Nicodicodeine is an opiate

Opiate

In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...

 derivative developed as a cough suppressant and analgesic

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....

. Synthesized in 1904, it is not commonly used, but has activity similar to other opiates. Nicodicodeine is metabolised in the liver by demethylation to produce 6-nicotinoyldihydromorphine, and subsequently further metabolised to dihydromorphine

Dihydromorphine

Dihydromorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid invented in Germany in 1900. In structure, it is very similar to morphine, the only difference being the reduction of the double bond between positions 7 and 8 in morphine to a single bond...

. Since the final active metabolite is the slightly stronger opiate dihydromorphine rather than morphine, nicodicodeine can be expected to be marginally more potent and longer acting than nicocodeine

Nicocodeine

Nicocodeine is an opiate derivative, closely related to dihydrocodeine and the codeine analogue of nicomorphine developed as a cough suppressant and analgesic. It is not commonly used in most countries, but has activity similar to other opiates. Nicocodeine and nicomorphine were introduced in the...

. Side effects are similar to those of other opiates and include itching, nausea

Nausea

Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...

 and respiratory depression.