Codeine is a painkiller used to treat pain, for example after an operation or an injury. Codiene is also used for long-standing pain when everyday painkillers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol, haven’t worked.

Codeine is also used to treat diarrhoea. THC oil cartridges shipped anywhere 

Codeine is available on prescription. It comes as tablets, a liquid to swallow and as an injection. Codeine injections are usually only given in hospital.

You can buy lower-strength codeine from a pharmacy. It comes mixed with paracetamol (co-codamol) or with aspirin (co-codaprin) or with ibuprofen (Nurofen Plus).

You can also buy codeine from a pharmacy as a syrup (linctus) to treat dry coughs.

• Codeine works by stopping pain signals from travelling along the nerves to the brain.
• The most common side effects of codeine are constipation, feeling sick (nausea) and feeling sleepy.
• It’s possible to become addicted to codeine, but this is rare if you’re taking it to relieve pain and your doctor is reviewing your treatment regularly.
• It may be best not to drink alcohol while taking codeine as you’re more likely to get side effects like feeling sleepy.
• Do not give codeine to children under 12 years old. Only give codeine to children aged 12 to 18 years if everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen haven’t worked.

Codeine can be taken by adults and children aged 12 years and older.

Only give codeine to children (aged 12 to 18 years) if everyday painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen haven’t worked.

Codeine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you have:

• had an allergic reaction to codeine or any other medicines in the past
• a lung problem
• a head injury
• adrenal gland problems
• an illness which causes seizures
• an addiction to alcohol
• an underactive thyroid gand
• kidney or liver problems
• gallstones
• an enlarged prostate
• low blood pressure
• myasthenia gravis (a rare illness that causes muscle weakness)
• symptoms of ulcerative coitis (a bowel condition)

Do not give codeine to children who are under 18 years old and have had their tonsils or adenoids removed because of a sleep problem called obstructive sleep apnoea.

Codeine is not generally recommended in pregnancy. Tell your doctor before taking codeine if you’re trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

It’s important to take codeine as your doctor has asked you to.

Take codeine with, or just after, a meal or snack so it’s less likely to make you feel sick.

You can take codeine at any time of day but try to take it at the same times every day and space your doses evenly.

Different types of codeine

Codeine comes as:

• tablets – these contain 15mg, 30mg or 60mg of codeine
• a liquid that you swallow – this contains 25mg of codeine in a 5ml spoonful
• cough syrup – this contains 15mg of codeine in a 5ml spoonful
• an injection (usually given in hospital)

If you’re taking codeine as a liquid, it will come with a plastic spoon or syringe to help you measure the correct amount. Ask your pharmacist for one if you don’t have it. Do not measure the liquid with a kitchen teaspoon because it won’t give the right amount.

How much to take

The usual dose of codeine is 15mg to 60mg. You can take this dose up to 4 times a day.

For treating pain:

• adults usually take one or two 30mg tablets every 4 hours
• children (aged 12 to 18 years) usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonfuls of liquid) every 6 hours
• elderly people or people with kidney or liver problems usually take a 15mg tablet every 4 hours

For treating diarrhoea:

• adults usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonfuls of liquid) every 4 hours
• children (aged 12 to 18 years) usually take one or two 30mg tablets (or one or two 5ml spoonfuls of liquid) every 6 hours
• elderly people or people with kidney or liver problems usually take a 15mg tablet every 4 hours

For treating a cough:

Adults and children usually take one or two 5ml spoonfuls of cough syrup every 4 to 6 hours.

Structure

Weight

Average: 299.3642
Monoisotopic: 299.152143543

Chemical Formula

C₁₈H₂₁NO₃

Synonyms

• Codein
• Codeína
• Codéine
• Codeine polistirex
• Codeinum
• Methylmorphine
  

  General effects Of Codiene

  Codeine is a weak narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant that is similar to morphine and hydrocodone. A small amount of ingested codeine is converted to morphine in the body. Codeine increases tolerance to pain, reducing existing discomfort. In addition to decreasing pain, codeine also causes sedation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression .

  Antitussive activity

  This drug has shown antitussive activity in clinical trials  and has been effective in cough secondary to tuberculosis and insomnia due to coughing . Codeine suppresses the cough reflex through a direct effect on the cough center in the medulla.

  Effects on intestinal motility

  Codeine may reduce intestinal motility through both a local and possibly central mechanism of action. This may possibly lead to constipation . The chronic use of opioids, including codeine sulfate, may lead to obstructive bowel disease, particularly in patients with underlying disorders of intestinal motility.

  Effects on the central nervous system

  Codeine phosphate is an opioid analgesic with uses similar to those of morphine, but is much less potent as an analgesic. Its primary site of action is at the mu opioid receptors distributed throughout the central nervous system. The sedative activities of codeine are less potent than those of morphine ¹³. Codeine may cause respiratory system depression by the activation of μ-opioid receptors at specific sites in the central nervous system .

  Codiene Effects on blood pressure

  This drug poses an increased risk of compromised ability to maintain blood pressure due to peripheral vasodilation and other mechanisms.

  Effects on chronic cancer pain and other types of pain

  Codeine is an opioid analgesic with similar indications to those of morphine, however, is much less potent in its pain alleviating properties. Its primary action takes place at the mu opioid receptors, which are distributed throughout the central nervous system. The average duration of action is about 4 hours .

  Regular dosing of opioid analgesics such as codeine in patients with severe cancer pain has been well documented to improve symptoms