CODEINE

CODEINE (C18 H2, NO3 H3PO4 1/2 H2O)

Our team researched the drug Codeine.
We used several different sources to gather our information. We go information from Jay
Moser and Sue Peterson, our two local pharmacists. We researched medical encyclopedias,
journals, and magazines. Codeine is known medically as methylmorphine. It is a drug derived
from opium, a poppy plant. It was discovered in 1832 by French chemist Pierre-Jean
Robiquet. Codeine constitutes about 0.5 to 2.5 percent of this plant substance. The drug
has been in use since the early 1900's and it shares most of the pharmacologic
characteristics of morphine, the other alkaloid in opium. Codeine is classified as a
narcotic, it has the same painkiller effect as morphine but is only one-sixth to one-tenth
as strong. Codeine occurs as a colorless or white crystals or as a white, crystalline
powder and is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol. The phosphate and
sulfate salts of codeine occur as white, needle-shaped crystals or white, crystalline
powders. Why is it used? Codeine is most useful in the relief of mild to moderate pain. It
is also used as a cough remedy because it suppresses the part of the brain that triggers
coughing, and as an anti-diarrheal drug, because it slows down muscle contractions in the
intestinal wall. There are possible adverse effects. The most frequently observed adverse
reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.
These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not
suffering severe pain. Other adverse reactions include the following: (1) Central Nervous
System- Euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, insomnia, agitation, disorientation, and
visual disturbances. (2) Gastrointestinal- Dry mouth, anorexia, constipation, and biliary
tract spasm. (3) Cardiovascular- Flushing of the face, abnormally slow heartbeat,
faintness, and syncope. (4) Genitourinary- Urinary retention of hesitancy, anti-diuretic
effect.
(5) Allergic- skin rashes.
Most drug manufactors list specific warnings to be aware of when taking codeine. (1)
Codeine sulfate can produce drug dependence of the morphine type, and therefore has the
potential for being abused psychic dependence, physical dependence and tolerance may
develop upon repeated administration of Codeine. (2) Codeine may impair the mental and or
physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as
driving a car or operating machinery. (3) Patients receiving other narcotic painkillers,
general anesthetics, tranquilizers, or other central nervous system depressants, including
alcohol with codeine may exhibit an additive central nervous system depression. Who
shouldn't take codeine? Pregnant women should not use codeine because safe use in pregnancy
has not been established. Children below the age of three shouldn't be given this drug for
that age group hasn't been established. Codeine should be given with caution to certain
patients such as the elderly or debilitated, and prostatic hypertrophy or urethral
stricture. Codeine can be taken as a tablet, liquid or by injection. A prescription is
needed for codeine in the United States and it is available as a generic. The usual
antitussive oral dosage of codeine, codeine phosphate, or codeine sulfate for adults and
children 12 years of age or older is 10-20 mg every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 60 mg daily.
The usual antitussice dosage for children 3 to younger than 6 years of age is 1 mg/kg daily
given in 4 equally divided doses every 4-6 hours.. What are the signs and symptoms of
overdosage? Serious overdose with codeine is characterized by respiratory depression,
extreme somnolence progressing to stupor or coma, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold and
clammy skin, and sometimes abnormally slow heartbeat and hypotension. In severe overdosage,
circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest and death may occur. Our investigation of codeine
progressed from knowing very little about it in the beginning to acquiring much information
on its adverse effects, its warnings, and its dosage administration.