Codeine
Also called methylmorphine, morphine monomethyl ether, Codicept and Coducept.
A mild opioid from the opium poppy, used for pain and cough. The body has to convert it into morphine for it to work at all.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf.
Sources and notes
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A nitrogen bonded to three carbons, with no hydrogen of its own. Its spare pair of electrons can still pick up a hydrogen ion, so a tertiary amine is a base.
From: standard chemistry.
An O-H on a carbon that is not part of an aromatic ring, the group that makes a molecule an alcohol. It both gives and accepts hydrogen bonds, which helps the molecule mix with water.
From: standard chemistry.
An oxygen bridging two carbons, written C-O-C. It accepts hydrogen bonds but has no hydrogen to give, and it is slow to react.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Codeine
Tramadol
Codeine is a poppy alkaloid the liver turns into morphine, while tramadol is synthetic and also blocks serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.
Codeine vs Tramadol, side by sideSources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitThe two drawings side by side.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C18H21NO3
- Molecular weight
- 299.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 1.1
- Polar surface areatopological
- 41.9 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 4
- Rotatable bonds
- 1
- Complexity
- 509
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
427 mg/kg pure codeine, rat, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, HSDB via PubChem
Danger Corrosive pictogram (GHS05), Irritant pictogram (GHS07) and Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H302, H317, H318, H336, H362
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Codeine for human use (NDA 022402, authorized July 16, 2009). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Opioids, Non-opioid painkillers
- Elements
- Nitrogen
- Hazard classes
- Corrosive, Irritant, Health hazard, GHS Danger
CN1CC[C@]23[C@@H]4[C@H]1CC5=C2C(=C(C=C5)OC)O[C@H]3[C@H](C=C4)OPubChem CID 5284371 · Wikidata Q174723 · InChIKey OROGSEYTTFOCAN-DNJOTXNNSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Codeine?
- A mild opioid from the opium poppy, used for pain and cough. The body has to convert it into morphine for it to work at all.
- How toxic is Codeine?
- The reported LD50 of Codeine is 427 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Corrosive, Irritant and Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Codeine?
- Codeine has the formula C18H21NO3 and a molecular weight of 299.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under opioids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Codeine called?
- Codeine is also called methylmorphine, morphine monomethyl ether, Codicept and Coducept. from source
- Who licenses Codeine as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Codeine for human use (NDA 022402, authorized July 16, 2009). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: rat, intravenous, 75 mg/kg; rat, another route, 100 mg/kg; rat, another route, 229 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- Oxycodone Also an opioid
- Hydromorphone Also an opioid
Sources and notes
- Compared side by sidefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesA molecule we compare it with on its own page.
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit