Source: Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (NZ) Revision Year: 2017 Publisher: Distributed on behalf of Mundipharma New Zealand Limited by: Pharmaco (N.Z.) Ltd, 4 Fisher Crescent, Mt Wellington, Auckland 1060, Ph: (09) 377-3336, Toll Free [Medical Enquiries]: 0800 773 310
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Natural opium alkaloids
ATC code: N02AA08
Dihyrodrocodeine is an opioid agonist with no antagonistic action.
The principal actions of therapeutic value of dihydrocodeine are analgesia and an antitussive effect (depression of the cough reflex by direct effect on the cough centre in the medulla). Antitussive effects may occur with doses lower than those usually required for analgesia.
Dihydrocodeine may produce respiratory depression by direct action on brain stem respiratory centres.
Dihydrocodeine causes a reduction in motility associated with an increase in smooth muscle tone in the antrum of the stomach and duodenum. Digestion of food in the small intestine is delayed and propulsive contractions are decreased. Propulsive peristaltic waves in the colon are decreased, while tone is increased to the point of spasm resulting in constipation.
Dihydrocodeine is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract following administration of DHC CONTINUS tablets; however, it is subject to extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver. Like other phenanthrene derivatives, dihydrocodeine is mainly metabolised in the liver with resultant metabolites excreted mainly in the urine. The metabolism of dihydrocodeine includes Odemethylation, N-demethylation and 6-keto reduction. Absorption and clearance of dihydrocodeine is delayed in the presence of renal insufficiency such that a reduction in dose is recommended. It is also recommended to reduce dosage in the presence of impaired hepatic function.
No regulatory studies to assess genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive or developmental effects of dihydrocodeine have been conducted.
© All content on this website, including data entry, data processing, decision support tools, "RxReasoner" logo and graphics, is the intellectual property of RxReasoner and is protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of any part of this content without explicit written permission from RxReasoner is strictly prohibited. Any third-party content used on this site is acknowledged and utilized under fair use principles.
