Nicocodeine
Encyclopedia
Nicocodeine is an opiate
Opiate
In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...

 derivative, closely related to dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine, also called DHC, Drocode, Paracodeine and Parzone and known by the brand names of Synalgos DC, Panlor DC, Panlor SS, Contugesic, New Bron Solution-ACE, Huscode, Drocode, Paracodin, Codidol, Didor Continus, Dicogesic, Codhydrine, Dekacodin, DH-Codeine,...

 and the codeine analogue of nicomorphine
Nicomorphine
Nicomorphine is the 3,6-dinicotinate ester of morphine. It is a strong opioid agonist analgesic two to three times as potent as morphine with a side effect profile similar to that of dihydromorphine, morphine, and diamorphine. Nicomorphine was patented as Vilan by Lannacher Heilmittel Ges. m.b.H...

 developed as a cough suppressant and analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....

. It is not commonly used in most countries, but has activity similar to other opiates. Nicocodeine and nicomorphine
Nicomorphine
Nicomorphine is the 3,6-dinicotinate ester of morphine. It is a strong opioid agonist analgesic two to three times as potent as morphine with a side effect profile similar to that of dihydromorphine, morphine, and diamorphine. Nicomorphine was patented as Vilan by Lannacher Heilmittel Ges. m.b.H...

 were introduced in the late 1950s by Lannacher Heilmittel of Austria. Nicocodeine is metabolised in the liver by demethylation to produce nicomorphine, also known as 6-nicotinoylmorphine, and subsequently further metabolised to morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...

. Side effects are similar to those of other opiates and include itching, nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...

 and respiratory depression.

Nicocodeine is regulated in most cases as is codeine and similar weak opiate drugs like ethylmorphine
Ethylmorphine
Ethylmorphine is an opiate narcotic analgesic .Ethylmorphine was invented in Germany at Merck in 1884 and was used as a weaker alternative to heroin for all indications. Chemically, ethylmorphine is a morphine molecule with a -25 group substituted for the aromatic 3- group...

, benzylmorphine
Benzylmorphine
Benzylmorphine is a semi-synthetic opiate narcotic introduced to the international market in 1896 and that of the United States very shortly thereafter...

, dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine
Dihydrocodeine, also called DHC, Drocode, Paracodeine and Parzone and known by the brand names of Synalgos DC, Panlor DC, Panlor SS, Contugesic, New Bron Solution-ACE, Huscode, Drocode, Paracodin, Codidol, Didor Continus, Dicogesic, Codhydrine, Dekacodin, DH-Codeine,...

 and its other close derivatives like acetyldihydrocodeine
Acetyldihydrocodeine
Acetyldihydrocodeine is an opiate derivative discovered in Germany in 1914 and was used as as a cough suppressant and analgesic. It is not commonly used, but has activity similar to other opiates...

 (although not the stronger hydrocodone
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from either of two naturally occurring opiates: codeine and thebaine. It is an orally active narcotic analgesic and antitussive...

 or oxycodone
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic medication synthesized from opium-derived thebaine. It was developed in 1916 in Germany, as one of several new semi-synthetic opioids in an attempt to improve on the existing opioids: morphine, diacetylmorphine , and codeine.Oxycodone oral medications are generally...

, which are regulated like morphine) and others of this class in the laws of countries and the Single Convention On Narcotic Drugs. One notable example is the fact that nicocodeine is a Schedule I/Narcotic controlled substance in the United States along with heroin as nicocodeine was never introduced for medical use in the United States.

Nicodicodeine
Nicodicodeine
Nicodicodeine is an opiate derivative developed as a cough suppressant and analgesic. Synthesized in 1904, it is not commonly used, but has activity similar to other opiates. Nicodicodeine is metabolised in the liver by demethylation to produce 6-nicotinoyldihydromorphine, and subsequently further...

 is a similar drug which is to nicocodeine as codeine is to dihydrocodeine. The metabolites of nicodicodeine include dihydromorphine
Dihydromorphine
Dihydromorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid invented in Germany in 1900. In structure, it is very similar to morphine, the only difference being the reduction of the double bond between positions 7 and 8 in morphine to a single bond...

 where nicocodeine is turned into morphine as noted above.

Nicocodeine cough medicines are available as syrups, extended-release syrups, and sublingual drops. Analgesic preparations are also in the form of sublingial drops and tablets for oral administration. Nicocodeine is approximately the same strength as hydrocodone
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from either of two naturally occurring opiates: codeine and thebaine. It is an orally active narcotic analgesic and antitussive...

.
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