Migraleve Pink Tablets

What are Migraleve Pink Tablets?

Migraleve Pink Tablets are a pharmacy-only medicine used to treat migraines, particularly in the early stages when pain and nausea first appear. Each pink tablet contains three active ingredients: paracetamol (500mg) to relieve pain and reduce fever, codeine phosphate (8mg), a mild opioid that enhances pain relief and Buclizine (6.25 mg) an antihistamine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting. The combination helps ease the throbbing headache and associated symptoms of migraines when taken early in an attack. They can be combined with an NSAID such as Ibuprofen to provide enhanced pain relief.

How do they work?

Migraleve Pink works by combining three ingredients that target different aspects of a migraine attack:

• Paracetamol (500mg) - reduces pain and fever by blocking chemical messengers in the brain (prostaglandins) involved in pain signalling
• Codeine phosphate (8mg) - a mild opioid painkiller that enhances the effects of paracetamol by acting on the central nervous system to reduce the perception of pain
• Buclizine hydrochloride (6.25mg) - an anti-nausea (antiemetic) medication that helps relieve the sickness and queasiness often associated with migraine attacks

This triple-action formula makes Migraleve Pink especially useful for people whose migraines cause both pain and nausea. Taking the tablets at the first sign of a migraine improves their effectiveness and may prevent the attack from worsening.

How to buy Migraleve Pink tablets online

You can use our online pharmacy service to buy Migraleve Pink tablets online in the UK. We are a regulated GPhC registered pharmacy based in the UK with free delivery and next day delivery available. As these tablets are a 'Pharmacy-only' (P) medicine a pharmacist needs to have a consultation to make sure treatment is appropriate before you can purchase them.
Upon completion of your order, our pharmacist will then review your online assessment. If your assessment is approved, our pharmacy team will then dispense your order, which will be dispatched the same day using your chosen delivery method.

How to take Migraleve Pink

Adults and children over 12 years: Take 2 pink tablets at the first sign of a migraine.
If the migraine persists, then take 2 Migraleve Yellow tablets 4 hours after the Pink dose and then every 4 hours.
Wait at least 4 hours between doses.
Do not take more than 8 tablets (2 pink and 6 yellow) in a 24 hour period. If symptoms persist for more than 3 days, talk to your doctor.
They are only licensed to be used for 3 days continuous use, if you find yourself needing to use them longer than 3 days, contact your doctor.

Who can take it?

Migraleve Pink is suitable for adults and adolescents over 12 years who experience migraines with pain and nausea. It is not suitable for regular use and should be taken only when needed for migraine attacks.

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take if you are allergic to paracetamol, codeine, or any other ingredients in the tablets
• Do not take if you are already taking other medicines containing paracetamol
• Codeine may cause drowsiness — avoid driving or operating machinery if affected
• Do not use for more than 3 days unless advised by a doctor, due to risk of addiction and overuse headache
• Do not take with alcohol, as it increases the risk of drowsiness and liver damage

Drug interactions

Migraleve Pink may interact with:

• Other painkillers containing paracetamol or codeine - may increase risk of overdose
• Sleeping tablets, tranquilisers, or sedatives - may enhance drowsiness
• Certain antidepressants (e.g. MAOIs) - avoid if taken in the past 14 days
• Alcohol - avoid as it may increase side effects

Can I take Migraleve while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Migraleve Pink is not recommended during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, due to the presence of codeine. It should also be avoided while breastfeeding, as codeine can pass into breast milk and may harm your baby. Speak to your doctor or midwife about safer alternatives.

Migraleve Pink and addiction

The codeine in Migraleve Pink can be addictive, do not use this product for more than 3 days of continuous use. If you find yourself needing to use it for more than 3 days, contact your doctor. It is unlikely you will become addicted if you take them as instructed. If you experience any of the following you should talk to your GP:

1. You feel you have to take Migraleve Pink for longer than 3 days
2. Your symptoms persist
3. When you stop taking Migraleve Pink you feel unwell, but if you start taking the medicine again you feel better

Signs of codeine addiction include but are not limited to:

1. Depression
2. Anxiety
3. Mood Swings
4. Behavioral changes
5. Sleepiness
6. Dizziness
7. Shaking
8. Itching
9. Restlessness
10. Breathing problems
11. Halluciantions
12. Memory problems
13. Ringing in your ears (Tinnitus)

It is unlikely you will experience the above if you take them as instructed but it is important if you experience any of the above to talk to your GP.

Migraleve Pink and driving

One of the main side effects is drowsiness. It is now an offence to drive in England, Wales or Scotland if your ability to drive is affected by medication. Do not drive or operate any tools or machinery if this medication makes you drowsy or if you do not how this medicine will affect you.

Migraleve Pink and other pain killers

Migraleve Pink is commonly taken with Ibuprofen tablets.
Be careful of any cold & flu remedies as they may contain paracetamol and do not take paracetamol tablets with this medicine as it already contains them. Do not take any other codeine containing products while taking this medication.

Codeine tolerance

If you take Migraleve for a prolonged period of time, you may find you become tolerant to it and it becomes less effective at providing pain relief. You may also become dependent on the Codiene if taken regularly for a long period of time. For these reasons you should keep use to as short of a period time with as few tablets taken as possible. Overuse of Migraleve can also lead to chronic migraines.

Migraleve Pink alternatives

Other alternatives to Migraleve Pink include:

• Migraleve Complete - Contains Migraleve Pink and Yellow tablets
• Ibuprofen tablets - a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can help reduce pain and inflammation
• Co-codamol tablets
• Co-codamol soluble tablets
• Paramol tablets - these contain 7.46mg of dihydrocodeine instead of codeine, which some people prefer
• Solapdeine Plus capsules - these contain caffeine.
• Solapdeine Plus soluble tablets - these contain caffeine
• Solapdeine Max soluble tablets
• Solapdeine Max tablets

More information

For more information on Migraleve Pink, you can visit the Migraleve website.
You can also find more information on migraines and how to treat them on the Migraine Trust website.
If you are struggling with opioid addiction, you can find support on the Addiction Helper website.