Last Updated on January 14, 2017 by Morris Green

If you’re on the mend from an invasive surgery or coping with moderate to severe pain, you might find your doctor writing an prescription for codeine. Classified as a narcotic, Codeine is an opioid pain medication. According to Dictionary.com, it is characterized as “a white, crystalline, slightly bitter alkaloid…chiefly [used] as an analgesic or sedative and to inhibit coughing.”

Codeine’s history traces back to chemists from the 1700s. Also known as 3-methylmorphine, Codeine is derived from the opium poppy. It could be grouped in the same family as morphine. While morphine was first perfected in Germany in 1804, codeine was not first isolated until 1832 by French chemist Pierre Robiquet. He is credited with opening the way to “a new generation of safer, codeine-based specific antitussive and antidiarrheal formulations.” Despite the fact that the drug was originally derived from opium, most of today’s codeine is synthesized from morphine through a process called O-methylation.

Dosage and Side Effects

Narcotic medications, in particular, are laced with the risk of addiction, overdose, and death if misused. They are especially dangerous to children and should never be used without a prescription or without following the exact instructions accompanying the prescription. A medical professional will determine the proper dosage based on an individual’s case, and it’s important to stick to that dosage. Most prescriptions taper at the end to wean the body off the drug.

According to Drugs.com, codeine can slow or stop breathing. It should never be used if a person has experienced a previous allergic reaction to it. People with uncontrolled breathing disorders, paralytic ileus (a bowel obstruction), or frequent asthma attacks or hyperventilation should avoid it due to a high risk of complications. Nursing mothers should not take codeine as it has been proven to pass into breast milk and could harm the baby or cause life-threatening side effects.

Alcohol should never be mixed with codeine. It can increase or amplify the effects of the drug, and the consequences can be severe to deadly.

Codeine has a list of common side effects, which include:

• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain
• Sensations of dizziness or drowsiness
• Constipation
• Mild itching or rash
• Sweating

If you suspect an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical assistance. An allergy to this drug can appear as hives, facial swelling, swelling of the tongue, lips or throat, and difficulty breathing. While not a sign of an allergic reaction, it’s equally important to alert your doctor if you experience any of the following less common side effects:

• A weak pulse or slowed heart rate
• Shallow breathing, fainting or feeling like you could faint
• Extreme feelings (sadness, happiness, anger)
• Seizure
• Loss of sex drive, impotence, or sexual problems
• Missed menstrual periods
• Unusual or uncharacteristic thoughts or behavior
• Hallucinations

Drug Interactions

Codeine can interact with other medications, especially other narcotics. The resulting side effects can be deadly. If your doctor prescribes codeine, alert them if you are taking any other narcotic medications or substances, drugs that slow your breathing or cause drowsiness, or drugs that affect your body’s serotonin levels.

What does codeine addiction look like? Stay tuned because we’ll be talking about the signs and symptoms of it shortly.