Last reviewed 2026-04-23 · How we verify

acetaminophen plus codeine

Acetaminophen acts as a non-selective COX inhibitor, while codeine exerts its effects through opioid receptors.

Acetaminophen acts as a non-selective COX inhibitor, while codeine exerts its effects through opioid receptors. Used for Pain relief, Cough suppression.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Acetaminophen's mechanism of action involves the inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes, which are responsible for the production of prostaglandins. This leads to a reduction in pain and fever. Codeine, on the other hand, is an opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas, producing analgesia and sedation.

Approved indications

• Pain relief
• Cough suppression

Common side effects

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Headache

Key clinical trials

• Examining Analgesic Synergy and Efficacy in Trauma Care (PHASE4)
• Paracetamol With or Without Ketoprofen in the Management of Pain for Patients Receiving Brachytherapy (KETOCOL-1304) (PHASE2)
• E7 TCR T Cells for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancers (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• Opioid-Free Pain Protocol After Shoulder Arthroplasty (PHASE4)
• Opioid-Sparing Joint Replacement (PHASE3)
• An Artificial Intelligence Driven Approach to Optimize Patient Selection for a Transitional Pain Service (PHASE3)
• Celecoxib for ENT Pain Management (PHASE2)
• Post-Op Pain Control for Prophylactic Intramedullary Nailing. (PHASE3)

Primary sources

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Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• acetaminophen plus codeine CI brief — competitive landscape report
• acetaminophen plus codeine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• Nova Scotia Health Authority portfolio CI