Authors followed the dispensation of drug combinations containing codeine in the Teaching Hospital in Hradec Králové in years 1995 – 2001 using DDD (daily defined doses) as a standard. Until 2001 consumption of codeine given in DDD dropped to 42.1 % of the values in 1995. The most often prescribed preparations were Alnagon (a combination of acetylsalicylic acid, codeine, caffeine and phenobarbital) and Korylan (codeine + acetaminophen), dropping in DDD values until the year 2001 to 43.9 % and 49.2 %, respectively.

Key words: codeine – analgesics – prescription analysis – teaching hospital