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Actions and metabolism of codeine (methylmorphine) administration by continuous intravenous infusion to humans.

Miosis produced by codeine is not antagonized by nalorphine until large oral doses are administered for several days. The present experiment was conducted in order to further study this characteristic of the codeine effect. Eight healthy male volunteers, who were former drug users, were divided into two groups. Subjects in the first group were given a continuous infusion of codeine, 30 mg/hr for 11-16 hr. No subjective effects were reported by the volunteers. In three of the individuals definite miosis antagonized by nalorphine was observed at 9.5 hr. The dose of codeine for the second group was 60 mg/hr for 11 hr. Mild but definite subjective effects were experienced by each of the participants in this group. Miosis appeared between 2 and 6 hr. Challenges at 4 and 6 hr were positive in two subjects and negative or equivocal in the other two. Codeine was excreted in the urine as free and conjugated codeine, morphine, and norcodeine. Maximum rates of excretion were similar for both groups, suggesting that the maximum amount of codeine that can be metabolized is equal or less than 30 mg/hr. Also codeine clearance, being greater than creatinine clearance, suggests that codeine might be excreted by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Blood levels of codeine in the 60 mg/hr group were about 10 times those reported as therapeutic. However, morphine or norcodeine were not detectable by the methods used.

Adult

Codeine kinetics as determined by radioimmunoassay.

Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to determine several pharmacokinetic parameters of codeine in man, including the relative bioavailability after oral and intramuscular administration. The study followed a crossover design in 6 healthy, young (18 to 21 yr), male volunteers. Three subjects received 65 mg codeine phosphate orally in an analgesic mixture which also contained aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine. At the same time a similar group received an equivalent dose of codeine phosphate in a single intramuscular injection. Two weeks later the study was repeated so that each group received the alternate treatment. Plasma samples were collected at various times after drug administration, and codeine concentrations were determined by a specific RIA procedure. The procedure can detect less than 50 pg of codeine. Following intramuscular administration, peak plasma concentrations (194 to 340 ng/ml) were observed between 0.25 to 1 hr; after oral dosing, peak codeine plasma concentrations (102 to 140 ng/ml) appeared within 0.75 to 1 hr. The mean plasma t1/2 and volume of distribution of codeine following intramuscular injection were 3.32 hr and 5.1 L/kg, respectively. Oral, relative to intramuscular, bioavailability of codeine, based on areas under the codeine plasma curves, was 42% to 71% (mean, 53%).

Administration, Oral

Codeine plus paracetamol versus paracetamol in longer-term treatment of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the hip. A randomised, double-blind, multi-centre study.

This randomized, double-blind, multi-centre study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment for 4 weeks with codeine plus paracetamol versus paracetamol in relieving chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the hip. A total of 158 outclinic patients entered the study. Eighty-three patients (mean age 66 years) were treated with codeine 60 mg plus paracetamol 1 g 3 times daily, and 75 patients (mean age 67 years) with paracetamol 1 g 3 times daily. Ibuprofen 400 mg was prescribed as rescue medication. Due to an unexpected high rate of adverse drug reactions, the study was closed before the planned 400 patients had entered. Over weeks 1-4, 87%, 64%, 61% and 52% of patients in the codeine plus paracetamol group, and 38%, 31%, 22% and 29% of patients in the paracetamol group had one or more adverse drug reactions. Significantly more patients in the codeine plus paracetamol group had adverse drug reactions in each of the 4 weeks. Nausea, dizziness, vomiting and constipation were predominant adverse reactions in the codeine plus paracetamol group. During the first week of treatment, 30 patients (36%) in the codeine plus paracetamol group and 9 (12%) in the paracetamol group dropped out. As evaluated from patients completing the first week of treatment, the pain intensity during that week compared to their baseline pain was significantly lower in the codeine plus paracetamol group than in the paracetamol group. Moreover, during the first week the paracetamol group received rescue medicine significantly more frequently. In conclusion, when evaluated after 7 days of treatment, the daily addition of codeine 180 mg to paracetamol 3 g significantly reduced the intensity of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the hip joint. However, several adverse drug reactions, mainly of the gastrointestinal tract, and the larger number of patients withdrawing from treatment means that the addition of such doses of codeine cannot be recommended for longer-term treatment of chronic pain in elderly patients.

Acetaminophen

Effects of codeine, morphine and a novel opioid pentapeptide BW443C, on cough, nociception and ventilation in the unanaesthetized guinea-pig.

