Codeine-induced pulmonary oedema (an unusual cause of dyspnoea)

Abstract

A 54-year-old lady presented to our casualty department with acute onset of dyspnoea, 20 min after consumption of two co-codamol 30/500 tablets (30 and 500 mg of codeine and paracetamol, respectively). Her past medical history included type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia. She had consumed co-codamol tablets 10 years previously, without adverse effect. On examination, she was dyspnoeic with a respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min, hypoxic (oxygen saturations were 80% on room air), tachycardic (heart rate 110 bpm) and hypotensive (blood pressure 90/55 mmHg). On examination, …