What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about RAFEN PLUS.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the risks of you taking RAFEN PLUS against the
benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again
What RAFEN PLUS is used for
RAFEN PLUS tablets contain two active ingredients:
Ibuprofen and Codeine phosphate.
Ibuprofen belongs to a family of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). This group of medicines
work by relieving pain, inflammation (swelling, redness, soreness) and fever.
Codeine is an opioid analgesic that works in the brain and spinal cord to relieve pain.
RAFEN PLUS tablets relieve inflammation and strong pain associated with migraine headache, tension headache, headache, period
pain, dental pain, back pain, neuralgia, rheumatic pain, arthritic pain and muscular pain.
RAFEN PLUS tablets are not recommended for use in children under the age of 12 years.
Before you take RAFEN PLUS
When you must not take it
Do not take RAFEN PLUS if you have an allergy to:
Ibuprofen, codeine or other opioid analgesics such as morphine or pethidine, or any of the ingredients of RAFEN PLUS tablets,
listed at the end of this leaflet.
any other NSAID or other anti-inflammatory medicines.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to these medicines may include:
asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath.
swelling of the face, lips, or tongue; this may affect swallowing or breathing.
hives, itching or skin rash.
If you are allergic to Aspirin or NSAID group of medicines and take RAFEN PLUS tablets, these symptoms may be severe.
Do not take RAFEN PLUS if you are also taking any other medicines that contain one or more NSAID medicine, whether prescribed
by your doctor or obtained without prescription.
Several medicines used to treat headache, period pain and other aches and pains contain aspirin or NSAIDs. If you are not
sure if the medicines you are taking contain these ingredients, ask your pharmacist.
Do not take RAFEN PLUS at all during the last 3 months of pregnancy including the last few days before expected birth.
Unless advised by a medical doctor, do not take RAFEN PLUS tablets during the first 6 months of pregnancy.
Do not take RAFEN PLUS:
if you are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
if you are bleeding from the rectum (back passage), have black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
if you have a stomach ulcer
if you have chronic constipation or shallow breathing, or severe diarrhoea
if you consume heavy amounts of alcohol regularly
if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed; it may not work as well
if you are not sure whether you should start taking RAFEN PLUS, contact your pharmacist or doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your pharmacist or doctor:
if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. RAFEN PLUS is not recommended for use during the first 6 months of pregnancy.
Your doctor will decide if you should take RAFEN PLUS tablets. Do not take RAFEN PLUS at all during the last 3 months of pregnancy.
if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. RAFEN PLUS is not recommended while you are breast-feeding. If there is
a need to consider RAFEN PLUS tablets while you are breast-feeding, your pharmacist or doctor will discuss with you the benefits
and risks of using it
if you are aged 65 years or over.
if you have any medical conditions, especially the following:
a history of stomach ulcer.
swelling of ankles or feet.
asthma , or have suffered in the past from asthma.
thyroid problems or low blood pressure.
a head injury or intercranial pressure.
stomach problems or recent stomach surgery
Taking other medicines
your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines .
warfarin or other medicines used to stop blood clots or thin the blood.
medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure eg diuretics (fluid tablets) or heart problems including heart failure.
methotrexate a medicine used to treat arthritis and some types of cancer.
zidovudine a medicine used to treat HIV infection.
lithium and other medicines used to treat depression or anxiety eg MAOIs (even if taken within the last 14 days).
medicines used to relieve stomach cramps or spasms.
medicines used to treat diarrhoea (eg. kaolin, pectin, loperamide).
metoclopramide, a medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting.
medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and cortisone, which reduce the activity of your immune system
medicines used to help you relax, sleep or relieve anxiety, such as barbiturates and sedatives
quinidine, a medicine used to treat abnormal or irregular heart beat
phenothiazines and antipsychotic agents, medicines used to treat mental disorders
medicines used to treat diabetes
medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease
medicines used to prevent travel sickness
other opioids to treat pain or suppress cough.
