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Anaesthesia => Opium => Codeine
Codeine
Codeine, alkaloid analgesic drug, C18H21NO3H2O, derivative of opium.
Codeine is a white, crystalline solid, slightly soluble in water and soluble in organic solvents. When heated, it first loses water and then melts at 157° C (315° F). Chemically a methyl ether of morphine, codeine has similar pharmacological effects but to a lesser degree, particularly because it is relatively less habit-forming. As a weak opioid, it is used to reduce moderate pain, often in combination with other drugs, such as aspirin and paracetamol. When pain is moderate to severe, codeine may be used as a single-ingredient formulation with other analgesics added separately, and possibly with a laxative to prevent constipation.
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