Which are the derivatives of opium; what is their effect?

Which are the derivatives of opium; what is their effect?

This is a drug extracted from the fruits of the plant-opium poppy (Papver somniferum of the family Papaveraceae). The crude drug is obtained in the form of latex from the unripe fruits of the plant.

Incisions are made in the fruit and the latex is collected. It is then further refined. Morphine and codine are the derivatives of opium. While another drug heroin is synthesised from morphine following several chemical procedures. Medi­cally morphine is used as a pain killer while codine is an ingredient of many cough syrups.

Of all the derivatives of morphine the one that is more dangerous and has the ability of severe addiction is heroin. It is one of the highly classified drugs. Use of heroin leads to hallucinations and the addict feels light headedness.

Opium and other derivatives have the effect of reducing the respiratory and cardiac activity. They cause the constriction of the pupil of the eye. For addicts if supply is not available, they suffer from terrible withdrawal symptoms such as muscular cramps, running nose, vomiting and even fits.