Tag: Narcotic analgesics

Derived from the opium poppy plant, codeine is classified as a natural opioid, or opiate, placing it among a family of powerful substances used for pain relief and cough suppression. It is also considered a prodrug, since the body metabolizes it into morphine to produce its most potent effects.

In 2023, the overall national opioid dispensing rate in the United States was 37.5 prescriptions per 100 persons. This highlights the widespread use of a class of medications known as opioid analgesics. If you're wondering, 'What drugs are in the same class as morphine?', you're asking about this specific group of powerful pain relievers.

Derived from the Greek words 'an' (without) and 'algos' (pain), analgesics are a crucial class of drugs that selectively relieve pain without causing a loss of consciousness. In the Class 12 chemistry curriculum, these substances are categorized into distinct groups based on their chemical composition and mechanism of action to provide students with a foundational understanding of medicinal chemistry.