Codeine Price in South Africa (2026)
Cheapest 20 mg tablet: Empacod, R78.54 for 20 tablets. Official SEP list, Oct 2026.
≈ $0.24 per tabletWhat a patient pays for codeine in South Africa
Single Exit Price plus the maximum pharmacist dispensing fee and VAT on the fee. Medical schemes may pay part.
3 different brand names across 2 strengths are on the official list.
How much will Codeine 20 mg tablet cost you?
All 3 codeine products in South Africa
| Product | Strength and form | Pack | Price | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empacod original | 20 mg tablet | 20 tablets | R78.54 | R3.93 |
| Omnopon Fresenius 20Mg/Ml original | injection | 10 | R266 | — |
| Codeine | 30 mg tablet | 100 tablets | R788 | R7.88 |
How SEPs work in South Africa
Prices on this page are the Single Exit Price: the one legal price at which the manufacturer may sell the pack in South Africa, including VAT and a logistics fee. Pharmacies and dispensing doctors add a regulated dispensing fee plus VAT on top. For cheap medicines this fee is a large share of what you pay, and can be more than the medicine itself, so the counter price can be much higher than the SEP. Medical schemes may pay all or part of it.
Combinations containing codeine in South Africa
- Ammonium Chloride and Codeine and Diphenhydramine5 productsfrom R44.09
- Carbocisteine and Codeine and Diphenhydramine1 productfrom R63.65
- Codeine and Diphenhydramine Hydrochlode and Paracetamol1 productfrom R40.47
- Codeine and Doxylamine and Paracetamol3 productsfrom R17.96
- Codeine and Ephedrine and Mepyramine2 productsfrom R28.29
- Codeine and Ephedrine and Promethazine5 productsfrom R31.70
- Codeine and Ibuprofen2 productsfrom R44.17
- Codeine and Ibuprofen and Paracetamol17 productsfrom R24.71
Every strength and form of codeine in South Africa
| Strength and form | Products | Cheapest pack | Cheapest per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mg tablet | 1 | R78.54 | R3.93 |
| injection | 1 | R266 | — |
| 30 mg tablet | 1 | R788 | R7.88 |
Different strengths and forms (for example slow-release or dissolving tablets) are not interchangeable without your doctor's advice.
Brands of codeine in South Africa
2 brand names of codeine are on the official list in South Africa. Each brand page shows every pack and the cheapest alternative with the same strength.
Codeine manufacturers in South Africa
The official list names 3 manufacturers for codeine in South Africa: Acino Pharma (Pty) Ltd, Bodene (Pty) Ltd and Pharmacare Limited, Woodmead.
Other medicine prices in South Africa
- Coagulation Factor Viii price4 productsfrom R26.87
- Cobimetinib price1 productfrom R28,810
- Cocaine price3 productsfrom R792
- Codeien price1 productfrom R85.81
- Codeine and Diphenhydramine Hydrochlode and Paracetamol price1 productfrom R40.47
- Codeine and Doxylamine and Paracetamol price3 productsfrom R17.96
- Codeine and Ephedrine and Mepyramine price2 productsfrom R28.29
- Codeine and Ephedrine and Promethazine price5 productsfrom R31.70
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Frequently asked questions
How much does codeine cost in South Africa?
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Who makes codeine sold in South Africa?
Sources
- National Department of Health, South Africa. Database of Medicine Prices (Single Exit Price), effective 1 October 2026. www.health.gov.za/nhi-pee/. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
- National Department of Health, South Africa. Dispensing fee for pharmacists (Notice 5364, Government Gazette 51352, 4 October 2024): maximum fee by SEP band, excluding VAT. archive.gazettes.africa/archive/za/2024/za-government-gazette-dated-20. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
- European Central Bank. Euro foreign exchange reference rates (2026-10-23). www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
Important: These are published reference prices and estimates, not a quote, and not medical advice. Actual costs depend on the hospital, your health, the exact treatment and your insurance. Always confirm the price with the provider before treatment. Read our disclaimer · Report an error