1. Antitussive, antinociceptive and respiratory depressant effects of codeine, morphine and H.Tyr.D-Arg.Gly.Phe(4-NO2) Pro.NH2 (compound BW443C) were investigated in unanaesthetized guinea-pigs. Antagonism of the antitussive and antinociceptive effects was investigated by the use of nalorphine and N-methylnalorphine. Naloxone was used to antagonize respiratory depression. 2. Antitussive ED50s (with 95% confidence limits) for inhibition of cough induced by citric acid vapour were for codeine, morphine and BW443C respectively, 9.1(5.8-15), 1.3(0.7-2.4) and 1.2(0.6-2.6) mg kg-1 s.c. and 8.7(4.2-12), 1.6(1.2-1.9) and 0.67(0.002-3.3) mg kg-1, i.v. The antitussive effects of subcutaneous codeine (25 mg kg-1) morphine (8.1 mg kg-1) and BW443C (2.5 mg kg-1) were significantly antagonized by subcutaneous nalorphine (3.0 mg kg-1) and N-methylnalorphine (3.0 mg kg-1). 3. In the multiple toe-pinch test, the antinociceptive ED50s (with 95% confidence limits) of codeine and morphine were 18(16-22) and 2.3(0.4-4.3) mg kg-1, s.c., respectively. Compound BW443C was ineffective in doses of 2.5 and 10 mg kg-1 s.c., a result consistent with its lacking penetration into the CNS. Subcutaneous nalorphine (3.0 mg kg-1) antagonized the antinociceptive action of codeine (25 mg kg-1) and morphine (8.1 mg kg-1). In contrast, N-methylnalorphine (3.0 mg kg-1) had no significant effect on the antinociceptive action of codeine and morphine, suggesting lack of penetration of the CNS by N-methylnalorphine. 4. At doses near to the i.v. ED50 values for the antitussive activity, morphine (1.5mg kg- ', i.v.) and codeine (10mg kg-', i.v.) caused small but significant depressions of ventilation (7.0 +/- 2.3% and 16.5 +/- 8.4% respectively). Higher doses of morphine (10, 30 and 60mg kg- ', i.v.) caused further doserelated depression of ventilation (9.6 +/- 5.3%, 22.4 +/- 6.2% and 36.2 +/- 9.6% respectively) whereas codeine (30 and 60mg kg-' i.v.) caused stimulation of ventilation which was marked (191.3 +/- 43.9%) at 60 mg kg-'. 5. Compound BW443C in doses of 1 or 10mgkg-',i.v. (approximately equal to, and 10 times the EDo for antitussive activity) did not cause significant depression of ventilation. Only at higher doses of 30 and 60mg kg-', i.v. was there a significant decrease in minute volume (13.1 +/- 6.8% and 15.9 +/- 1.89% respectively). The depression of ventilation caused by either BW443C (60mg kg-', i.v.) or morphine (60mg kg-', i.v.) was prevented by pretreatment with naloxone (3mg kg-', i.v.) administered 15 min before morphine or BW443C. 6. These results in the guinea-pig support the hypothesis that the antitussive action of the opiates codeine and morphine and the opioid pentapeptide BW443C do not require penetration of these drugs into the CNS.

Animals

Fiorinal with codeine in the treatment of tension headache--the contribution of components to the combination drug.

The contribution of the Fiorinal and codeine phosphate components to the effectiveness of the Fiorinal with Codeine combination in the treatment of tension headache symptoms was evaluated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter double-blind study. Patients admitted to the trial took two capsules of Fiorinal with Codeine, Fiorinal alone, codeine alone, or placebo during each of two tension headache attacks. Immediately before and at intervals up to four hours after drug ingestion, patients rated pain severity, pain relief, the tense and uptight feeling, and muscle stiffness. The response to treatment was evaluated in 154 patients. Despite a high placebo response, a factor known to obscure the contribution of components, Fiorinal and codeine were each found to contribute significantly to the therapeutic effect of the Fiorinal with Codeine combination. Statistical or borderline superiority of the combination drug over Fiorinal alone was seen most frequently at the early evaluations, a finding that reflected the rapid onset of action of codeine. Statistically significant differences between Fiorinal with Codeine and codeine alone seen principally at the later assessments reflected the long duration of action of the Fiorinal component. The frequency of adverse reactions did not differ significantly among the four study groups.

