codeine
/'koudii:n/
Definition
- Noun:
- A medicinal alkaloid derived from opium: "codeine" is a naturally occurring substance obtained from the opium poppy, used medically for its therapeutic effects.
- A medication for cough and pain relief: "codeine" is specifically used as an antitussive (to suppress coughing) and a mild to moderate analgesic (to relieve pain).
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The doctor prescribed codeine to relieve her persistent cough.
- Codeine is often combined with other medications, such as acetaminophen, for pain relief.
- Due to its potential for dependence, codeine is a controlled substance in many countries.
Advanced Usage
- "to be on codeine": to be taking codeine as a prescribed medication.
- After the surgery, he was on codeine for a week to manage the pain.
Variants and Related Words
- Codeine phosphate (n): A common salt form of codeine used in pharmaceutical preparations.
- The label specified the tablet contained 30 mg of codeine phosphate.
Synonyms
- Antitussive: A substance that relieves or suppresses coughing.
- Opioid analgesic: A pain-relieving drug that works on opioid receptors in the nervous system.
Related Phrases and Collocations
- Codeine cough syrup: A liquid medication containing codeine to suppress coughing.
- The pharmacist dispensed a bottle of codeine cough syrup.
- Codeine addiction: A state of physiological or psychological dependence on the drug.
- Public health campaigns warn about the risks of codeine addiction.
Noun
-
derivative of opium; used as an antitussive (to relieve coughing) and an analgesic (to relieve pain)
