Active ingredient
- dihydrocodeine tartrate
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet are: PL 16950/0020, PL 16950/0021, PL 16950/0019.
DHC Continus prolonged release tablets 60mg, 90mg and 120 mg
Package Leaflet: Information for the patient
DHC® Continus® 60 mg, 90 mg and 120 mg prolonged-release tablets
Dihydrocodeine tartrate
This medicine contains dihydrocodeine which is an opioid, which can cause addiction. You can get withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What DHC Continus tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take DHC Continus tablets
3. How to take DHC Continus tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store DHC Continus tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What DHC Continus tablets are and what they are used for
This medicine has been prescribed for you for the relief of severe pain over a period of 12 hours. It contains dihydrocodeine, which belongs to a class of medicines called opioids, which are ‘pain relievers’. The medicine has been prescribed for you and should not be given to anyone else. Opioids can cause addiction and you may get withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly. Your doctor should have explained how long you will be taking it for and when it is appropriate to stop, how to do this safely.
The tablets may be taken by adults and children aged 12 years and above.
2. What you need to know before you take DHC Continus tablets
Do not take DHC Continus tablets if you:
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets if you:
Taking this medicine regularly, particularly for a long time, can lead to addiction. Your doctor should have explained how long you will be using it for and when it is appropriate to stop, how to do this safely.
Rarely, increasing the dose of this medicine can make you more sensitive to pain. If this happens, you need to speak to your doctor about your treatment.
Addiction can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking this medicine. Withdrawal symptoms can include restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, agitation, anxiety, feeling your heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, shaking, shivering or sweating. Your doctor will discuss with you how to gradually reduce your dose before stopping the medicine. It is important that you do not stop taking the medicine suddenly as you will be more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Opioids should only be used by those they are prescribed for. Do not give your medicine to anyone else. Taking higher doses or more frequent doses of opioid may increase the risk of addiction. Overuse and misuse can lead to overdose and/or death.
You may experience hormonal changes while taking these capsules. Your doctor may want to monitor these changes.
Other medicines and DHC Continus tablets
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you take these tablets with some other medicines, the effect of these tablets or the other medicine may be changed.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
Concomitant use of opioids and benzodiazepines increases the risk of drowsiness, difficulties in breathing (respiratory depression), coma and may be life-threatening. Because of this, concomitant use should only be considered when other treatment options are not possible.
However if your doctor does prescribe benzodiazepines or related drugs with opioids the dosage and duration of concomitant treatment should be limited by your doctor.
Please follow your doctor’s dosage recommendation closely. It could be helpful to inform friends or relatives to be aware of sign or symptoms stated above. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms.
DHC Continus tablets and alcohol
Drinking alcohol during your treatment with these tablets may make you sleepy. If you are affected you should avoid drinking alcohol.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking these tablets.
Pregnancy
Do not take DHC Continus tablets if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant unless you have discussed this with your doctor and the benefits of treatment are considered to outweigh the potential harm to the baby. If you take DHC Continus tablets during pregnancy your baby may become dependent and experience withdrawal symptoms after the birth which may need to be treated, such as high-pitched cry, jitteriness, fits, poor feeding and diarrhoea.
Breast-feeding
Do not take DHC Continus tablets while you are breastfeeding as morphine passes into breast milk and will affect your baby.
Driving and using machines
These tablets may cause a number of side effects such as drowsiness, which could affect your ability to drive or use machinery (see section 4 for a full list of side effects). These are usually most noticeable when you first start taking the tablets or when changing to a higher dose. If you are affected you should not drive or use machinery.
This medicine can affect your ability to drive as it may make you sleepy or dizzy.
Details regarding a new driving offence concerning driving after drugs have been taken in the UK may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive while taking this medicine.
DHC Continus tablets contain lactose
These tablets contain lactose which is a form of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking these tablets.