Adolescent

Self-administration of codeine plus acetylsalicylic acid in rhesus monkeys with unlimited access to the drugs.

The reinforcing effects of codeine (5.0 mcg/kg/infusion), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (2500 mcg/kg/infusion) and those of combinations of codeine (50 mcg/kg/infusion) plus (2500 or 10,000 mcg/kg/infusion) were studied in four groups of drug naive rhesus monkeys. Responding was engendered and maintained by infusions of 50 mcg/kg of codeine; maximal number of daily infusions being 500 to 1000. Infusions of 2500 mcg/kg of ASA plus 50 mcg/kg of codeine per infusion initiated responding from the 9th to the 10th day of the drug period on. The number of self-administered infusions did not exceed 200 daily. Monkeys self administered codeine without signs of intoxication. All three monkeys self-administering the combination of 50 mcg/kg of codeine plus 2500 mcg/kg of ASA died during the experiment. They exhibited signs of severe intoxication. A combination of 50 mcg/kg of codeine and 10,000 mcg/kg of ASA was not self-administered until the 12th day of the drug period. Two out of three monkeys initiated responding for the combination during the drug period. The number of self-administered infusions did not exceed 50 per day. A third monkey did not initiate self-administration during the 14 day drug period. Both monkeys which engendered self-administration died on the 14th day of the experiment as a result of general intoxication. These experiments suggest that even toxic doses of ASA will not prevent monkeys from self-administration when offered together with a positive reinforcing drug such as codeine under a schedule of continuous self-administration.

Animals

Analgesic efficacy of two ibuprofen-codeine combinations for the treatment of postepisiotomy and postoperative pain.

Our purpose was to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of single oral doses of the combination of ibuprofen 400 mg plus codeine 60 mg and the combination of ibuprofen 200 mg plus codeine 30 mg with ibuprofen 400 mg alone, codeine sulfate 60 mg alone, and placebo. One hundred ninety-five patients with severe pain resulting from episiotomy, cesarean section, or gynecologic surgery completed a randomized, double-blind, stratified, parallel-group study. Patients were observed during a 4-hour period after medication. Based on the sum of the pain intensity differences (SPID), total pain relief (TOTPAR), and most of the hourly direct measures of pain and relief, both doses of the combination and ibuprofen 400 mg alone were statistically superior to placebo. Codeine 60 mg was statistically superior to placebo based on TOTPAR, the global ratings, and a few hourly measures. The mean effect of the combination of ibuprofen 400 mg plus codeine 60 mg was significantly superior to the mean effect of ibuprofen 400 mg alone 1/2, 1, and 2 hours after medication and to the mean effect of ibuprofen 400 mg alone and codeine 60 mg alone for SPID, TOTPAR, and other measures as well. The low-dose combination was significantly more effective than codeine 60 mg for a few hourly measures but was not significantly superior to ibuprofen 400 mg. Based on these findings it appears that the combination of ibuprofen 400 mg plus codeine 60 mg, particularly in the first few hours after medication, is more efficacious than its constituents.

Adult

Treatment of narcolepsy with codeine.

The effectiveness of codeine as a treatment for the excessive daytime sleepiness of narcolepsy was studied in two experimental trials. In an open trial of codeine in five narcoleptic subjects, dramatic clinical improvement was reported. However, all-night polysomnography and maintenance of wakefulness tests before and after codeine showed no significant differences. A double-blind placebo-codeine trial was conducted in which eight narcoleptic subjects received codeine for 1 week and placebo for 1 week in a random order. During the week they kept a diary, and on the sixth evening and for 10 h following awakening on the seventh day they were monitored by radiotelemetry in the sleep laboratory for electroencephalogram, electro-oculogram, and electromyogram. The results were analyzed for sleep stages as well as four levels of wakefulness. The results showed no significant differences in any of the objective sleep or wakefulness parameters. However, the diaries showed significantly fewer naps during the week on codeine as compared with the placebo week. Eighteen of 27 narcoleptic patients treated with codeine report clinical improvement. Codeine consistently results in subjective clinical improvement. However, this is not reflected in the objective measures generally used to assess daytime sleepiness.

Adult

Codeine O-demethylation co-segregates with polymorphic debrisoquine hydroxylation.

