Co-Codamol 8/500mg Tablets - 32 tablets

Co-codamol is one of a group of medicines called analgesics (painkillers) that help to relieve mild to moderate pain, and reduce body temperature. Co-codamol 8/500mg Tablets contains the same active ingredient (500mg of paracetomol and 8mg of codeine phosphate) as Solpadeine tablets which retail for £5.05 in chemists and supermarkets.

What does Paracetamol do?

Paracetamol is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain. Paracetamol increases our pain threshold, so that although the cause of the pain remains, we can feel it less.

What does Codeine do?

Codeine is a stronger painkiller known as an opioid. Opioid painkillers work by mimicking the action of naturally occurring pain-reducing chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are found in the brain and spinal cord and reduce pain by combining with opioid receptors. Therefore, even though the cause of the pain may remain, less pain is actually felt.

How can you sell this item for so much less than my local chemist?

We keep our overheads to a minimum, ensure the margins added are fair and work on larger sale volumes than a local chemist. All these measures provide major cost saving benefits to the consumer. Our prices on this medication are based on the non branded version of Solpadeine. Solpadeine's active ingredient is Co-codamol which actually provides the desired effects.

Does your medication give me the same effect as the branded version?

Absolutely. When a pharmaceutical company develops a drug it is given unique rights to sell it for a number of years. Once that ends any company can make it providing they meet the regulations. Therefore, over the counter drugs have identical medical properties regardless of brand, packaging and advertising.

The key is the ‘active' ingredient - the chemical that actually treats the symptom.  Protections and quality control apply equally to all branded and non branded products. The non branded product must meet the same quality standards as the branded version. Packaging may vary, but the items are identical and the results will be the same.

Dr. Chris Steele GP, the resident Doctor on ITV1's This Morning agrees:

“The key is the active ingredient. Look on the brand you know, note the active ingredient and then check it's the same one at the same dose as the generic brand."