Posted by Elizabeth on June 6, 2001, at 21:03:10
In reply to Re: Codeine for Depression Treatment » Elizabeth, posted by shelliR on June 6, 2001, at 19:32:41
> Do you know if the same amount of hydrocodone (which has synthetic codeine, right?) and codeine at the same strength have equal effects.
No ("equipotent" is the word for that). The lowest strength of hydrocodone available in a single pill is 5 mg; the lowest amount of codeine is 15 mg (I think). Codeine is generally weaker than hydrocodone, meaning that hydrocodone is capable of producing greater effects, as well as being more potent (which is just a matter of the effective dose).
> Is codeine phosphate the same as codeine?
It's the salt of codeine that is used clinically. (Some drugs are available as different salts: e.g., lithium carbonate vs. lithium citrate.) Codeine would be the "free base," just as crack is the free base of cocaine hydrochloride.
> 1/2 pill as I do with hydrocodone but I'm not sure if it has the same antidepressant effects.
That's not much codeine, certainly not equivalent to the same dose of hydrocodone.
Don't self-medicate, if you can avoid it. It's a risky thing to do.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:64320
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65594.html