1. A single oral dose of codeine (25 mg) was given to 132 healthy Swedish Caucasians who had previously been phenotyped with respect to debrisoquine hydroxylation. The 'metabolic ratios' (MR) in urine of codeine O-demethylation (codeine/(morphine (M) + morphine-3- and 6-glucuronides (M3G and M6G) + normorphine], N-demethylation (codeine/(norcodeine (NC) + norcodeine glucuronide + normorphine (NM]) and glucuronidation (codeine/codeine-6-glucuronide (C6G] were calculated following h.p.l.c. analysis of urine samples collected over 8 h. 2. There was a significant correlation between the log MR for debrisoquine hydroxylation and the log MR for codeine O-demethylation (rs = 0.77, P less than 0.001). The poor debrisoquine hydroxylators had MRs of codeine O-demethylation between 8.3 and 55.1, while the values for extensive hydroxylators were between 0.4 and 5.5. 3. The poor debrisoquine hydroxylators excreted significantly less M, M3G, M6G and NM, while the urinary recovery of C6G and NC was significantly higher in these subjects compared to the extensive hydroxylators. 4. The MRs for glucuronidation and N-demethylation did not exhibit a bimodal distribution, and were not related to the MR of debrisoquine hydroxylation. 5. No associations were found between sex, body-weight, smoking habits, age, urine volume or urine pH and the O-demethylation of codeine. 6. The O-demethylation of codeine to form M appears to be under the same polymorphic genetic control as the 4-hydroxylation of debrisoquine.

Adolescent

A comparison of the pharmacokinetics of codeine and its metabolites in healthy Chinese and Caucasian extensive hydroxylators of debrisoquine.

1. The kinetics of codeine and metabolites were studied in eight unrelated healthy Chinese subjects following a single oral dose of 50 mg codeine phosphate. The data were compared with those from eight Caucasian subjects who were matched with the Chinese group according to their metabolic ratio (MR) of debrisoquine. 2. Mean values of Cmax (445 nmol l-1) and AUC (1660 nmol l-1 h) of codeine in the Chinese were significantly higher than those in the Caucasians (292 nmol l-1 and 1010 nmol l-1 h). Thus plasma clearance was significantly lower (P less than 0.02) and the plasma half-life was longer (P less than 0.05) in the Chinese. 3. Partial clearance by glucuronidation was significantly lower (0.79 +/- 0.14 s.d. vs 1.42 +/- 0.48 s.d. 1 h-1 kg-1) in Chinese than in Caucasians. 4. The total urinary recovery of drug-related material in 48 h urine was similar in Chinese (82.2%) and Caucasians (84.4%). The recovery of unchanged codeine was significantly higher in Chinese (5.7%) than in Caucasians (3.3%). 5. The AUC ratios of codeine relative to its 6-glucuronide, morphine and norcodeine were 1:9, 35:1 and 4:1, respectively in Chinese. The corresponding ratios in Caucasians were 1:15, 50:1 and 6:1. 6. There was no significant difference between Chinese and Caucasians in the renal clearances of codeine and its primary metabolites. 7. Large interethnic differences in the kinetics of codeine have been shown. The Chinese are less able to metabolise codeine mainly because of a lower efficiency in glucuronidation.

Administration, Oral

Further studies on self-administration of antipyretic analgesics and combination of antipyretic analgesics with codeine in rhesus monkeys.

The possible reinforcing effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was studied in a group of rhesus monkeys that had no history of self-administration of drugs. Rates of lever pressing were compared under conditions in which each lever-pressing response resulted in an infusion of saline, an infusion of saline plus delivery of a food pellet or an infusion of ASA (0.4, 1.0, 2.5 OR 5.0 MG/KG /infusion). Responding was engendered and maintained by the delivery of food pellets but not by infusions of saline alone nor by ASA; however, responding was subsequently engendered and maintained in these monkeys by codeine (0.05 mg/kg/infusion). In another group of monkeys that had been trained to respond under a 10-response fixed-ratio schedule of i.v. infusions of codeine, the possible reinforcing effects of aminophenazone, phenylbutazone and of combinations of each of these drugs with codeine were studied. Aminophenazone and phenylbutazone (0.4-5.0 mg/kg/infusion) did not maintain responding previously engendered by codeine. Mixtures of aminophenazone and phenylbutazone with codeine decreased the number of codeine self-administrations. Thus, codeine intake was reduced when aminophenazone and phenylbutazone were added to codeine in the solution to be self-administered. These experiments suggest that antipyretic analgesics are not effective in reinforcing behavior in the rhesus monkey.

