Codeine is a drug that is used for the temporary relief of pain. Codeine is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It is rapidly distributed from the intravascular spaces to the various body
tissues. The elimination of codeine is primarily via the kidneys. At therapeutic doses, the analgesic effect
reaches a peak within 2 hours and persists between 4 and 6 hours. The plasma half-life is about 2.9
hours. In this scenario, you will determine when it is appropriate to give an additional dosage of a
medication. Further, you will predict how long it will take for the codeine dosage to be completely
removed from the body.
Suppose a patient receives a 50 mg dose of codeine. How much codeine is in the body after 1
hour? The patient continues to complain of pain and after two hours is given an additional 25 mg of
codeine. How much codeine is in the body immediately after the second administration? Five hours from
the second dosage, the patient receives an additional 40 mg of codeine. Later, the doctor prescribes a
different pain reliever, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, which might be more effective. However, the patient
cannot receive any additional medication until the codeine in the body is below 5 mg. How long will it take
before the patient will be able to receive the Oxycodone Hydrochloride dosage? When will the codeine be
completely removed from the body?