Codeine
Categories
Summary
Codeine is a weaker opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain and to relieve cough. In many countries it is available over the counter in combination with paracetamol, which can easily be extracted to retrieve near-pure codeine. For this reason, it is used widely as a recreational opioid. It is metabolised into morphine in the body at a rate of 5% mg for mg.
Dose Information
Onset, Duration & After-effects
- Onset:
- 30-45 minutes
- Duration:
- 3-6 hours
- After-effects:
- 1-12 hours
Effects
- Euphoria
- Dry Mouth
- Mood lift
- Itchiness
- Relaxant
- Constipation
- Pupil constriction
- Analgesia
Helpful Links
Known Combinations
Studies & References
- Codeine analgesia is due to codeine-6-glucuronide, not morphine.
- Nod and wave: an Internet study of the codeine intoxication phenomenon.
- Trends and characteristics of accidental and intentional codeine overdose deaths in Australia.
- Rectal versus oral absorption of codeine phosphate in man.
- Endogenous codeine and morphine in poor and extensive metabolisers of the CYP2D6 (debrisoquine/sparteine) polymorphism.