what is codeine, and why is it used?
Codeine is an analgesic narcotic that relieves light to moderate pain. Pierre-Jean Robiquet, a French chemist, derived codeine from opium for the first time in 1832. Today, most codeine is made synthetically. Since codeine is an opiate, it is usually only available in the United States via prescription. It is a Schedule II Drug when taken as tablets alone, a Schedule III Drug when combined in tablets with analgesics such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and a Schedule V Drug when used in liquid preparations. Codeine can be taken orally or injected intramuscularly, but is not safe when administered intravenously. The effects of codeine taken orally usually start within forty-five minutes after ingestion and last from four to six hours. Codeine is addictive, so you should take care to follow your doctor’s instructions about dosage and how long you should be taking the drug.
