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Codeine
About Codeine
A naturally occurring opioid found in opium in smaller amounts than morphine. Codeine treats mild to moderate pain and suppresses cough. It is a prodrug, converted to morphine by the liver enzyme CYP2D6. A minority of people have little CYP2D6 activity and get little pain relief from codeine. Codeine was widely used in cough syrups but has been restricted in children due to rare fatal respiratory depression. It remains used for mild pain in combination with acetaminophen.
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