Favorites and recent references stay on this device. No patient data is stored.
Choose the species
One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Oral analgesia (mild-moderate) when salicylates fail and injectable opiates not warranted; antitussive; antidiarrheal
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Oral analgesia (mild-moderate) when salicylates fail and injectable opiates not warranted; antitussive; antidiarrheal — Extra-label (C-II as sole agent; combos C-III)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Analgesic (caution — CNS stimulation possible); acetaminophen combos absolutely contraindicated
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Analgesic (caution — CNS stimulation possible); acetaminophen combos absolutely contraindicated — Extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens4
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects104
Sedation, constipation — Common
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Respiratory depression (high doses) — Dose-ceiling effect
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
CNS stimulation/excitement — Documented feline response
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Masks acute abdominal conditions — Diagnostic caution
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Vomiting18 reports
- Death by euthanasia17 reports
- Diarrhoea14 reports
- Decreased appetite13 reports
- Abnormal ultrasound finding12 reports
- Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)12 reports
- Pain NOS12 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')11 reports
- Death9 reports
- Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST)9 reports
- Elevated total bilirubin9 reports
- Not eating9 reports
Monitoring1
Analgesia vs sedation balance; respiratory rate; stool pattern on chronic use
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Narcotic hypersensitivity; MAOIs (selegiline, amitraz); toxin-caused diarrhea before toxin cleared; acetaminophen-containing products in cats (fatal methemoglobinemia/hepatic necrosis)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Hypothyroidism, severe renal insufficiency, Addison's, head trauma/↑ICP, acute abdomen, geriatric/debilitated, respiratory disease
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The cat line bears repeating: Tylenol #3 kills cats (acetaminophen + feline glucuronidation failure) — the codeine/APAP product is a dog-only tool.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolic pharmacology nugget: analgesia depends on conversion to morphine — dogs do it variably, cats poorly (norcodeine-leaning) → thinner feline efficacy, and the human "ultrarapid metabolizer" concept doesn't translate simply.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Oral step-down niche: when NSAIDs are insufficient/contraindicated and tramadol disappoints, plain codeine is the quiet oral opiate option (C-II logistics permitting).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
Anticholinergics/antidiarrheals — Additive constipation
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
MAOIs — Contraindicated
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Other CNS depressants — Additive
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics2
Mechanism — Mu-opiate agonist (weaker than morphine); antitussive via medullary cough center
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Codeine → morphine via O-demethylation; dogs also N-demethylate to norcodeine — species-dependent analgesic yield (cats form morphine poorly)
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Opiate class cautions; use only if clearly needed.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 312–313 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references19
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Effects of Gabapentin, Valsartan, and Codeine on hemato-biochemical and histological biomarkers of male catfish (Clarias gariepinus).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Role of the pontine respiratory group in the suppression of cough by codeine in cats.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling to predict the pharmacokinetics of codeine in different CYP2D6 phenotypes.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Pharmacokinetics and effects of codeine in combination with acetaminophen on thermal nociception in horses.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Papaver Plants: Current Insights on Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Along with Biotechnological Applications.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.