Noscapine

Noscapine (international non-proprietary name for (-)-α-narcotin) is a major alkaloid of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum (3-10 %). Similar to codeine or dihydrocodeine, it has an antitussive but not analgesic effect, although the effect is somewhat weaker than that of codeine.

Unlike morphine, noscapine has a weak respiratory stimulant and bronchodilator effect. The plasma half-life of noscapine is 2.6 to 4.5 hours. The bioavailability is individually variable and is approximately 30%.

Oxidative degradation of noscapine produces the cleavage products cotarnine and opianic acid.

Dry irritating cough. Noscapine can therefore be used to treat irritable cough in babies as young as six months.

Daily dose: 150mg; single dose: 50mg

Children < 6 years: The medicinal product should not normally be used in this group. There are preparations which are more suitable in terms of the strength of the active substance and/or the pharmaceutical form.

Pregnancy: According to current knowledge, the medicinal product should not be used.

Capval (/juice, drops and dragées); Tussanil N (CH), Nosca-Mereprin (B, L); in Germany (as well as in Austria) noscapine is available as hydrochloride as a prescription substance. However, the NRF does not contain a corresponding prescription prescription.

1. Mahmoudian M et al. (2009) The anti-cancer activity of noscapine: a review. In: Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery 4: 92-97.
2. Winzer T et al. (2012) A Papaver somniferum 10-gene cluster for synthesis of the anticancer alkaloid noscapine. Science 336: 1704-1708