Social - codeine cough syrup-the final word

[mashed]

swims heard loads off auguments over this
and swim thinks a few people might be wondering this too
is it still available in pharmacys in the uk or not?
cheers

[ConcertaXL]

mashed, interesting question.
codeine linctus BP (200 ml 15mg/5ml) , where one bottle contains 600mg of codeine, is LEGAL to sell in UK pharmacies without prescription. But (and this is a big but) VERY few pharmacists are willing to supply it and the final decision on whether to sell is up to the pharmacist's discretion in law. The RSPGB Code prohibits chemists from selling any drug in the belief it will be abused. The same occurs with 100 packs of effervescent co-codamol, Gees linctus, cyclizine and phenergan.

The syrup Pulmo Bailly is more frequently available and raises less suspicion than asking for "codeine linctus", but contains just 126mg of codeine per bottle (7mg/5ml, 90ml) and is far less economical than CWE on generic co codamol pills. It also contains guaiacol which is anecdotally reported to cause the shits in high doses like sorbitol.

[malsat]

Benylin with codeine is available in some places but it has diphenhydramine as well which inhibits cyp2d6, making the codeine ineffective. Don't bother buying it.

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by malsat

Benylin with codeine is available in some places but it has diphenhydramine as well which inhibits cyp2d6, making the codeine ineffective. Don't bother buying it.

I was under the impression that diphenhydramine actually potentiated codeine... It is mentioned in this thread.

Either way, if a large amount of diphenhydramine needs to be ingested for a recreational codeine dose (this depends on the ratio of ingredients), the deleriant effects of the diphenhydramine will come into effect and overpower the codeine. I would also say that a recreational diphenhydramine dose should definitely be avoided while taking codeine, or things could start getting dangerous. 50-75mg of diphenhydramine (more of a medicinal level dose) plus a codeine dose thats lower than your average dose should be alright though.

[metallicbluebutterfly]

Originally Posted by malsat

Benylin with codeine is available in some places but it has diphenhydramine as well which inhibits cyp2d6, making the codeine ineffective. Don't bother buying it.

SWIM has had great results on this precise cough syrup. It is in fact extremely potent and care needs to be taken.... too much can make ya pass oot.

[3xtr4]

There is a UK online chemist, which won't be named here for forum rules, that supplies 200ml of 15mg / 5ml codeine cough syrup for only XXX a bottle.

SWIM is thinking of buying some and just doing 20ml or so as a topup (60mg codeine) as doing too much which, as said above, probably give you epic shit.

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by 3xtr4

There is a UK online chemist, which won't be named here for forum rules, that supplies 200ml of 15mg / 5ml codeine cough syrup for only £xxx a bottle.

SWIM is thinking of buying some and just doing 20ml or so as a topup (60mg codeine) as doing too much which, as said above, probably give you epic shit.

It is good that you didn't disclose the source, but price discussion is forbidden in the same way that source discussion is, for the same reasons (mainly to protect the forum), and this applies regardless of legality due to the international status of the forum. Unless a mod gets there first, please edit the price from your post.

[malsat]

It's definately an inhibitor.

http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/.../full/44/5/430

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by INodHardOhYeah

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) -- This antihistamine increases the effects of opiates more or less evenly across the board, and the effect seems to be similar for all natural and semi-synthetic opiates. A normal dose of the opiate can be taken with 25 to 75 mg of diphenhydramine. This mixture should be taken with a bronchodialator/decongestant because diphenhydramine is also a cough suppressant. The green label version of Alka Seltzer cold medicine contains a sufficient dose of decongestant and sodium bicarbonate (which slows metabolism). If the diphenhydramine product contains alcohol, the loading dose of the opiate should be reduced by 30% and the any booster doses should be taken no sooner than an hour afterwards.

Those who take larger doses of antihistamines or other anticholinergics for the euphoriant properties should not take opiates along with them; needless to say, the mixing of opiates with the much higher deliriant doses of anticholinergics can be assumed to invariably have catastrophic effects because of the combination of respiratory depression and thickening of bronchial secretions caused by these drugs. It is assumed that any dose of diphenhydramine above 125 mg cannot be safely mixed with any quantity of opiate.

From this thread, which seems to say that diphenhydramine potentates all opiates. Perhaps the enzyme inhibition would merely slow down the covertion to morphine, and make it last longer/come on later.

Really, it doesn't seem to matter; people have used low doses of dipehnydramine to test it's potentiating ability, or to reduce the codeine itch, and the codeine still works. Higher levels of diphenhrydramine should be avoided.

[malsat]

Originally Posted by honourableone

From this thread, which seems to say that diphenhydramine potentates all opiates. Perhaps the enzyme inhibition would merely slow down the covertion to morphine, and make it last longer/come on later.

Really, it doesn't seem to matter; people have used low doses of dipehnydramine to test it's potentiating ability, or to reduce the codeine itch, and the codeine still works. Higher levels of diphenhrydramine should be avoided.

