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Codeine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Codeine is used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. Codeine can slow or stop your breathing. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Codeine may also be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids. In some people, codeine breaks down rapidly in the liver and reaches higher than normal levels in the body. This can cause dangerously slow breathing and may cause death, especially in a child. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea, or other breathing disorders curvature of the spine that affects breathing kidney disease a history of head injury or brain tumour low blood pressure blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines) a gallbladder or pancreas disorder underactive thyroid Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorder enlarged prostate, urination problems mental illness or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Typical Uses

Codeine is a narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine and hydrocodone. Moreover, a small amount of codeine is converted to morphine in the body. The precise mechanism of action of codeine is not known however, like morphine, codeine binds to receptors in the brain (opioid receptors) that are important for transmitting the sensation of pain throughout the body and brain. Codeine increases tolerance to pain, decreasing discomfort, but the pain still is apparent to the patient. In addition to reducing pain, codeine also causes sedation drowsiness and depresses breathing. Codeine frequently is combined with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin for more effective pain relief.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical attention if a child taking codeine has life-threatening side effects such as noisy breathing, sighing, slow breathing with long pauses between breaths being unusually sleepy or hard to wake up blue coloured lips. Some of the other side effects of codeine include slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, shallow breathing feeling like you might pass out confusion, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behaviour feelings of extreme happiness or sadness seizure (convulsions) or problems with urination.

Drug Interactions

• Codeine+propoxyphene- Using propoxyphene together with codeine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should take propoxyphene exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

• Codeine+alvimopan- Using alvimopan together with codeine is not recommended. This can cause side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The use of alvimopan is discouraged if you have received codeine for more than 7 consecutive days immediately prior to alvimopan administration. Caution is advised if you have received more than 3 doses of codeine within the week prior to surgery.

• Codeine+droperidol- Using droperidol together with codeine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

• Codeine+furazolidone- Using codeine together with furazolidone may rarely increase the risk of serious side effects such as respiratory depression, low blood pressure, fainting, coma, and even death. In general, it is best to wait at least 14 days after stopping furazolidone before you start treatment with codeine.

Mechanism of action

Codeine belongs to a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics and to a class of medications called antitussives. When codeine is used to treat pain, it works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. When codeine is used to reduce coughing, it works by decreasing the activity in the part of the brain that causes coughing.

Pregnancy Category : C