Opium vs. Papaverine — What's the Difference?

Opium (or poppy tears, scientific name: Lachryma papaveris) is dried latex obtained from the seed capsules of the opium poppy Papaver somniferum. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid morphine, which is processed chemically to produce heroin and other synthetic opioids for medicinal use and for the illegal drug trade.

Papaverine (Latin papaver, "poppy") is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasms and vasospasms (especially those involving the intestines, heart, or brain), occasionally in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and acute mesenteric ischemia. While it is found in the opium poppy, papaverine differs in both structure and pharmacological action from the analgesic morphine and its derivatives (such as codeine).

A bitter, yellowish-brown, strongly addictive narcotic drug prepared from the dried latex of unripe pods of the opium poppy and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine.

A nonnarcotic alkaloid obtained from the opium poppy, C20H21NO4, structurally distinct from morphine and other opiates, used in its hydrochloride form to relieve spasms of smooth muscle.

Something that numbs or stupefies.

A nonaddictive derivative of opium used in medicine to relieve muscle spasms, as a vasodilator and in some forms of erectile dysfunction.

(uncountable) A yellow-brown, addictive narcotic drug obtained from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine.

An alkaloid found in opium. It has a weaker therapeutic action than morphine.

Anything that numbs or stupefies.

An alkaloid medicine (trade name Kavrin) obtained from opium; used to relax smooth muscles; it is nonaddictive

The inspissated juice of the Papaver somniferum, or white poppy.

An addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy