What Is Dihydrocodeine?
Dihydrocodeine is a semi-synthetic opioid painkiller widely prescribed in the UK for moderate to severe pain that has not responded to paracetamol or ibuprofen. It belongs to the same chemical family as codeine and morphine and works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking the pain signals before they reach conscious awareness.
How dihydrocodeine works
Dihydrocodeine doesn’t heal the underlying injury or inflammation. Instead, it changes how your nervous system processes the pain signal, so you stop feeling the pain even though the source is still there. That gives your body the space to rest, sleep, and recover.
Common UK uses
- Post-operative pain after surgery
- Fracture pain in A&E and orthopaedic clinics
- Dental pain after extractions
- Severe period pain
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain (lower back, sciatica, osteoarthritis)
- Cancer pain (often the 60mg / 120mg slow-release forms)
Strengths available
UK dihydrocodeine comes in three main strengths. You can buy all three from us:
- 30mg standard release — onset 30–60 min, lasts 4–6 hours
- 60mg slow release — onset 1–2 hours, lasts ~12 hours
- 120mg slow release — for opioid-tolerant patients
Is it stronger than codeine?
Yes — milligram-for-milligram, dihydrocodeine is roughly 1.5–2× stronger than codeine. That’s why UK prescribers often switch a patient from 60mg codeine to 30mg dihydrocodeine when pain control is insufficient.
Side effects to expect
Full breakdown in our dihydrocodeine side effects guide. The most common are constipation, drowsiness and mild nausea — usually settling in 3–5 days.
Where to buy dihydrocodeine in the UK
You can order dihydrocodeine online directly from us with discreet Royal Mail Tracked next-day delivery. Bank transfer and Bitcoin accepted, free shipping on BTC.