From the Research
Effect of Dihydrocodeine Administered Rectally
- The effect of dihydrocodeine administered rectally is not directly studied in the provided evidence, but related studies on codeine and methadone can provide some insights 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Rectal administration of drugs can be an effective alternative to oral administration, especially in cases of nausea and vomiting, with the added benefit of potentially avoiding hepatic first-pass elimination for high clearance drugs 1.
- Codeine phosphate, a related opioid, has been shown to have similar plasma concentration profiles when administered rectally and orally, with rectal absorption from an alkaline solution being significantly more rapid than oral dosing 2.
- Methadone, another opioid, has been found to have a high bioavailability when administered rectally, with rapid absorption and a long duration of action, making it a potential alternative to intravenous and oral administration 3.
- While dihydrocodeine's pharmacokinetics have been studied after intravenous and oral administration, showing substantial first-pass metabolism and low bioavailability after oral administration 5, the rectal route's effect on dihydrocodeine is not directly addressed in the provided studies.
- However, based on the studies of related opioids, it can be inferred that rectal administration of dihydrocodeine may offer a viable alternative to oral administration, potentially with improved bioavailability and rapid absorption, but further research is needed to confirm this 1, 2, 3.