Codeine: What you should find out about it

by | Nov 13, 2015 | Health Featured

Codeine is a type of opioid used as mild painkillers with anti-diarrhoeal properties. There are several medical benefits of this drug, often used for:

  • Temporary relief from acute or moderate pain in adolescents aged between 12 to 18 years
  • Addressing dry cough in adults and adolescents over 18 years of age
  • Addressing general pain in adults over 18 years of age

There are several people who use codeine for their psychogenic effects. Given below are the details of the medical benefits of codeine. This particular rundown will be of help if you are thinking about taking codeine in the near future. This explains the workings of codeine in detail. Make sure you are actually going through the post in order to be duly informed about this drug. So, read on and make an informed decision in this regard.

Relief from Pain

Owing to its analgesic effects, codeine is often prescribed for treating mild to moderate pain. It is very important for the patient to ensure that he or she is taking the right dosage of the medicine (as prescribed by the doctor) since this drug can turn out to be very addictive. When it comes to the reduction of pain, codeine replicates the action of the endorphins (they are the naturally-occurring pain reducing chemicals). Codeine works just like endorphins do- they combine with the opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain thereby leading to the blockage of transmission of pain signals received by the brains from the nerves.

Relief from diarrhea

If you are suffering from frequent bowel movements then your physician might recommend codeine. The drug works in combination with the opioid receptors found on the muscles lining in the intestine walls. The entire action is responsible for the reduction of the muscular contractions of the peristalsis that set the food and faecal matter through the gut. It further minimizes the speed at which the gut contents are moved through the intestines. The reduced speed, in turn, thereby allows more time for the electrolytes and water to be re-absorbed from the contents of the gut into the body. This results in your stool becoming firmer.

Relief from cough

One of the most notable benefits of codeine is that it acts as an active agent used in the medicines for people suffering from cough. It is an anti-tussive and suppressant which is especially helpful for people experiencing (irritating) dry cough. Once again, codeine works as a suppressant by minimizing the nerve signals generated from the “cough centre” in the nerve. It can clear mucus from the lungs and throat. Codeine phosphate makes for an effective agent used to block the cough reflex – especially in situations when there is no phlegm.

Conclusion

It is very important to ensure that you are actually acting on doctor’s recommendations before taking codeine. Medical supervision is absolutely important to ensure that the patient is not affected by the side effects of codeine. If you are looking forward to secure codeine then make sure you are visiting in order to find out more about it.

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