Editing Dihydrocodeine (section)

== Medical uses ==
Approved indication for dihydrocodeine is the management of moderate to moderately severe [[pain]] as well as coughing and shortness of breath.  As is the case with other drugs in this group, the [[antitussive]] dose tends to be less than the [[analgesic]] dose, and dihydrocodeine is a powerful cough suppressant like all other members of the immediate codeine family (see below) and their cousins [[hydrocodone]], [[oxycodone]] and [[ethylmorphine]], whole opium preparations, and the strong opioid [[hydromorphone]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Leppert W | title = Dihydrocodeine as an opioid analgesic for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain | journal = Current Drug Metabolism | volume = 11 | issue = 6 | pages = 494–506 | date = July 2010 | pmid = 20540693 | doi = 10.2174/138920010791636211 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Myovant Sciences and Pfizer Receive U.S. FDA Approval of Myfembree, a Once-Daily Treatment for the Management of Moderate to Severe Pain Associated With Endometriosis |url=https://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/myovant-sciences-pfizer-receive-u-s-fda-approval-myfembree-once-daily-management-moderate-severe-5872.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905193307/https://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/myovant-sciences-pfizer-receive-u-s-fda-approval-myfembree-once-daily-management-moderate-severe-5872.html |archive-date= 5 September 2022 |access-date= 5 September 2022 |website=[[Drugs.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

For use against pain, dihydrocodeine is usually formulated as tablets or capsules containing 15–16&nbsp;mg or 30–32&nbsp;mg with or without other active ingredients such as aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen), [[ibuprofen]], or others.<ref>{{Cite web |date= 25 October 2019 |title=Dihydrocodeine: painkiller |url=https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/dihydrocodeine/ |access-date= 5 September 2022 |website=nhs.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | author = Multum Cerner |date= 12 January 2022 |title=Acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine Uses, Side Effects & Warnings |url=https://www.drugs.com/mtm/acetaminophen-caffeine-and-dihydrocodeine.html |access-date= 5 September 2022 |website=[[Drugs.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

Controlled release dihydrocodeine is available for both pain and coughing, as indicated below, as waxy tablets containing 60 to 120&nbsp;mg of the drug. Some formulations, intended for use against coughing and the like, have other active ingredients such as antihistamines, decongestants and others.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cowan DA, Woffendin G, Noormohammadi A | title = Two assays for dihydrocodeine in plasma and in urine and their use to determine the bioavailability of a controlled-release product | journal = Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | volume = 77 | issue = 7 | pages = 606–609 | date = July 1988 | pmid = 3171947 | doi = 10.1002/jps.2600770711 }}</ref> 
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Dhccontinus.jpg|thumb|Box of 56 controlled release 60mg dihydrocodeine tablets. 2 tablets a day=one month dosage (28 days)]] -->
Other oral formulations, such as packets of effervescent powder, sublingual drops, elixirs and the like are also available in many locations.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Di Girolamo G, Opezzo JA, Lopez MI, Schere D, Keller G, Gonzalez CD, Massa JM, de los Santos MC | title = Relative bioavailability of new formulation of paracetamol effervescent powder containing sodium bicarbonate versus paracetamol tablets: a comparative pharmacokinetic study in fed subjects | journal = Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy | volume = 8 | issue = 15 | pages = 2449–2457 | date = October 2007 | pmid = 17931082 | doi = 10.1517/14656566.8.15.2449 | s2cid = 45519503 }}</ref>

Injectable dihydrocodeine is most often given as a deep subcutaneous injection.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kim H, Park H, Lee SJ | title = Effective method for drug injection into subcutaneous tissue | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | pages = 9613 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28852051 | pmc = 5575294 | doi = 10.1038/s41598-017-10110-w | bibcode = 2017NatSR...7.9613K }}</ref> Dihydrocodeine appears to be superior to tramadol in treating pain.<ref name=":2" />