Are opiates in codene?!
Question:
Are opiates in codene?
Answers:
Codeine is a direct derivative of morphine; it is also known as "methyl-morphine." Codeine is naturally found in opium, in concentrations of about 0.4% - 3.0%.
Codeine in itself, is not active in the body, but it's effects result from the fact that it is slowly converted into morphine, usually in the liver. Typically, at any one time, only 10% of the codeine in the body has been converted into morphine; thus codeine is less addictive than morphine.
Around 5% of the US population (myself included) are unable to properly metabolize codeine into morphine, thus it has little or no effect as a painkiller for them.
Other common derivatives of morphine are oxy-codone, hydromorphone, and diacetylmorphine (heroin)
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