3. How to take DHC Continus tablets
Always take these tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. The label on your medicine will tell you how many tablets to take and how often. Do not take for longer than directed by your doctor. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor should have discussed with you how long the course of DHC Continus tablets will last. They will arrange a plan for stopping treatment. This will outline how to gradually reduce the dose and stop taking the medicine.
Swallow your tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not break, chew or crush them. DHC Continus tablets are designed to work properly over 12 hours when swallowed whole. If a tablet is broken, crushed or chewed, the entire 12-hour dose may be absorbed rapidly into your body. This can be dangerous, causing serious problems such as an overdose, which may be fatal.
You should take your tablets every 12 hours. For instance, if you take a tablet at 8 o’clock in the morning, you should take your next tablet at 8 o’clock in the evening.
Adults and children over 12 years of age
The usual starting dose is 60 mg to 120 mg every 12 hours. If you are elderly your doctor may suggest a lower starting dose. Your doctor will prescribe the dose required to treat your pain. If you find that you are still in pain whilst taking these tablets, discuss this with your doctor.
Use in children
Children under 12 years of age should not take the tablets.
If you take more DHC Continus tablets than you should or if someone accidentally swallows your tablets
Call your doctor or hospital straight away. People who have taken an overdose may feel very sleepy, sick or dizzy. They may also have breathing difficulties leading to unconsciousness or even death and may need emergency treatment in hospital. When seeking medical attention make sure that you take this leaflet and any remaining tablets with you to show the doctor.
If you forget to take DHC Continus tablets
If you remember within 4 hours of the time your tablet was due, take your tablet straight away. Take your next tablet at your normal time. If you are more than 4 hours late, please call your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking DHC Continus tablets
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine. If you want to stop taking this medicine discuss this with your doctor first. They will tell you how to do this, usually by reducing the dose gradually so that any unpleasant withdrawal effects are kept to a minimum. Withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, agitation, anxiety, feeling your heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, shaking, shivering or sweating may occur if you suddenly stop taking this medicine.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, these tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
All medicines can cause allergic reactions, although serious allergic reactions are uncommon. Tell your doctor immediately if you get any sudden wheeziness, difficulties in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips or throat, rash or itching especially those covering your whole body.
The most serious side effect is a condition where you breathe more slowly or weakly than expected (respiratory depression). Tell your doctor immediately if this happens to you.
Drug withdrawal
When you stop taking DHC Continus tablets you may experience drug withdrawal symptoms, which include restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, agitation, anxiety, feeling your heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, shaking, shivering or sweating.
How do I know if I am addicted?
If you notice any of the following signs whilst taking DHC Continus tablets it could be a sign that you have become addicted.
If you notice any of these signs it is important you talk to your doctor.
Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make your headaches worse.
Common side effects (May affect more than 1 in 100 people)
Uncommon side effects (May affect fewer than 1 in 100 people)
Side effects with unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from the available date)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store DHC Continus tablets
Keep these tablets out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use the tablets after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton and blister after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month e.g. EXP 08 2020 means that you should not take the tablets after the last day of August 2020.
Do not store your tablets above 25°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What DHC Continus tablets contain
The active ingredient is dihydrocodeine tartrate. Each tablet contains 60 mg, 90 mg or 120 mg of dihydrocodeine tartrate.
The other ingredients are:
What DHC Continus tablets look like and the contents of the pack
The tablets are white, capsule shaped and marked DHC followed by the strength (e.g. 60, 90 etc.).
In each bottle there are 56 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The tablets are made by
for the marketing authorisation holder
This leaflet is also available in large print, Braille or as an audio CD. To request a copy, please call the RNIB Medicine Information line (free of charge) on: 0800 198 5000
You will need to give details of the product name and reference number. These are as follows:
Product name: DHC Continus prolonged-release tablets
Reference number: 16950/0019
This leaflet was last revised in October 2020
® DHC, Continus, DHC Continus, NAPP and the NAPP logo are registered trade marks.
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