Acute Pancreatitis Induced by Codeine: A Rare Case

Background: Acute pancreatitis caused by drugs is rare but clinically important. Among pain relievers, codeine has only occasionally been linked to this condition. Recognizing such cases can help physicians avoid misdiagnosis and prevent future attacks. Case presentation: A ۱۹-year-old man was admitted with sharp epigastric pain, nausea, and repeated vomiting. His serum amylase and lipase levels were high, and abdominal CT showed an enlarged pancreas with surrounding inflammation. The patient had been taking an acetaminophen–codeine combination regularly for headaches. There was no history of alcohol use, gallstones, elevated triglycerides, hypercalcemia, or a family tendency to pancreatic disease. Considering these findings, codeine-induced pancreatitis was the most reasonable diagnosis. Conclusion:This case draws attention to codeine as a possible but uncommon cause of acute pancreatitis. It reminds clinicians to ask about opioid-containing drugs, especially in young adults who have used them for a long time and lack other risk factors.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pancreatitis ، Analgesic opioid ، Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ، case reports