noun
- A bitter alkaloid drug derived from opium or synthesized, used in medicine as a painkiller and cough suppressant.
Usage: Also spelled 'codeine' (more common in modern usage).; Medical/pharmaceutical term.
Examples
- The doctor prescribed a cough syrup containing codein to help relieve her symptoms.
- Codein is often combined with acetaminophen in pain relief medications.
- Some patients experience drowsiness as a side effect of codein.
- The pharmacist explained that codein is a controlled substance in many countries.