[mr_colt]

Though one should be aware that codeine is a "Pro-drug" meaning that it has no ability to releive pain itself.

Codeine's scientific name is methylmorphine, an enzyme in the liver called "Sparteine oxygenase" strips off the methyl group in about 10% of the amount taken: Thus turning it into morphine which is the actual analgesic. The remaining 90% will supress cough and treat diarrhoea/constipate but will not do anything for pain.

So if you take say 60mg of codeine phosphate; you are normally getting 6mg of morphine.

Up to approx 8% of the caucasian populace in the USA do not produce much of this enzyme or in some cases none at all. Though European genetics are slightly different, a significant number of people have it. It appears to be quite hereditary in studies and anecdotal evidence; both my Mother and I have it. I get little effect from it for pain relief.

I am always concerned as to the implications of GP's prescribing co-codamol in the long term as the paracetamol isn't the best for your liver. Its has an accidental overdose risk in the sense that every tablet can have 500mg of paracetamol in. Pure codeine tablets are probably safer but again its really a short term drug.

Amazing a lot of GP's are ignorant of codeine's morphine transformation,
I personally blame the instutionalised Opiophobia. They will give you codeine by the shovel load; not realising they are actually giving morphine. Which makes their opiophobia a bit hypocritical.

mr_colt.