Which opioid is used for pain relief and is derived from opium?

• A. Morphine
• B. Digoxin
• C. Codeine
• D. Sodium bicarbonate

Answer: (C)

Opioid analgesics include natural alkaloids derived from opium, and codeine is one of these. Codeine is used to relieve pain and works as a mu-opioid receptor agonist; its analgesic effect largely comes after it is metabolized in the liver to morphine. This metabolic activation makes codeine effective for mild-to-moderate pain and often results in combination products with acetaminophen. Because it depends on individual metabolism (CYP2D6 activity), people experience varying levels of relief. It’s generally less potent than morphine, which is why codeine is chosen for less intense pain scenarios. The other options listed are not opioids: digoxin is a cardiac glycoside, and sodium bicarbonate is an antacid/alkalinizing agent.