Aminopyrine

Effect of codeine on rat and guinea pig tracheal ciliary beat frequency.

Codeine, the basic antitussive drug, has generally been thought to impair mucociliary function. Using the photodetection method the effect of codeine on mucociliary function was studied in rat after local and systemic administration and in guinea pig after systemic administration. In vitro rat tracheal ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured up to 40 min. There was 24.6 +/- 2.5% and 26.6 +/- 1.6% decrease in CBF after 1 mg/ml and after 10 mg/ml codeine solutions, respectively. In vivo codeine was administered in single i.v. doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg. No statistically significant differences were found in CBF responses, although there was a CBF decreasing tendency after the 15 mg/kg dose. The total follow-up time was 120 min. In guinea pig, 10 days s.c. codeine administration in daily doses of 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg had no effect on CBF. Although codeine was used in much higher concentrations than tissues concentrations after therapeutic doses of codeine, the effects on CBF were minimal. So it can be concluded that the generally accepted ciliostatic effect of codeine is overestimated.

Animals

Comparison of diflunisal and an aspirin-codeine combination in the management of patients having one-visit endodontic therapy.

One hundred seventy-nine patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic endodontic disease had single-visit therapy and were given either diflunisal (n = 94) or aspirin with codeine (n = 85) to control posttreatment pain. In this open-label, randomized study, diflunisal was judged superior to the aspirin-codeine combination in all major categories evaluated. Of patients receiving diflunisal, 93.6% needed the medication for only one day. In contrast, 77.7% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine needed the medication for only one day. Almost 64% of patients receiving diflunisal needed only one dose, while 32.9% of patients using aspirin with codeine needed only one dose. Four or more doses were required by 5.3% of patients receiving diflunisal and by 23.5% of patients receiving the aspirin-codeine combination. In patients receiving diflunisal, 20.2% experienced side effects. In contrast, 29.4% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine reported side effects. Thirty-five percent of patients receiving diflunisal rated the analgesic as excellent; 5.3% rated it as fair or poor. In contrast, 12.9% of patients receiving aspirin with codeine rated the analgesic combination as excellent; another 12.9% rated it as fair or poor. Diflunisal was found to be generally effective and well-tolerated, and superior to aspirin with codeine in the management of pain from endodontic treatment.

Adolescent

The postoperative pharmacokinetics of codeine.

The metabolism and systemic availability of codeine have been studied in 12 patients after cholecystectomy. They were given 20 mg codeine as an IV bolus dose on the first day after surgery and 50 mg codeine as a single oral on the fourth day after surgery. Codeine had a medium to high extraction ratio and a total plasma clearance of 10.8 (4.3) ml.min-1.kg-1. The clearance varied four-fold between subjects. All the patients were extensive metabolizers with regard to the debrisoquine/sparteine polymorphism, as tested using dextromethorphan as the probe drug. Nevertheless, the formation of morphine from codeine was very small and plasma morphine concentrations were below the detection limit of 3.3 nmol.l-1 (1 ng.ml-1). As a corollary, the morphine/codeine ratio in the the concentration-time curves was less than 3% in all the patients. The systemic availability of codeine varied extensively between subjects (range 12-84%). This might partly explain differences in the dose of codeine required as an analgesic.

Adult

Radioimmunoassay for the simultaneous determination of morphine and codeine.

Antiserum against morphine was produced in rabbits immunized with morphine hapten conjugated to bovine serum albumin. The carrier protein was conjugated to the nitrogen atom of the opiate alkaloid in order to make the phenolic hydroxy group on C3 and the alcoholic group on C6 as determinant groups. The antibody does not recognize codeine or the major metabolite of morphine, 3-O-monoglucuronide. This antibody was used in conjunction with an antibody prepared against 3-O-carboxymethylmorphine to develop a radioimmunoassay which can measure codeine in the presence of morphine. The assay was used to follow both the plasma and brain levels of codeine and its biotransformation to morphine. Codeine when administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg i.v. showed a biphasic plasma decay curve the first phase of which had a +1/2 of 26 min. Peak concentrations of morphine were detected in the plasma following that dose of codeine at 0.5 h. 30 min after the injection of 20 mg/kg i.p. codeine, the brain levels of morphine were only 2% that of codeine. Thereafter, the brain levels of morphine slowly declined.

