 |
Codeine: Prescription Drug Abuse & Testing
Author: Tarun Gupta  | Posted: 04-01-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 99 | Rating: (62)  (?) 
Introduction:
Codeine or methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive and antidiarrheal properties. It is marketed as the salts codeine sulfate and codeine phosphate. Codeine hydrochloride is more commonly marketed in continental Europe and other regions.
Codeine is an alkaloid found in opium in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 percent. While codeine can be extracted from opium, most codeine is synthesized from morphine through the process of O-methylation. The chemical name of codeine phosphate is 7,8-Didehydro-4,5alpha-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methyl morphinan-6alpha-ol phosphate (1:1) (salt) hemi-hydrate.
Codeine Dosage & Administration:
Each soluble tablet contains 30 mg (0.074 mmol) or 60 mg (0.15 mmol) of codeine phosphate. Codeine is safe at dosage from 10-60mg at once. However, when Codeine is used recreationally it is between 60mg to 400 mg in one shot. If an individual uses more than 400 mg in one shot, it exceeds the amount of drug the liver can metabolize at once which means that it will be wasted. Codeine is usually taken orally, rectally (via the anus) and is also given as a shot. It is never, however, be snorted, smoked or injected intravenously.
Codeine Prescription:
Codeine is medically prescribed for the relief of moderate pain and cough suppression. It is made into tablets either alone or in combination with aspirin or acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol with Codeine,). As a cough suppressant, codeine is found in a number of liquid preparations. Codeine is also used to a lesser extent as an injectable solution for the treatment of pain.
Codeine Abuse:
Codeine products are largely diverted from legitimate sources to the illicit market where it forms the daily dose of a large chunk of drug abusers. Prescription drug abuse involves multi-billion dollar market in the US alone and codeine is a significant “contributor” to it!
Euphoric effects associated with opiates are one of the major reasons for wide spread codeine usage. Easy availability of codeine further promotes its use for recreational purposes. Codeine can be obtained either over the counter in low doses or through prescription combination drugs.
Effects of Codeine Abuse:
Just like any other prescription drug abuse, Codeine abuse is largely reflected in the physiological state of health of a drug abuser. There are many common adverse drug reactions that are associated with the use of codeine. These include - euphoria, itching, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth, miosis (pupil shortening), orthostatic hypotension, urinary retention and constipation. Compared to morphine, codeine produces less analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression, and is usually taken orally. However, as with most other drugs, prolonged use of codeine results in development of tolerance to many of its effects and thus, abuser also becomes tolerant to its therapeutic effects.
Prescription Laws:
In the United States, Codiene is regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. It is a controlled substance for pain-relief products containing codeine alone or more than 90 mg per dosage unit. Preparations for cough or diarrhea containing small amounts of codeine in combination with two or more other active ingredients may be dispensed in amounts up to 4 fl. oz. per 48 hours without a prescription. In locales where dilute codeine preparations are non-prescription, anywhere from very few to perhaps a moderate percentage of pharmacists will sell these preparations without a prescription.
Codeine Testing:
There is diverse array of techniques available to test for drug abuse and codeine is no exception. It can be detected using any of the following methods:
•Urine based codeine testing
•Hair follicle based Codeine detection
•Gas Chromatography based Codeine detection
•Mass spectrometry based Codeine testing
•Codeine-specific Antibody based detection kits
Most of the codeine is excreted within 24 hours. However, 5% to 15% of codeine remains unchanged and some part may also exist as a product of glucuronide conjugates of codeine and its metabolites which may be detected by above said methods.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/codeine-prescription-drug-abuse-testing-296263.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Would you trust a nurse who has abused drugs and ...
By: Edward | 14-09-2008
Would you trust a nurse who has abused drugs and attempted suicide?
Is occasional use of the drug heroin, virtually ...
By: Gustur | 20-08-2008
Is occasional use of the drug heroin, virtually impossible?
What to do about a drug problem.
By: Lisa31702 | 17-08-2008
I am married and pregnant, my husband has had an on and off drug problem. Over the weekend I found out how bad it really is. He drained our bank account and went to a hotel with another woman to do coke. On his way home after being missing for 12 hours he was in a car accident, he totaled our car and got arrested. I guess my questions are; if there is anything I can do to help him? Is it my fault for not seeing what was happening? What do I need to look out for in the future? Any help would be much appreciated. I am at a loss, i just feel so helpless and betrayed.
How to write a family effects letter
By: jerry | 16-08-2008
how to write a family effects letter
How to start a wisdom circle
By: Anne | 20-07-2008
how to start a wisdom circle
False allegations defamation of character
By: beingslandered | 16-07-2008
how to defend yourself against false allegations of drug use
Q&A Powered by: 
More from Tarun Gupta
Steroidal Use by Young Women: a Focus on Women, Steroids & Sports
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Wellness
Steroids, once notoriously famous for their abuse by bodybuilders, fitness buffs, and professional athletes, have found their way into wardrobes of many young damsels nowadays.
Teenage Steroid Use: a Disturbing Trend Amongst High School Kids
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Steroids are well famous for their testosterone simulating properties of building muscle mass and enhancing endurance and thus have been notoriously abused to boost stamina and athletic performance since shortly after their conception. As a result, the incidences of non-medicinal use of steroids have increased considerably in recent years, particularly amongst adolescents & high school students often without their parents ever getting to know about it!
Common Steroid Pills: Types & Effects of Use
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Search Engines, what a luxury they are! For they are a real comfort to those bootlegging myriad of extrajudicial poppin’ pills, which frequently include Steroids! These pills are often based on various male sex hormones that lead to the development of secondary male sexual characteristics, for instance, testosterone. They are medically termed as Androgens & Anabolic Steroids, although on the street, they are better known as - juices, toners or candy!
Steroids: Who Uses Steroids & Why?
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Steroids have no doubt, proved their medicinal worth over a period of time; however, they have also been notoriously abused for their muscle building attributes. Consequently, they have, since long, been put to an auxiliary use for increasing the muscular mass and physical strength, particularly by people involved in different sports and bodybuilding.
All About Anabolic Steroids: Types, General Effects, Conceptions & Misconceptions
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Steroids or anabolic steroids are a class of hormones affecting the development and growth of sex organs. The artificially synthesized hormones are frequently related to the hormone testosterone which is a potent androgenic hormone produced chiefly by the testes in males and & also to lesser extent by ovaries in females.
Testosterone Levels: How Do They Change Over Time?
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
We all go through a range of dynamically regulated hormonal changes through different stages of our lives. These changes are characteristic to many variables such as age, sex, pathological condition, and exogenous administration of drugs or in the form of dietary steroids.
Testosterone / Epitestosterone Ratio: How is it Significant?
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Testosterone is an anabolic steroid & a potent androgenic hormone which is produced naturally in the body by the male testes as well as female ovaries, although the proportional production in males and females vary significantly.
Basics of Steroid Testing: a Layman’s Guide to Steroids
By: Tarun Gupta | 18/09/2008 | Health
Testosterone, which is a type of anabolic-androgenic steroids, is known to build muscle tissue & cause the development of male secondary sex characteristics.
|
|
Health 
