Which opioid is known for its use as a cough suppressant?

Codeine is recognized for its effectiveness as a cough suppressant due to its ability to act on the central nervous system and diminish the urge to cough. Its pharmacological properties include not only analgesia but also the suppression of cough reflexes, which makes it particularly useful in treating nonproductive coughs that can be bothersome.

In contrast, other opioids listed have different primary applications. Hydromorphone and oxycodone are primarily utilized for their analgesic properties to manage severe pain, and while they can possess some cough-suppressing qualities, they are not specifically indicated for that purpose. Buprenorphine is mainly used in the management of opioid dependence and chronic pain but is not recognized for its roles in treating cough. Thus, codeine stands out as the primary opioid associated with cough suppression.