Codeine 240 mg is metabolized to approximately 30 mg of which active metabolite?

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Multiple Choice

Codeine 240 mg is metabolized to approximately 30 mg of which active metabolite?

Explanation:
Codeine works mainly as a prodrug, needing conversion in the liver to the active compound morphine to produce analgesia. This transformation happens through the enzyme CYP2D6 by O-demethylation. When 240 mg of codeine is metabolized, about 30 mg of morphine can be formed in many people, which explains the analgesic effect being due to morphine. The other substances listed are not the primary active metabolite produced from codeine: hydromorphone is not the main product from codeine, norcodeine is an inactive metabolite, and O-desmethyltramadol comes from tramadol, not codeine. Individual genetic differences in CYP2D6 can make this conversion faster or slower, affecting both efficacy and risk of toxicity.

Codeine works mainly as a prodrug, needing conversion in the liver to the active compound morphine to produce analgesia. This transformation happens through the enzyme CYP2D6 by O-demethylation. When 240 mg of codeine is metabolized, about 30 mg of morphine can be formed in many people, which explains the analgesic effect being due to morphine. The other substances listed are not the primary active metabolite produced from codeine: hydromorphone is not the main product from codeine, norcodeine is an inactive metabolite, and O-desmethyltramadol comes from tramadol, not codeine. Individual genetic differences in CYP2D6 can make this conversion faster or slower, affecting both efficacy and risk of toxicity.

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