Codeine history

Propoxyphene (dextropropoxyphene Darvon) is structurally related to methadone but is much less potent as an analgesic. Compared with codeine, propoxyphene is approximately half as potent and is indicated for the treatment of mild pain. It is not antipyretic or antiinflammatory like aspirin and is less useful than aspirin in most cases of mild pain. Toxicity from propoxyphene, especially in combination with other sedatives, such as alcohol, has led to a decrease in its use. Death following ingestion of alcohol in combination with propoxyphene can occur rapidly (within 20 minutes to 1 hour). The drug is not indicated for those with histories of suicide or depressive illnesses. 

Codeine, also known as methylmorpliine, C H2 NOt H20, is a colorless white crystalline substance, mp 154.9 C, slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol and chloroform, effloresces slowly in dry air. Codeine is derived from opium by extraction or by the methylation of morphine. For medical use, codeine is usually offered as the dichlotide, phosphate, or sulfate. Codeine is habit forming. Codeine is known to exacerbate urticaria (familiarly known as hives). Since codeine is incorporated in numerous prescription medicines for headache, heartburn, fatigue, coughing, and relief of aches and pains, persons with a history of urticaria should make this fact known to their physician. Codeine is sometimes used ill cases of acute pericarditis to relieve severe chest pains in early phases of disease. Codeine is sometimes used in drug therapy of renal (kidney) diseases. 

A 37-year-old man with a history of ethanol abuse presented with hepatic failure and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema after an overdose of paracetamol, codeine, ibuprofen, and diazepam. He received two... 

Methocarbamol is available by either prescription or as an over-the-counter product, often in combination with analgesics (acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, codeine). It appears to be a relatively safe drug, one which is well-tolerated and widely used. Nevertheless, cases of fatal intoxication have been reported35-73-80 and a potential for abuse has also been evaluated in individuals with a history of recreational substance abuse81 -82. 

Heroin is a classic drug in late Western law, history and literature. It is the most often thought-of narcotic today, and at one time the most feared by the Establishment. It was first produced commercially in Germany in 1898 as a substitute for morphine and codeine, though it was soon discovered to be more dangerous and addicting than either of the former. 

Most of us are aware of the big Codeine cough-syrup scare of the early 60 s. All of a sudden, with a history going back to the Civil War, we "discover" a few milder Codeine addicts are still around, and set out to stomp them out via the media. As a result, some heavy anti-cough syrup legislation was created, and millions of people became aware that Codeine existed. Abuse rate shot way up, and to this date we still have... 

Sensory systems Hearing Hearing loss can occur after the use of opioids. In a retrospective case series review, bilateral rapidly progressive profound sensorineural deafness and macrocytosis were reported in association with codeine in 10 patients [37 ]. All had a history of long-term codeine use and abuse. The authors proposed that the presence of macrocytosis in all the cases suggested a vascular pathology. 

Morphine has a long history of use and abuse. It was the first so-called vegetable base drug isolated, an event recorded in 1805. Because morphine is basic, an early quantitation method was titration with an add. Morphine is subject to oxidation, so the morphine content of an extract can decrease after harvest. Similar degradation issues arise with the stimulant khat. Codeine, the 3-methyl ether of morphine, whose first extraction was recorded in 1832, is also found in the raw opium extracts. Opiates are used principally for pain relief thebaine is the oddball of the opiate alkaloid family, classified as a stimulant. The primary use of thebaine is as a starting point for the synthesis of oxycodone and other related semisynthetic compounds. Thebaine was also used as a poison. 

A 35-year-old woman with a history of mild asthma and substance abuse insufflated heroin and rapidly developed diffuse muscular pain and spasms involving the face, neck, arms, and chest. She reported that other friends had had similar experiences. She had mild physical distress, was anxious, and had hyper-reflexia without clonus. Her creatine kinase activity was 395 U/l. She received 1 liter of isotonic saline and intravenous lorazepam and improved symptomatically. She was discharged. Her urine was negative for sPychnine but positive for clenbuterol, morphine, 6-MAM, and codeine. 

A healthy 2-year-old boy with a history of sleep apnea was given 10-12.5 mg codeine orally every 4-6 hours after elective adenoton-sillectomy [46 ]. After 2 days, he developed fever and wheezing due to bronchopneumonia and the next day had absent vital signs. The blood concentration of codeine was 0.70 mg/1 and of morphine 32 ng/ml. He was an ultrarapid metabolizer. 

The opium poppy Papaver somnifemm) is an important medicinal plant with a colorful history. Opium, the dried latex of unripe capsules of P. somnifemm, contains more than 80 isoqui-noline alkaloids. The main alkaloids in opium are morphine (4-21%), followed by codeine. 

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