It's probably great after taking codeine, but swim went through a period of using it nightly to sleep and then found that codeine had absolutely no effect!

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by malsat

It's probably great after taking codeine, but swim went through a period of using it nightly to sleep and then found that codeine had absolutely no effect!

That is fascinating, sounds like info that should be posted somewhere more relevant. This is very off topic, but what kind of diphenhydramine/codeine dosages were you using and how long did your daily diphenhydramine usage go on for before the codeine stopped working?

[ConcertaXL]

Benylin with codeine is still available in ireland and a few other places but not in the UK as the OP asked. A site (not allowed to say which) is now selling the stronger gees linctus with morphine for a good price... but restrict to one per order (shame).

[metallicbluebutterfly]

SWIM's friend had the luxury of tasting for the first time pure codeine phosphate 30mg tablets. Very tiny pills. Swim's friends says it is disappointing compared to Benylin Red. Not worth the mission to get hold of in the end.
Peace

[3xtr4]

Originally Posted by metallicbluebutterfly

SWIM's friend had the luxury of tasting for the first time pure codeine phosphate 30mg tablets. Very tiny pills. Swim's friends says it is disappointing compared to Benylin Red. Not worth the mission to get hold of in the end.
Peace

Why should it make a difference? SWIM is assuming Benylin Red is taken for the codeine, it shouldn't really matter what form the codeine comes in; it's all the same really.

[metallicbluebutterfly]

SWIM has in fact no real answer to that but concluded with the chemist that maybe it's got something to do with the rest of the contents in combo of BR?

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by metallicbluebutterfly

SWIM has in fact no real answer to that but concluded with the chemist that maybe it's got something to do with the rest of the contents in combo of BR?

If you were taking the same dosages then it's a possibility that the codeine was absorbed better because it was already in solution, if that's the case then dissolving the tablets should help. I don't know what cough syrup you are using, but the only benylin cough medicine containing codeine that I could find interestingly enough contains 14mg of diphenhydramine for every 5.7mg of codeine. Diphenhydramine is something that you should definitely read up on, as this means that common dosages for codeine may mean that large doses of diphenhydramine are being taken (though it depends on how much you take).

According to your situation, it may be safer to take the codeine 30mg tablets (in solution or not), with 50-75mg of diphenhydramine (sold as Nytol (or benadryl in the US) - though make sure you always read the active ingredients list of pharmaceuticals for your own safety, and ensure that there is nothing else).

This was discussed earlier in the thread, and I think should be taken notice of; it seems that people do find that diphenhydramine potentiates codeine when used as a one off for that purpose, but Malsat found that when taking it significantly before/over a long period of time it rendered codeine completely ineffective.

[metallicbluebutterfly]

Very interesting read Mr. Honourableone. What a pity about the scenario regarding Diphenhydramine. Would the Diphenhydraminealso explain the dreamy state associated with BR ingestion?~ direct quote from swim

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by metallicbluebutterfly

Would the Diphenhydraminealso explain the dreamy state associated with BR ingestion?~ direct quote from swim

As a hallucinogen that causes tiredness, that seems very likely if SWIY did not experience those effects from the pure codeine tablets.

[metallicbluebutterfly]

Agreed.. Very insightful indeed. Swim then tried crushing a small codeine mixed it with some water and the effects of the pure codeine pills come on very quick, like 5-10 mins with a short lived apex not much long after that.... Conclusion: Crushing pure Codeine, mixing with water and swallowing it down shooter style hits home much quicker.
The enhanced effects are experienced when codeine comes prepared with the various other contents in BR.
This here then an open experience ready for new levels of investigation and experimentation according to swim.

metallicbluebutterfly added 1 Minutes and 4 Seconds later...

add-inn ** Dosage = 1 X 30mg Pure Codeine Phosphate.

[honourableone]

Originally Posted by metallicbluebutterfly

Agreed.. Very insightful indeed. Swim then tried crushing a small codeine mixed it with some water and the effects of the pure codeine pills come on very quick, like 5-10 mins with a short lived apex not much long after that.... Conclusion: Crushing pure Codeine, mixing with water and swallowing it down shooter style hits home much quicker.
The enhanced effects are experienced when codeine comes prepared with the various other contents in BR.
This here then an open experience ready for new levels of investigation and experimentation according to swim.

metallicbluebutterfly added 1 Minutes and 4 Seconds later...

add-inn ** Dosage = 1 X 30mg Pure Codeine Phosphate.

Thanks for sharing that information, Buying some pure diphenhydramine may be of further interest.

If 30mg is a standard dose for you, then you weren't approaching overly worring territory with the cough medicine.

[Pringles]

My friend strongly suspects that codeine linctus would be available to him but has not purchased any for 10 months or so. (15mg of codeine phosphate per 5ml) He agrees that it is difficult to get in his area but the pharmacist seems to like him & let him have it for well quite a few years. They are on first name terms & she says hello to him in the street. He remembers another pharmacist in the 80s that would let him have as much as he wanted & used to take the empty bottles back. He is no longer in this world.