Pholcodine

Pholcodine formula is 3-o-morpholinoethylmorphine and it is classified as an antitussive which is defined as an opioid cough suppressant. It belongs to the opioid family of compounds and it is widely used. Pholcodine activity is the suppression of unproductive cough and it also has a mild sedative effect with little or no analgesic effects. Pholcodine is not prescribed in the United States where it is classed as a Schedule I drug. It is categorized as Class B drug in the UK and officially taken out of the shelves in 2008. Pholcodine is not approved in Canada.

Pholcodine is indicated as a cough suppressant for the temporary relief of non-productive dry cough. It is stated to present a required label indication of "temporary relief of dry cough." Cough is the respiratory movement that occurs after an irritation signal is transmitted to the central nervous system and further stimulates the medulla oblongata. This stimulation causes a motor output that is sent through motoneurons to the respiratory muscles. A non-productive cough is a type of cough characterized by the absence of sputum, and it has a large inspiration that will cause continuous coughing.

• Cough
• Cough caused by Common Cold
• Epiphora
• Flu caused by Influenza
• Irritative cough
• Rhinorrhoea
• Sinusitis
• Sneezing
• Throat irritation
• Dry cough
• Fever or influenza-like illness