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actifed w/ codeine

Pharmaranks rates Actifed W/ Codeine 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Actifed W/ Codeine is a combination medicine containing Codeine Phosphate, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, and Triprolidine Hydrochloride.

Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride and Triprolidine Hydrochloride · by Glaxosmithkline

70/100Limited · 1 source

Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 20, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass

Key facts

Active ingredient
Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride and Triprolidine Hydrochloride
Form
Syrup
Strength
Codeine Phosphate 10MG/5ML; Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 30MG/5ML; Triprolidine Hydrochloride 1.25MG/5ML **Federal Register Determination That Product was not Discontinued or Withdrawn for Safety or Effectiveness reasons**
Type
Prescription (Rx)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Glaxosmithkline
Half-life
roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline) (how long it stays in your system)
What the pharmacy pays
~$20.54 for 30 — not your price
FDA application
NDA012575
Availability
Discontinued (per FDA)

How long does Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride and Triprolidine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of codeine phosphate and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and triprolidine hydrochloride is roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is a genuinely variable half-life, not a fixed one. Pseudoephedrine is cleared mostly unchanged by the kidneys (55% to 96% of a dose appears unchanged in urine), and because it is a base, acidic urine traps and flushes it out faster while alkaline urine lets it be reabsorbed — hence the 3-6 h vs 9-16 h spread the label reports. No active metabolite to worry about: the label says less than 1% is metabolized in the liver, by N-demethylation, to an INACTIVE metabolite. It is not a prodrug. Kidney impairment: because clearance is renal, the label states pseudoephedrine "may accumulate in patients with renal impairment," and the product is to be generally avoided in these patients — expect a longer half-life, though the label does not quantify it. Liver impairment: no studies of pseudoephedrine were conducted in hepatic impairment, so the label gives no number; the product is likewise to be generally avoided. Older adults: this label gives no separate pseudoephedrine half-life for people 65+ (its geriatric pharmacokinetic data covers the antihistamine component only), but it warns that older adults are more likely to have adverse reactions to sympathomimetic amines. The half-life above is from the Clarinex-D 12 Hour label, which is where FDA-approved pseudoephedrine pharmacokinetics are published; standalone OTC pseudoephedrine products carry monograph "Drug Facts" labels that contain no pharmacokinetics section at all.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: CLARINEX-D 12 HOUR (desloratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate) extended release tablets — Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics, DailyMed.

Dosage forms

Syrup

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

Ways to save

Ask for the generic

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Request a 90-day supply

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Use copay cards

Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.

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Frequently asked questions

How is Actifed W/ Codeine rated?
pharmaranks gives Actifed W/ Codeine a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
How much does Actifed W/ Codeine cost?
Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $20.54 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
Is there a coupon or discount for Actifed W/ Codeine?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Actifed W/ Codeine. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Actifed W/ Codeine?
Actifed W/ Codeine is marketed by Glaxosmithkline. You can see Glaxosmithkline's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Actifed W/ Codeine a brand-name or generic drug?
Actifed W/ Codeine is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Codeine Phosphate and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride and Triprolidine Hydrochloride.
Is Actifed W/ Codeine available over the counter?
No. Actifed W/ Codeine is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
What forms does Actifed W/ Codeine come in?
Actifed W/ Codeine is currently marketed as syrup, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
Is Actifed W/ Codeine FDA-registered?
Actifed W/ Codeine is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA012575. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Has Actifed W/ Codeine been recalled by the FDA?
Actifed W/ Codeine has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
Is Actifed W/ Codeine safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Actifed W/ Codeine a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.

Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

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actifed w/ codeine

70/100