Codeine is an opioid (methylmorphine) with a relatively limited analgesic effect; it does not cause significant respiratory depressions but has good antitussive properties. Codeine raises the stimulus threshold of the cough center and thus has a cough suppressing effect. In most humans 10% of a codeine dose is transformed to morphine through demethylation in the liver. This explains the analgesic effect that is absent in individuals with the respective genetic traits ("slow debrisoquine metabolism").

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