codeine (English) - Medical terminology for medical students -
An opiate used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. It is typically used to treat mild to moderate degrees of pain. Greater benefit may occur when combined with paracetamol or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
It is an opioid and an agonist of the mu opioid receptor. It acts on the central nervous system to have an analgesic effect. It is metabolised in the liver to produce morphine which is ten times more potent agonist of the mu receptor.