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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Pharmacology > Pharmacy > hydrocorone vs codeine
Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith
Date: 3/13/2008
Subject: hydrocorone vs codeine
Question
Hello,
In an answer in 2006 you mentioned a percentage of people who are unable
to hepatically convert codeine to the active morphine. I am very I interested
in this. Could you expand and perhaps cite some sources I could look at. I
think I may be one of those people and aslo have a peofessionl interrest in
pain control. Thanks. Trevor
Answer
I suppose that a liver biopsy and subsequent analysis would be the only way to test for this idiosyncrasy.
Regards
Alan Galbraith
Dear Trevor
Codeine is methyl morphine and its main analgesic effect occurs when it is demethylated to morphine (also normorphine and hydrocodone). The enzyme responsible for this is in the liver and approximately 10% of the population lack this enzyme and it is stated that in these people codeine is less effective than in those who are able to demethylate. This has been disputed by some pharmacologists who state that the demethylation does not matter. I would dispute this as I appear to be unable to obtain an analgesic effect from up to 120mg of codeine whereas 10mg of morphine works wonders. I know that this is not valid statistically but I have met other people with similar non reactions to codeine.
This information can be found in any reputable pharmacology text and I have just looked it up in Martindale _ The Extra Pharmacopoeia for verification.
Hope this is enough info.
Regards
Dr Alan Galbraith
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