To Juggalotus
http://codeine.50g.com/info/codeine.html This link is to a good comprehensive page on codeine and opiates in general. It's worth the read if you are into opiates. I think i explained the conversion into 4 opiates incorrectly. But 4 definatley are invovled. Here's some exerts from the site.
"Conversion of codeine to morphine
To experience the effects of codeine, human body must convert the drug to morphine. "Codeine is metabolized by glucuronidation, by O-demethylation to morphine, and by N-demethylation to norcodeine. The enzyme responsible for the O-demethylation to morphine has been identified as cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6)." - Microsomal codeine N-demethylation: cosegregation with cytochrome P4503A4 activity. In most humans, about 10% of codeine is transformed to morphine. Very small number of people is missing cytochrome 2D6 and therefore cannot experience the effects of codeine. The deficiency of the enzyme CYP2D6 is estimated at around 5-10% for Caucasians, 2% for Asians, and 1% for Arabic. On the other hand, between 0.5% and 2% of the population has multiple copies of the 2D6 gene and will metabolise 2D6-dependent drugs much more quickly and efficiently than others. Codeine tends to saturate the cytochrome 2D6 in effect making it work less efficiently; i.e. each dose of codeine lowers the effects of latter doses (during short period of time, eg 0-6 hours between doses). You may need to assess whether it's a waste for you."
"Codeine analgesia is due to codeine-6-glucuronide, not morphine
Professionals Vree TB, van Dongen RT, Koopman-Kimenai PM from Netherlands has established a different theory on codeine action: "Eighty per cent of codeine is conjugated with glucuronic acid to codeine-6-glucuronide. Only 5% of the dose is O-demethylated to morphine, which in turn is immediately glucuronidated at the 3- and 6-position and excreted renally. Based on the structural requirement of the opiate molecule for interaction with the mu-receptor to result in analgesia, codeine-6-glucuronide in analogy to morphine-6-glucuronide must be the active constituent of codeine. Poor metabolisers of codeine, those who lack the CYP450 2D6 isoenzyme for the O-demethylation to morphine, experience analgesia from codeine-6-glucuronide. Analgesia of codeine does not depend on the formation of morphine and the metaboliser phenotype."
If you find this kind of stuff interesting, i highyl suggest going through the whole site. They offer info on a bunch of different opiate related subjects, including extraction methods, ways to potentiate your high, things that will decrease, things to avoid, how to reduce/eliminate nausia, etc, much more. There's also info on a number of other opiates suchs as hydrocodone, morphine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone.
Have fun, learn something valuable.