Codeine belongs to the opium alkaloids. It is widely used in medicine as a cough suppressant. Refers to drugs of central action, which is often used in combination with other substances, among which terpinhydrate can be distinguished. A very interesting fact is that when using codeine, signs of drug intoxication may appear. There are also analgesic effects. In this regard, codeine phosphate can be used as a pain reliever, but strictly by prescription.
At a Glance
The principle of action of codeine is very similar to morphine. However, its analgesic effects are somewhat weaker. Along with this, codeine phosphate (Latin designates this substance as codeinum) has a pronounced ability to reduce the excitation of the cough center. Continuing to draw an analogy with morphine, let's say that it depresses human breathing to a much lesser extent, andalso does not slow down the activity of the gastrointestinal tract so much. Despite this, there are quite often cases when this medicine had an aphrodisiac effect on the body, preventing drowsiness.
Codeine phosphate: description of contraindications
Like other drugs, codeine has an impressive list of contraindications. You should definitely familiarize yourself with them before using the substance. In order to increase your perception, we will highlight them in a separate list. So, the medicine should not be used in the presence of the following factors:
- high hypersensitivity;
- arrhythmia;
- suicidal tendencies;
- problems with the intestines, prostate and urethra;
- pregnancy or lactation period;
- elderly or children's age;
- being drug addicted to a substance called codeine phosphate;
- diarrhea;
- problems with alcoholism;
- toxic dispensation;
- presence of asthma attacks;
- brain injury, as well as kidney or liver failure.
As you can see, the list is quite large. In general, you should always consult with your doctor before using codeine. He will write the necessary prescription if your body condition allows you to take this medicine.
Codeine phosphate: how to take and in what dosages?
When using codeine for medicinal purposes, it is worthbe especially careful when drawing up the correct dosages of the substance, as well as the time of its administration. So, for acute pain, adults are advised to take 15-60 mg every 3-6 hours. With diarrhea, the dosage is reduced to 30 mg four times a day. Finally, with coughing fits, it is worth drinking 10-20 mg of the drug 4 times a day. The highest daily dose that codeine phosphate has (a prescription must be written by a doctor) is 120 mg.
Dosages vary slightly for children. As a rule, it is worth leaving the ratio of 0.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight when it comes to suppressing various pains. When coughing, do not take more than 15 mg. Finally, for diarrhea, the dosage is also 0.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. As for the frequency of administration, it, like in adults, should be 4-5 times a day. By the way, codeine phosphate is not recommended for children under 2 years of age.
Pharmacological action
As previously mentioned, codeine is a centrally acting antitussive. It belongs to the phenanthrene alkaloids. In addition, it also belongs to opiate receptor agonists, which can significantly reduce the excitability of the cough center, which is associated with its direct suppression. The analgesic activity of the substance can be explained by the activation of opiate receptors, which exhibit excitation in many parts of the central nervous system. Plus, it also slightly changes the emotional perception of pain. As a rule, the analgesic effect manifests itself after 10-45 minutesafter the injection, and also after half an hour to an hour when using codeine phosphate tablets. The duration of action lasts about 4 hours.
Side effects
Of course, codeine phosphate has its side effects, which can vary from person to person. As with contraindications, here is a list of effects that often appear after the use of this substance:
- The nervous system can be affected by: increased drowsiness, headaches and dizziness (rare), the possibility of hallucinations or visual illusions, anxiety, nightmares in dreams, depression (rare), and convulsions. Excessive doses may cause tremors, poor coordination, and muscle stiffness.
- In the digestive system, the following effects are possible: nausea and vomiting (very rare), constipation, stomach cramps, dry mouth, the possibility of anorexia and, finally, hepatotoxicity.
- On the part of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmia, a sharp decrease or increase in blood pressure.
- Respiratory system: severe depression of the respiratory center or atelectasis.
- The following allergic reactions may also occur: acne, swelling of the face and throat, pruritus, bronchospasm, laryngospasm and urticaria.
- Other side effects of using codeine phosphate (in Latin, by the way, it sounds codeinum) include excessive sweating,mild state of euphoria. As well as the likelihood of addiction with long periods of use (especially in large volumes).
Of course, the risk of the above side effects is quite small. Yes, and often differs from action to action.
Overdose symptoms
Symptoms of chronic overdose include the following phenomena: clouding of consciousness, severe dizziness, increased nervousness and aggressiveness, convulsions, general weakness of the body and jumps in blood pressure. In severe cases, there is a high probability of loss of consciousness or the onset of a coma. Treatment of addiction or overdose can be very long and difficult. In cases of poisoning, it is worth rinsing the stomach, restoring breathing and supporting cardiac activity. In some cases, an injection of naloxone, which is a specific antagonist of opioid painkillers, will be highly justified.
Special instructions during the treatment period
When recovering from a codeine overdose or being treated for codeine addiction, patients should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. The fact is that during therapy, a person's concentration of attention is somewhat dulled, as well as the speed of psychomotor reactions. Alcohol can only make things worse. And this can adversely affect a person when performing potentially hazardous activities.
Special attention deserves the period of pregnancy in women. Because the use of codeine can causedelay of ossification, and sometimes immediate delivery - prolongation. In general, jokes with this are bad. Finally, as mentioned above, codeine is generally not recommended for young children. In this case, there is a considerable chance of paradoxical reactions, since children are hypersensitive to the effects of opioid painkillers.
Legality
In Russia today there is a bill that classifies codeine as a narcotic substance. Therefore, it will not be possible to buy it in a pharmacy without a prescription. Recently, the culture of codeine use has begun to alarm the public, as the popularity of the drug is growing exponentially. In many ways, this is the “merit” of American hip-hop, whose performers quite often promote the use of Purple Drunk, a special drink containing high doses of codeine. Such a syrup has a pinkish-purple hue, which is why it received such an unusual name. After drinking the liquid, you will encounter a feeling of mild euphoria, similar to ecstasy and opiates, which, in fact, includes codeine. The songs of American rappers often contain lyrics that indicate their systematic use of Purple Drunk. By the way, the creator of this movement is Dj Screw. He died at the age of 29 from a codeine overdose.
It is also worth noting that codeine is contained in other drugs, including all kinds of antipyretic, anti-migraine and others. In this regard, many drugs were banned for sale in Russia. And forillegal distribution and sale can be obtained up to 12 years in prison.
In closing
Codeine has a wide range of applications, as its effect on the human body is very strong. It can change the perception or physical state of a person in a fairly short period. The most common form of codeine (phosphate) is a powder that dissolves well in water. Due to its properties, it has found wide application in medicine. However, as is often the case with opiates, the substance quickly seeped into the streets, where it has a negative effect on people who use it, which can even be fatal.
