Codeine phosphate abolishes the pancreatic polypeptide response to oral fat

Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) were measured after the ingestion of 140 g of double cream in 5 healthy subjects on 2 occasions. On one day fat ingestion followed 1 h after 30 mg codeine phosphate (i.v.) and on the other day no drug was given. On the control day PP levels rose after cream from 28±3 pmol/l (mean±SEM) to a peak of 229±73 at 60 min. This postprandial response was completely abolished by codeine phosphate (basal 30±9,60 min peak 34±6). Thus codeine phosphate, a drug commonly prescribed for cough, pain and diarrhoea, has a profound effect on the postprandial release of this hormonal peptide.