Opium
Biological Source: Opium
or gum opium is the air dried
milky exudates obtained by
incising the unripe capsules
of Papaver somniferum.
•Annual herb.
•Term opium is from Greek
Opion meaning Poppy juice.
Opium
History: In 1806 Serturner isolated the alkaloid
morphine from Opium. The opium poppy is
grown commercially now in many countries
throughout the world.
Cultivation and Collection: The cultivation of
Opium poppy is controlled internationally by the
International Narcotics Control Board of the
United Nations.
Constituents
More than 30 different alkaloids have been
obtained. Most important of these are Morphine
(4-21%), Codeine (0.8-2.5%), Noscapine formerly
narcotine (4-8%), Papaverine (0.5-2.5%), thebaine
(0.5-2%) and narceine etc.
Externally, opium is pale olive brown or olive gray.
Extraction from Opium (Continued)
Filtrate extracted 1. Dissolve ppt. in alcohol
With Chloroform 2. Acidify with Acetic acid
3. Add 3 volumes of boiling water
Aqueous sol.
Chloroform
Morphine, Narceine Aqueous
Precipitate
Solution
Acidify then make slightly (narcotine)
(Thebaine)
Alkaline with Ammonia
Dissolve in boiling
0.3% oxalic acid sol and
Aqueous sol. Precipitate cool
(Narceine) (Morphine)
Crystals Aq.sol.
(Papaverine Narcotine
Oxalate) oxalate
Opium Uses
Pharmaceutic necessity for powdered opium.
As an analgesic, a hypnotic, narcotic and
antidiarrheal.
Checks excessive peristalsis.
Dose: 60 mg
Prescription products: Dover’s powder and
camphorated opium tincture.
Opium Alkaloids
Morphine
Morphine and its salts
are classed as narcotic
analgesic.
Strongly hypnotic and
narcotic.
Induces nausea,
vomiting, constipation
and habit formation.
Dose: Morphine Sulfate
parentrally is 10mg 6
times a day.
Codeine
Most widely used
opium alkaloid. It may
be either obtained
from opium (0.2 to
0.7%).
Prepared from
morphine by
methylation.
From thebaine by
demethylation.
Codeine Uses
Narcotic analgesic and antitussives.
As sedative especially in allaying coughs.
It is considerably less toxic and involves much less danger
of habit formation.
Dose:
Usual doses of codeine phosphate and Codeine sulfate are
As analgesic: 15-60 mg every 4 hrs.
As antitussive:10-20 mg every 4-6 hrs.
Heroine
Diacetyle morphine or
heroine is formed by the
acetylation of morphine.
Danger of habit formation
its manufacture in the
United States is forbidden
by law and its use in
medicine has been
discontinued.
Apomorphine HCl
Preparation
When Rejected?
Used as an emetic and is
particularly valuable in
cases of poisoning because
it may be administered SC.
Dose: SC is 100µg/Kg of
body weight. (Max 6mg)
Papaverine
Occurs naturally in
opium to the extent of
about 1%.
Used as Smooth muscle
relaxant and an
antitussive in
combination with
Codeine sulfate.
Dose: Orally 150 mg, IM
30 mg.
As antitussive 15mg.
Products Pavabid,
Pavadyl, Copavin
(Comb.)
Hydromorphone HCl
Morphine derivative
Use: powerful narcotic analgesic.
Dose: 2 mg every 4 hrs
Product: Chief ingredient in Dilaudid cough syrup.
Side effects
Hydrocodone bitartarate or
Dihydrocodeinone bitartarate
Codeine derivative
Use: As an antitussive
Dose: 5-10mg, 3 to 4 times a day.
e.g. Dicodid and Codone
Noscapine
Commonly called Narcotine and Anarcotine.
Antitussive.
Dose: 15mg up to 4 times a day.
Available in syrup and chewable tablets. e.g. Conar and
Theo-Nar.