Animals

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of codeine in end-stage renal disease.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of codeine and its metabolites codeine glucuronide, morphine, and morphine glucuronide were assessed after the administration of a single 60 mg oral dose of codeine sulfate and a single 60 mg intravenous dose of codeine phosphate in six healthy volunteers and six patients on chronic hemodialysis. Plasma and urine drug and metabolite concentrations were determined by sensitive and specific RIA procedures. Pharmacodynamics were assessed by pupillometry and vital sign determinations. Codeine elimination half-life and mean residence time were increased significantly in the hemodialysis group (18.69 +/- 9.03 hours and 12.77 +/- 7.09 hours, mean +/- SD, respectively) compared with the healthy volunteer group (4.04 +/- 0.60 hours and 3.90 +/- 0.52 hours, respectively). The total body clearance and volume of distribution of codeine were not significantly different between groups. Peak concentrations, times to peak concentrations, and AUCs for the three metabolites were also not significantly different between the groups, in part as a result of significant interpatient variability in the hemodialysis group. Examination of pupillometry and vital sign data did not reveal clinically significant differences in pharmacodynamics between the groups. Adjustment of dosage regimen may be required in some patients with uremia receiving multiple-dose codeine therapy.

Adult

Infants and young children metabolise codeine to morphine. A study after single and repeated rectal administration.

1. Codeine was administered rectally to thirteen infants and young children undergoing elective surgery. Nine infants (6-10 months old) received a 4 mg suppository and four children (3-4 years old) an 8 mg suppository. Codeine and its metabolite morphine were measured in plasma by GC/MS. 2. The mean concentrations of codeine at 3, 4 and 5 h after administration were 240, 163 and 123 nmol l-1 in the younger and 309, 251 and 169 nmol l-1 in the older patients. The corresponding concentrations of morphine were 8.3, 7.4 and 4.5 nmol l-1 and 6.8, 5.5 and 2.8 nmol l-1 respectively. One patient in each age group had no detectable amounts of morphine. 3. In the four children, the rectal dose was repeated 6-hourly for four doses. The plasma concentrations of codeine and morphine following the fifth dose were similar to those after the first dose. The mean AUC(0,5 h) of morphine was 1.6% that of codeine. 4. In the infants the mean plasma half-lives of codeine and morphine were 2.6 and 2.5 h. The two infants with the lowest body weights had the longest half-lives. 5. The mean morphine/codeine concentration ratio was 4.3% in the infants and 1.6% in the children, suggesting impaired glucuronidation of morphine in the former group. The hourly concentration ratios were almost identical following the first and fifth dose in the children. 6. We conclude that at the age of 6 months infants are capable of O-demethylating codeine to morphine.

Biotransformation

Effect of codeine phosphate, Lomotil, and Isogel on iileostomy function.

The effect on ileostomy function of codeine phosphate, Lomotil, or Isogel was tested in 20 subjects at home living a normal life, studied over two three-day periods on and off treatment. Codeine phosphate 60 mg three times daily was associated with a reduction in the mean total weight of ileostomy output and the ileostomy outputs of water, sodium, and potassium (p < 0.05). The proportion of faecal solids increased on codeine and the effluent appeared thicker but the output of faecal solids remained unchanged. Mean faecal fat increased on codeine. The transit rate from mouth to stoma was slower in four of the five subjects on codeine and a further two subjects withdrew from the trial with temporary intestinal obstruction while on the drug. Lomotil two tablets three times daily was associated with a small and statistically not quite significant fall in the mean total weight of ileostomy output and the ileostomy output of water. Sodium and potassium outputs in the effluent fell on Lomotil (p < 0.05) but the other parameters remained unchanged. Isogel 15 ml three times daily was associated with an increase in the mean total weight of ileostomy output and the ileostomy outputs of water, sodium, potassium, and faecal solids (p < 0.01). Although the effluent looked more viscid on Isogel, the proportion of faecal solids was unchanged. These results suggest that codeine phosphate has a beneficial effect on ileostomy function, reducing the loss of water and electrolytes, while Lomotil has a similar but less effective action in the dosage tested. By contrast, Isogel increases the ileostomy loss of water and electrolytes and will aggravate their depletion in patients with excessive fluid effluents. The increase in faecal fat associated with taking codeine phosphate suggests that it should be stopped before collecting specimens for faecal fat estimations.

Adolescent