diazepam
• Antidepressants
• Certain antibiotics
• Medications for epilepsy.

You should also tell your prescriber about any herbal remedies or supplements you take. This will allow your prescriber to check that Zapain will not interact with them.

Can you take Zapain with Ibuprofen?

Yes, you can safely take Zapain with Ibuprofen together (NHS, 2023), as they do not have shared ingredients but you should always read the patient information leaflet for each medication before taking them together. The active ingredient in Zapain is co-codamol, a combination of codeine and paracetamol; taking this with Ibuprofen would be safe as all the ingredients are different to each other. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider prior to taking medications together to ensure their safety.

Can you take Zapain with Paracetamol?

No, you should not take Zapain with paracetamol (NHS, 2023). This is because Zapain is a branded version of co-codamol, which is a combination of codeine and paracetamol, therefore, taking more paracetamol could put you at risk of a paracetamol overdose. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider prior to taking medications together to ensure their safety.

Is Zapain the same as Paracetamol?

No, Zapain is not the same as Paracetamol, however, the active ingredient in Zapain, co-codamol, contains both paracetamol and codeine.

Is Zapain the same as Co-codamol?

Yes. Zapain is a branded form of co-codamol (a combination of codeine phosphate and paracetamol (EMC, 2023).

Google Web Story - What is the difference between Zapain and Co-codamol?

EU Meds have created a Google Web Story to explain the key differences between Zapain and Co-codamol. You can view it below:

Is Zapain an opioid?

Zapain contains the opioid medication codeine as an active ingredient (EU Meds, 2024).

Can you take Zapain with Naproxen?

Yes, you can take Naproxen and Zapain (co-codamol) together for short periods of time (NHS, 2022). Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider prior to taking medications together to ensure their safety.

Is Zapain addictive?

Yes, Zapain can be addictive if taken regularly for a long time. This is because it contains the opioid medication codeine as an active ingredient, making codeine addiction a potential risk (EMC, 2023). You should only take Zapain (co-codamol) as instructed by your doctor or healthcare provider.

Can you take Zapain with Diazepam?

No, you should not take Zapain with Diazepam. The active ingredient in Zapain, co-codamol, can stop some medicines working effectively, particularly benzodiazepine drugs such as Diazepam. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider prior to starting any treatment to ensure that it is safe for you.

Can you drink on Zapain?

You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking Zapain. This is because drinking alcohol at the same time as you are taking co-codamol can increase the risk of experiencing serious side effects and can make you feel even more sleepy (NHS, 2023).

Can you overdose on Zapain?

Yes, you can overdose on Zapain. It is vital to ensure that you only take the dosage of Zapain (co-codamol) that your doctor or healthcare provider has prescribed as over use or misuse can result in serious side effects, such as liver damage, or potentially death (EMC, 2023).

Does Zapain make you drowsy?

Yes, Zapain can cause drowsiness and dizziness. It is advised that patients taking Zapain tablets avoid driving and operating machinery (EMC, 2023).

You can safely purchase Zapain and co codamol online at EU Meds. It is important that your doctor checks that Zapain will suit you. Your doctor will complete a thorough health questionnaire and review your current medications before prescribing this medication.

• NHS - Co-codamol for Adults
• Cancer Research UK - Co-codamol
• Medicines.org.uk - Co-codamol Summary of Product Characteristics
• BNF - Co-codamol
• Patient.info - Co-codamol for Pain Relief
• Bupa - Over-the-counter Painkillers
• Medicines.org.uk - Co-codamol Patient Information Leaflet (PDF)
• Talk to Frank - Codeine
• Understanding and Managing Pain - The British Pain Society

• EU Meds - What is the Difference Between Zapain and Co-codamol
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