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. Ask a pharmacist before adding an NSAID such as ibuprofen. Do not take Migraleve within four hours of another painkiller.
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
Ages 16 and over: start with two Pink tablets. If pain continues, take two Yellow tablets four hours later, then every four hours if needed. Maximum in 24 hours: two Pink plus six Yellow tablets.
Ages 12–15: start with one Pink tablet. If needed, take one Yellow tablet four hours later, then every four hours. Maximum in 24 hours: one Pink plus three Yellow tablets.
Take only one Pink dose in any 24 hours. Do not take within four hours of another painkiller or use for more than three days. Your migraine must have been diagnosed by a doctor.
If you take more than the recommended dose, get medical help immediately, even if you feel well. Too much paracetamol can cause serious liver damage that is delayed. Take the packet and any remaining tablets with you. Call 999 for breathing difficulties, collapse or unconsciousness.
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
Do not give to children under 12, anyone known to convert codeine to morphine very rapidly, or anyone under 18 after tonsil or adenoid surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea. Codeine is not recommended for young people with breathing problems. Do not use while breastfeeding.
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:
- You feel you have to take Migraleve Pink for longer than 3 days
- Your symptoms persist
- When you stop taking Migraleve Pink you feel unwell, but if you start taking the medicine again you feel better
Other symptoms to discuss with a doctor include the following. They are not, on their own, proof of addiction:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood Swings
- Behavioural changes
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Shaking
- Itching
- Restlessness
- hallucinations
- Memory problems
- 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.
Urgent symptoms: stop taking the medicine and get immediate help for slow or shallow breathing, unusual severe sleepiness or confusion. Call 999 if breathing is difficult or the person cannot be woken.
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 know how this medicine will affect you.
Migraleve Pink and other pain killers
Ask a pharmacist before adding ibuprofen. Leave at least four hours between Migraleve and another painkiller.
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 codeine 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 can cause medication-overuse headaches.
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
- Solpadeine Plus capsules - these contain caffeine.
- Solpadeine Plus soluble tablets - these contain caffeine
- Solpadeine Max soluble tablets
- Solpadeine Max tablets
Sources and further information
- Migraleve Pink and Yellow patient information leaflet
- Migraleve website
- Migraine Trust website
- If you are struggling with opioid addiction, you can find support on the Addiction Helper website.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take Migraleve Pink tablets?
At the first sign of your previously diagnosed migraine, take one Pink tablet if aged 12–15, or two if aged 16 or over. Take only one Pink dose in 24 hours; use the follow-on Yellow directions above if pain continues.
How long can I take Migraleve Pink tablets for?
Migraleve Pink tablets can be taken for a maximum of 3 days only. Taking them for longer than three days can lead to codeine dependence or addiction. If you find that you still need to carry on with them after 3 days you should contact your GP to discuss further options for pain management.
Can I take Migraleve Pink with other migraine medicines?
Avoid taking Migraleve Pink with other medicines containing paracetamol or codeine. If you use triptans or other migraine-specific treatments, check with a pharmacist first.
What's the difference between Migraleve Pink and Migraleve Yellow?
Migraleve Pink is taken at the start of a migraine. Migraleve Yellow (containing the same active ingredients minus nausea treatment) may be taken later if pain persists.
Is Migraleve addictive?
Codeine can become habit-forming if used for more than a few days. To minimise risk, only take Migraleve when needed and for no more than 3 days in a row.