These medicines may be affected by RAFEN PLUS or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your
medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you. Your pharmacist and doctor
have more information on medicines to avoid or be careful with while taking RAFEN PLUS.
How to take RAFEN PLUS
How much to take
The usual dose of RAFEN PLUS for adults and children over 12 years of age is 2 tablets followed by, if necessary 1 or 2 tablets
every 4 hours.
Do not take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.
RAFEN PLUS is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask
your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Take RAFEN PLUS by mouth with fluid. It may also be taken before, or after food.
How long to take it
You should not take Ibuprofen RAFEN PLUS for more than a few days.
If your symptoms persist, worsen or new symptoms develop, talk to your doctor/pharmacist.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you take too much of this medicine you may experience nausea or upset stomach, vomiting and gastric irritation, drowsiness,
dizziness or very slow, laboured breathing. You may also experience blurred vision, ringing in the ears, or rapid uncontrollable
movements of the eyes. Excitability, convulsions and unconsciousness may be experienced in rare cases. If you think you have
taken too many RAFEN PLUS tablets, talk to your pharmacist or doctor, or contact the Poisons Information Centre (telephone
13 11 26) for advice.
While you are taking RAFEN PLUS
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while taking RAFEN PLUS tablets stop taking and talk to your doctor.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking RAFEN PLUS tablets.
Tell all of the doctors, dentists and pharmacists that are treating you that you are taking RAFEN PLUS tablets.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your doctor you are taking RAFEN PLUS tablets.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your symptoms do not improve.
Things you must not do
Do not give RAFEN PLUS tablets to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you
Do not use RAFEN PLUS tablets to treat any other complaints
Do not take RAFEN PLUS tablets with any other product containing ibuprofen and/or codeine or other opioid unless your doctor
Do not take for more than 3 days at a time unless your doctor tells you to. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Excessive
use of ibuprofen can be harmful and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or liver damage.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how RAFEN PLUS affects you.
RAFEN PLUS may cause dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive or operate machinery.
If you drink alcohol, dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness may be worse.
Products containing codeine should not be taken for prolonged periods; Codeine may be habit forming.
Check with your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking RAFEN PLUS, even if you do
not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.
Like other medicines, RAFEN PLUS can cause some side effects in some people. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and
temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention. Ask your pharmacist or doctor to answer any questions
you may have.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms that worry you:
stomach upset including nausea (feeling sick), vomiting
diarrhoea, pain in the stomach
dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness
These are the more common side effects of RAFEN PLUS and are usually mild and short lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
get sunburnt more quickly than usual
unusual or extreme mood swings
flushing of the face
fast heart beat
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare for low doses
of this medicine and when used for a short period of time.
If any of the following happen, stop taking RAFEN PLUS and tell your doctor immediately or go to casualty at your nearest
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea.
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest
sudden or severe itching, skin rash, hives, skin peeling
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
Some people may get other side effects while taking RAFEN PLUS. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else
that worries you.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After Using RAFEN PLUS
Keep the tablets in the pack until it is time to take the dose.
If you take them out they will not keep well.
Keep the tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store RAFEN PLUS or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave the tablets in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep the tablets where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground are a
good place to store medicines.
When you stop taking RAFEN PLUS or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are
If you have any further questions or if you are not sure about anything relating to the use of RAFEN PLUS, your doctor or
pharmacist can best assist you.
What it looks like
RAFEN PLUS is white to off-white capsule-shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablet.
RAFEN PLUS contains 200mg ibuprofen and 12.8mg codeine phosphate as the active ingredients.
The other ingredients in RAFEN PLUS tablets are:
Starch - pregelatinised maize
Silica colloidal anhydrous
Opadry white colouring
RAFEN PLUS does not contain gluten, wheat, lactose, sucrose or preservatives.
RAFEN PLUS is available in blister packs of 30 tablets.