How Does Codeine Work?

The exact mechanism of action of this medication is not entirely known. Researchers have suggested, though, that opiates affect the signalling pathway of nerve cells. When pain is experienced, such as if you touch something hot for example, the sensory receptors in your fingers 'sense' a message of injury. This message is then sent through the nerve signalling pathway, to the brainstem and spinal cord. After being transmitted to the brain, the brain processes the message and interprets it as an unpleasant feeling of pain.

Codeine 30 mg works by attaching to certain areas of the central nervous system called opioid receptors. Once attached, this medication blocks signals of pain, hence providing relief from the discomfort a patient may be experiencing. This pain-relieving medicine can also be useful in the treatment of a non-productive cough. Also called a dry cough, a nonproductive cough is usually the result of some kind of irritation in the throat. Various things, from asthma to acid reflux as well as irritants in the air such as dust, can cause a dry and painful cough.

The cough reflex is a vital defence mechanism of the body. However, it can sometimes become overstimulated and this medication helps suppress the cough reflex and reduce discomfort associated with a dry cough.

How Long Does It Take for Codeine to Work?

The durational efficacy of this medication may vary from one person to the next. The time to onset of effects of this medication will depend on various factors including:

• The formulation of this treatment you are using. In general, the tablets have an onset of action of approximately 30 to 60 minutes. This time to therapeutic action is similar to the onset of action of the liquid formulations and cough syrups too.
• For more immediate relief from your symptoms, intramuscular forms of this analgesic are a better route of administration. However, injectable formulations are contraindicated for the intravenous route because of the possibility of anaphylactic reactions (serious allergic reactions).
• You can buy painkillers in the UK in injectable forms. They work faster because they are already in liquid form and the therapeutic does not have to pass through the digestive process, which prolongs the onset of action.
• You can buy codeine in the UK using online pharmacies, and in various formulations.

How Long Does Codeine Last?

The duration of action of these painkillers is approximately 4 to 6 hours but this can vary slightly depending on the following factors:

• Body size: those with lower body weights often experience the effects of a medicine on a greater scale. It is for this reason that the FDA listed use of this medication as a contraindication in those under the age of 12 years. Women generally have lower body weights than men. Therefore, they are more prone to enhanced therapeutic effects of pharmaceuticals and experience the associated adverse effects with greater severity as well.
• Amount of codeine in the product: the effects of this medication will last longer, and be enhanced too, if you use a product which has a greater amount of the active ingredient formulated in it. A higher amount of the active ingredient means more of the medicine will be present in the body, hence a greater therapeutic effect.
• Tolerance to pain-relieving medications: the duration of effect may be different among patients who are not used to opioid analgesics and are less tolerant to the effects of these medicines. The effects of this therapeutic may last longer in these patients as their bodies are less accustomed to the action of pharmaceuticals.

How Well Does Codeine Work?

This analgesic medication has been proven effective in various scientific research studies. It is commonly used in the treatment of several conditions. A question that gets asked at times is what is codeine effective for according to scientific research? In a study by Peechakara and Gupta, the efficacy of the codeine painkiller was evaluated for the following conditions:

How Long Does Codeine Stay In Your System?

• This medication can be detected in the hair for 10 weeks, in the saliva for 21 hours and in the urine for 48 hours.
• Administering codeine for pain or other conditions at high dosages increases the amount of the active ingredient in the body. Hence, the amount of time it takes for the medicine to be eliminated from the system will be longer.
• The half-life of this therapeutic is typically 2.9 hours (this is the time it takes for half of the medicine to be removed from the body). The elimination of this medication primarily occurs via the kidneys (approximately 90% of an oral dose) and is excreted about 24 hours after administration. This percentage of the therapeutic eliminated from the body and the time to elimination can vary in those with kidney impairments. For this reason, those with kidney dysfunction should use this painkiller with extra caution as there could be an accumulation of the medicine in the body.

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CONTENT CHECKED: 09th AUG 2022
NEXT CHECK DUE: AUG 2023