Dezocine and Acetaminophen And Codeine: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jun 30, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Acetaminophen And Codeine
Dezocine
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Your pain medicine Tylenol with Codeine works by turning on opioid receptors in your body to ease pain. Dezocine is a different kind of opioid that partly turns those same receptors off. When they are used together, dezocine can block codeine's pain relief, so you may hurt more even though you took your medicine.
If your body is used to codeine, dezocine can also trigger sudden withdrawal feelings like sweating, chills, belly cramps, or a racing heart. The good news is this is easy to avoid. Do not stop anything on your own, but please talk with your pharmacist or doctor so they can plan the safest pain treatment for you.
Mechanism: Dezocine is a mixed opioid agonist/antagonist. At the mu-opioid receptor it competes with and antagonizes full agonists. Codeine is a prodrug metabolized (via CYP2D6) to morphine, a mu agonist, so dezocine can displace/block that activity.
- Direction: reduced codeine analgesia and possible precipitated withdrawal in opioid-dependent patients.
- Onset: unspecified; potentially rapid after dezocine dosing.
- Evidence: theoretical, mechanism-based; severity rated major.
- Management: avoid concomitant use. Choose a single compatible analgesic strategy; monitor for loss of pain control and withdrawal signs.
What happens
Reduced analgesic effect or precipitation of withdrawal symptoms
Interaction Deep Dive
Avoid concomitant use of codeine with a mixed opioid agonist/antagonist or a partial agonist opioid analgesic, such as dezocine as this may reduce the analgesic effect of codeine and may precipitate withdrawal symptoms12.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Opioid receptor antagonism
How to manage this interaction
This combination is best avoided, but do not stop or change either medicine on your own.
- Keep taking your prescribed pain medicine as directed until you speak with your care team.
- Tell your pharmacist and prescriber that you have been prescribed both, so they can pick one pain approach that works together safely.
- Watch for less pain relief than usual, or withdrawal signs such as sweating, chills, cramps, nausea, anxiety, or a fast heartbeat, and report these promptly.
Your care team can manage this by adjusting which medicine you use and monitoring you closely.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Dezocine and Acetaminophen And Codeine together?
Dezocine can block codeine's pain relief and trigger opioid withdrawal, so these are generally not used together. Do not change anything yourself; ask your pharmacist or doctor to choose one safe pain plan. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Dezocine and Acetaminophen And Codeine interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Dezocine and Acetaminophen And Codeine interaction managed?
This combination is best avoided, but do not stop or change either medicine on your own. Keep taking your prescribed pain medicine as directed until you speak with your care team. Tell your pharmacist and prescriber that you have been prescribed both, so they can pick one pain approach that works together safely. Watch for less pain relief than usual, or withdrawal signs such as sweating, chills,… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Dezocine or Acetaminophen And Codeine need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (2)
- Product Information: Codeine sulfate oral tablets, codeine sulfate oral tablets. West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp (per DailyMed), Eatontown, NJ, 2016. DailyMed
- Product Information: CARISOPRODOL, ASPIRIN, CODEINE PHOSPHATE oral tablets, carisoprodol, aspirin, codeine phosphate oral tablets. Ingenus Pharmaceuticals LLC (per DailyMed), Orlando, FL, 2021. DailyMed
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