This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester, unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Small amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should be avoided in women who are breastfeeding, unless considered essential by your doctor and the potential benefits to the mother outweigh any possible risks of dihydrocodeine on the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed.
This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individualpeople in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that areknown to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is statedhere, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience thator any side effect.

Drowsiness
Constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Rash or itching
Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
Dry mouth
Mood changes
Blurred vision
Sweating
Decreased sex drive
Flushing
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Dizziness
Confusion
Hallucinations
Pins and needles sensations
Slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the sideeffects reported by the drug'smanufacturer.For moreinformation about any other possible risks associated with this medicine,please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctoror pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicinesyou are already taking, including those bought without a prescription andherbal medicines, before you take this medicine. Similarly, check with yourdoctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, toensure that thecombination is safe.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness and sedation ifthis medicine is taken with any of the following (which can also causedrowsiness):

alcohol
antipsychotics, eg haloperidol
barbiturates, eg phenobarbital, amobarbital
benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam
other opioid painkillers, eg morphine, codeine
sedating antihistamines, eg chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine, promethazine
sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone
tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.
This medicine should be used with caution in people taking amonoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI), for example phenelzine,tranylcypromine or isocarboxazid. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice ifyou are taking one of these medicines, or you have taken one in the last twoweeks.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient
DF118 forte   

Dihydrocodeine tablets, oral solution and injection are alsoavailable without a brand name, ie as thegeneric medicine.