Dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine is a semi-synthetic opioid developed in 1908 in Germany based on codeine and morphine. It was first marketed in 1911. It is 2 times stronger than the original codeine, and 1/6 times weaker than the oral morphine. Usually prescribed for pain relief or antitussive. If it is prescribed for pain relief, usually they use XR which lasts for 12 hours, giving them 60mg per dose, and 60-120mg per day. If it is for cough, they usually use 10mg per dose, and 3 doses per day. But they use tablets combined with things like Paracetamol, Methylephedrine, Guaifenesin, Chlorpheniramine, or Caffeine.
| semi-synthetic opioid |
| Chemical name: Morphinan-6-ol,
4,5-epoxy-3-metoxy-17-metyl-, (5α,6α)- |
| Chemical Formula: C18-H23-N-O3 |
| Molecule weight: 301 |
| Routes of administration: oral has to be the most good way to take Dihydrocodeine. About the prodrug oral vs other route, please go to the hyperlinked document |
| Oral bioactivity: 21% (range 12-34;rathers between person’s activity of CYP2D6). <a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a> It can be more active when it takes together with grapefruit |
| Oral Dose of recreational use | |
| Dosage Levels | |
|---|---|
| 20-50mg | Minimal |
| 50-100mg | Light |
| 100-150mg | Common |
| 150-200mg | Strong |
| 200-400mg+ | Heavy |
| Pharmacological Profile | |
| Onset | 45-55 minutes |
| Comeup | 40-50 minutes |
| Peak | 2-2.5 hours |
| Offset | 3-4 hours |
| Total Duration | 7-8 hours |
| Half-life | 3.3-4.5 hours |
Chemical
Pharmacology
Normally, we take dihydrocodeine in orally. As it is a opioid, it has a opioid effects, and most of dihydrocodeine’s opioid receptor effect is on to µ-receptor. [2] It is twice stronger then codeine, and 1/6 times of morphine orally. [3] Dihydrocodeine is a famous prodrug that metabolizes in the liver, expecially through the CYP2D6 enzyme. But also, it actives in CYP3A4. Through CYP2D6, dihydrocodeine became dihydromorphine, which is 1.3 times stronger then the original morphine.
Different routes of taking dihydrocodeine
Medical Use
Substance Effects
Desired Effects
Side Effects
Harm, Tocity, social problem of Dihydrocodeine
Combinations with other substances
Good Combinations
Bad Combinations
Legal status by each country
History
References
- ↑ photo of the chemical structure is from wikipedia, [1]
- ↑ Sobczak, Ł., & Goryński, K. (2020). Pharmacological Aspects of Over-the-Counter Opioid Drugs Misuse. *Table 2.1*. PMC7504308
- ↑ Leppert, W. (2010). Dihydrocodeine as an opioid analgesic for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. *Current Drug Metabolism*, 11(6), pp. 515-520. PMID: 20540693
1. ^ Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral dihydrocodeine and its acid metabolites (1983) - Rowell, F.J., Seymour, R.A. & Rawlins, pp. 419–424
