“C25 blue” describes a blue tablet marked C25 — the imprint used on Mybulen, a South African combination painkiller containing ibuprofen 200 mg, paracetamol 350 mg and codeine phosphate 10 mg. It is used for moderate pain. Because it contains codeine and paracetamol, it carries specific risks.
What is C25 Blue?
People search for “C25 blue” because they have found a loose blue tablet marked C25 and want to know what it is. That imprint corresponds to Mybulen, a South African combination analgesic containing:
- Ibuprofen 200 mg — an anti-inflammatory
- Paracetamol 350 mg — a simple painkiller
- Codeine phosphate 10 mg — a weak opioid
Note that Mybulen is sold in more than one presentation — the capsule contains paracetamol 250 mg, the tablet 350 mg, and Mybulen Forte 500 mg with ibuprofen 400 mg. The composition above is the tablet. Check the pack you actually have.
Before anything else: identifying a tablet by its markings is not certain. Imprints are not unique across manufacturers or countries, colours vary between batches, and a tablet out of its packaging cannot be confirmed with confidence. If you have found a loose tablet and need to know what it is, take it to a pharmacist — they can check it properly, and it takes a minute.
Never take an unidentified tablet, and never take one prescribed for someone else. If a child may have swallowed a tablet found loose, take them and the tablet to an emergency department immediately rather than waiting to see what happens.
Assuming it is Mybulen, the reasoning behind the combination is that three painkillers acting by different mechanisms give better relief together than any one alone. That is genuinely true — and it is also why the product needs more care than a plain painkiller.
What is C25 Blue commonly used for?
Mybulen and similar combinations are used for moderate pain not controlled by a single painkiller:
- Tension headache and migraine.
- Backache and muscular pain.
- Period pain.
- Dental pain, including after extraction.
- Post-operative pain, short-term.
- Musculoskeletal injury — sprains and strains.
The combination is intended for short-term use — a few days. Two features make longer use a problem.
Codeine causes dependence, and it does so quietly. Codeine-containing painkillers are among the most commonly over-used medicines in South Africa, precisely because they are effective, familiar, and easy to obtain. Regular use also produces medication overuse headache, where the treatment sustains the very headaches it is taken for.
And the paracetamol content is easy to lose track of. At 350 mg per tablet, a few tablets a day amounts to a substantial paracetamol dose before anything else is added.
How C25 Blue fits into this medicine category
Mybulen is a compound analgesic, combining three groups:
| Group | In this tablet | What it contributes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple analgesic | Paracetamol 350 mg | Pain and fever |
| Anti-inflammatory | Ibuprofen 200 mg | Reduces inflammation and pain |
| Weak opioid | Codeine phosphate 10 mg | Additional pain relief; dependence risk |
Compared with the alternatives:
| Type | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plain paracetamol | Donapan, Panado | No opioid, no NSAID cautions |
| Plain anti-inflammatory | Ibuprofen, diclofenac | Stomach and kidney cautions |
| Compound analgesics | Mybulen, Synaleve, Stopayne | Stronger; codeine and paracetamol risks |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | For inflammatory conditions, as courses |
For pain a plain painkiller handles, the plain painkiller is the better choice. See the pain, inflammation and musculoskeletal medicines hub.
What to check before using C25 Blue
Have the tablet identified before taking it. A pharmacist can do this.
Do not take any other paracetamol product, including cold and flu remedies, and do not take another anti-inflammatory alongside it. This tablet already contains both.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if:
- You have a history of stomach ulcers, bleeding or reflux — the ibuprofen matters here.
- You have kidney or liver disease.
- You have heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, or have had a stroke.
- You have asthma. Some people with asthma react badly to NSAIDs.
- You have breathing problems such as sleep apnoea or COPD — codeine suppresses breathing.
- You have a history of dependence on codeine, other opioids, or alcohol.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding. Codeine passes into breast milk and NSAIDs are avoided in pregnancy.
- The medicine is for a child or teenager. Codeine is not given to children under 12, nor after tonsil or adenoid surgery in under-18s.
- You take other sedating medicines, a benzodiazepine, or drink alcohol.
Take it with food because of the ibuprofen, and do not drive until you know how the codeine affects you.
Follow the pack instructions. This page does not set doses.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Do not take it for more than a few days. This is the central caution. Regular use leads to codeine dependence, which develops without any decision to misuse it — the pattern is typically someone who started with genuine pain and finds they cannot comfortably stop.
Signs worth acting on: taking it most days, taking more than the pack allows, needing it for pain it once handled easily, buying from several pharmacies, or feeling restless, achy, sweaty or anxious when you go without. Those last symptoms are withdrawal, and they are easily mistaken for the original pain returning. Speak to a doctor — this is common and treatable, and stopping abruptly after prolonged use is uncomfortable enough that support helps.
Paracetamol from other sources adds up. Overdose is a medical emergency that produces no early symptoms — go to an emergency department immediately if too much has been taken, even if the person feels fine.
Ibuprofen carries stomach and kidney risks, particularly with regular use, in older adults, or alongside blood thinners or a steroid.
Codeine causes constipation and drowsiness, and depresses breathing at higher amounts.
Seek urgent medical attention for slow or shallow breathing, extreme drowsiness or difficulty waking someone, stomach pain, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, black tarry stools, facial or throat swelling, difficulty breathing, or a blistering rash.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines guides
- Read: Prednisone used for
- Read: Donapan used for
Frequently asked questions
What is a blue tablet marked C25? That imprint is used on Mybulen, a South African combination of ibuprofen 200 mg, paracetamol 350 mg and codeine phosphate 10 mg. Tablet markings are not a certain identification — have a pharmacist confirm it.
What is it used for? Moderate pain — headache, backache, period pain, dental and post-operative pain — for short-term use.
Does it contain codeine? Yes, 10 mg per tablet. Codeine is an opioid and causes dependence with regular use.
Can I take paracetamol with it? No. It already contains 350 mg of paracetamol per tablet. Adding more risks overdose.
How long can I take it? A few days. Longer use leads to codeine dependence and can cause medication overuse headache.
I found this tablet and do not know what it is. What should I do? Take it to a pharmacist to identify. Never take an unidentified tablet. If a child may have swallowed one, go to an emergency department immediately with the tablet.