Codeine is the most widely used medical drug in the world that is a naturally occurring substance. It is an alkaloid that is found in opium with concentrations that range from 0.7 to 2.5 percent, but most codeine that is found in the United States is extracted from morphine.
In the medical field, codeine is commonly prescribed for the relief of moderate pain and even for cough suppression. When compared to morphine, codeine produces less sedation, respiratory depression, analgesia, and it is normally taken orally by users. It can be made into tablets alone or with aspirin or acetaminophen. When used as a cough suppressant, codeine is produced with many liquid preparations. This drug is also occasionally injected as a pain reliever, but this is not very common.
SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSE: Symptoms include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, and small pupils. |
