Anomalous Observations of Codeine in Patients on Morphine

Original research
by
West, Robert et al

Release Date

2009

Geography

USA

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

Morphine preparations are known to have small amounts of codeine as an impurity estimated to be about 0.04%

Findings/Key points

The finding of codeine was ascribed to the manufacturing process of the morphine medications. Clinicians and laboratories testing urine for drugs should be aware of this possibility.

Design/methods

In a population of 535 pain patients prescribed morphine, Kadian, MS Contin, and/or Avinza, the investigators observed 24 samples that contained codeine >20 ng/mL.

Keywords

Drug checking
Substitution/OAT