Codeine, like morphine and hydrocodone, is a weak narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant. In the body, a small amount of ingested codeine is converted to morphine. Codeine increases pain tolerance, thereby alleviating existing discomfort. Codeine, in addition to alleviating pain, causes sedation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression.
Codeine phosphate is an opioid analgesic with uses similar to morphine, but it is much less effective as an analgesic. Its primary target is the mu opioid receptors found throughout the central nervous system. Codeine's sedative properties are less potent than those of morphine. Codeine may depress the respiratory system by activating -opioid receptors at specific sites in the central nervous system.
Codeine is used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). This medicine acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.
When codeine is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.
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