Health Centres - Migraleve pink
How does it work?
Migraleve pink tablets contain three active ingredients: paracetamol, codeine phosphate and buclizine hydrochloride.
Paracetamol is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain. Despite its widespread use for over 100 years, we still don't fully understand how paracetamol works to relieve pain. However, it is now thought that it works by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord.
The body produces prostaglandins in response to injury and certain diseases. One of the effects of prostaglandins is to sensitise nerve endings, causing pain (presumably to prevent us from causing further harm to the area). As paracetamol reduces the production of these nerve sensitising prostaglandins it is thought it may increase our pain threshold, so that although the cause of the pain remains, we can feel it less.
Paracetamol is about as effective as aspirin at relieving mild to moderate pain, but unlike aspirin it has no anti-inflammatory effect.
Codeine is a slightly 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.
Codeine mimicks the action of natural endorphins by combining with the opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This blocks the transmission of pain signals sent by the nerves to the brain. Therefore, even though the cause of the pain may remain, less pain is actually felt.
Migraleve pink tablets contain 8mg of codeine, which in combination with the paracetamol, is effective at relieving the pain of migraine headaches.
Buclizine hydrochloride is a type of medicine called an antihistamine. It is used to treat the sensation of nausea that can occur in a migraine attack and thus prevent vomiting.
Vomiting is controlled by an area of the brain called the vomiting centre. The vomiting centre is responsible for causing feelings of sickness (nausea) and for the vomiting reflex. Buclizine works by blocking histamine receptors in the vomiting centre, which prevents the vomiting centre from receiving nerve messages that would otherwise cause nausea and vomiting.
If taken at the first sign of a migraine, Migraleve pink tablets can prevent the migraine developing fully. If the migraine continues, further treatment should be with Migraleve yellow tablets to help relieve the migraine headache. You should not start taking Migraleve yellow until four hours after your dose of Migraleve pink.
What is it used for?
- Relieving nausea and headache associated with a migraine attack.
Warning!
- Do not take this medicine with any other products that contain paracetamol. Many over-the-counter painkillers and cold and flu remedies contain paracetamol. It is important to check the ingredients of any medicines you buy without a prescription before taking them in combination with this medicine. Seek further advice from your pharmacist.
- An overdose of paracetamol is dangerous and capable of causing serious damage to the liver and kidneys. You should never exceed the dose stated in the information leaflet supplied with this medicine. Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose with this medicine, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
- Alcohol increases the risk of liver damage that can occur if an overdose of paracetamol is taken. The hazards of paracetamol overdose are greater in persistant heavy drinkers and in people with alcoholic liver disease.
- If this medicine is taken regularly for long periods of time, the body can become tolerant to it and it may become less effective at relieving pain. With prolonged use, the body may also become dependent on the codeine. As a result, when you then stop taking the medicine you may get withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and irritability. Do not take this medicine for longer than three days without consulting your doctor. If symptoms persist consult your doctor.
- If you find you need to use this medicine all the time you should consult your doctor for advice. Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.
Use with caution in
- Decreased kidney function
- Decreased liver function
Not to be used in
- Children under the age of ten years, unless on the advice of a doctor.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- Paracetamol is not known to be harmful when used during pregnancy. However, the safety of codeine has not been established. If codeine is used in the third trimester it may cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. The safety of buclizine during pregnancy has not been fully established. As a result, this medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
- Small amounts of paracetamol and codeine may pass into breast milk. It is not known if buclizine passes into breast milk. However, there are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used by breastfeeding mothers.
Label warnings
- This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinary. Avoid alcohol.
- Do not take this medication with any other products containing paracetamol.
- Do not exceed the recommended dose of this medicine, which will be stated in the information leaflet supplied with the medicine.
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