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Codeine is a prescription opioid medication usually used to treat coughs and sometimes pain. Codeine fights pain by interacting with mu-opioid receptors on brain cells (neurons). The drug can prevent cough by acting on the medulla in the brain, which would produce cough. Because codeine is an opioid, the risk of addiction comes with its use.
Codeine is part of a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics, which treat pain by acting on the central nervous system. It can be used to treat mild to moderate pain. It’s considered less potent than a lot of other opiates, so people tend to falsely believe they won’t become addicted, but that’s not the case.
Codeine often comes as a cough syrup mixed with other ingredients but can also come in other formulations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has schedules for controlled prescription medications based on their relative risk.
Codeine comes in different forms. The DEA places codeine formulations into schedules based on how abusable it is:
When you’re prescribed codeine in any form, it comes with a warning. Codeine has the potential for addiction, abuse and misuse that can result in overdose or death. Like other opioids, codeine can depress your respiratory system to the point where you stop breathing. If you take codeine while pregnant, you’re also warned that it can lead to neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.
To avoid the risk of addiction that comes with codeine use, people are warned to take it only as instructed by their doctor. This means not taking larger doses than what’s instructed or taking it more often than you’re prescribed. It’s also imperative that people never take codeine without a prescription because that is automatically considered abuse.
Codeine is an opiate, and while it may be weaker or seem less risky than other opiates, it still has the potential for abuse. Codeine can be more problematic than people realize; people see it as less potent and assume it’s harmless. That’s simply untrue.
When you take a drug like codeine that affects the central nervous system, it triggers the brain’s reward center, making you want to repeat the experience. That’s what leads to the potential for abuse and addiction to codeine and other opioids.
Since codeine is less potent than other opioids but still addictive, people will take this drug and then move on to stronger opioids once they’ve developed a tolerance and addiction. In many ways, codeine can be seen as a weaker gateway to other opiates. People may also combine codeine with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines, increasing the effects and the risk of overdose.
Prescription medications for cough and cold that contain psychoactive or mind-altering properties are often used at higher doses than recommended and commonly abused. When these drugs contain elements like expectorants or antihistamines, they’re abused at even higher rates.
Some other facts about codeine addiction include:
As a prescription painkiller, codeine can be used for legitimate therapeutic reasons, but even when it is used as directed by a doctor, it can have certain side effects.
Some of the side effects of codeine may include drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness and sedation. Other potential codeine side effects of codeine can occur with a prescription or when misuse, including:
The side effects of codeine abuse are usually the first indicators that someone is on the path toward developing an addiction to this drug.
Some of the signs of codeine abuse include:
Two of the biggest and most dangerous side effects of codeine long-term use are addiction and physical dependence. The longer you use codeine, whether by prescription or otherwise, the more likely you are to become addicted and/or dependent.
Most codeine high symptoms are similar to other opioids. Codeine is a sedative; taking a particularly large dose may lead to a sense of well-being and euphoria, which can then fade to drowsiness. As a person continues using it, they may stop feeling the codeine high symptoms, and instead, they keep taking it just to fuel their addiction and avoid withdrawal.
The risk of a codeine overdose is real and can happen more easily than you might think. A codeine overdose can occur because you take too much of the drug, take it in a way other than what’s directed (like snorting it) or when you mix it with other substances like other opioids or alcohol.
Some of the signs of a codeine overdose include:
The signs of a codeine overdose should never be ignored, as they can ultimately lead to coma or death. A codeine overdose is a medical emergency and can be fatal. If you suspect someone is overdosing on codeine, administer naloxone (Narcan) if available and call 911. You will not get in trouble for helping to save someone’s life.
People frequently want to learn more about codeine addiction symptoms because they feel like their drug use has spiraled out of control or see warning signs in someone they care about.
The following are some of the signs of codeine addiction:
Codeine addiction symptoms are similar to addiction symptoms for other opioids and drugs. Essentially, if someone seems to change how they behave, acts secretive or lies, or does things they wouldn’t ordinarily do to obtain or use codeine, these can all be signs of an addiction to codeine.
With codeine and drugs like it, there is a distinction between dependence and addiction. Addiction is a psychological disease where you lose control over your drug use because of changes in your brain. Meanwhile, dependence is a scenario where your body is physically dependent on a substance in order to function normally. Being physically dependent on codeine may or may not indicate an addiction.
One of the first signs of codeine dependence is a building tolerance. Many people build a tolerance to codeine and other opioids very quickly, so they have to take higher doses to get the same effect, whether they’re seeking legitimate pain relief or they want to abuse the drug and get high.
Another one of the primary codeine dependence symptoms occurs when you try to stop using the drug suddenly. If you experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping codeine use, you have a physical dependence on the drug.
The severity of codeine withdrawal symptoms depends a lot on how long someone has used it and how much they take. As you develop a tolerance to codeine, you become physically dependent. If you stop taking it suddenly, you are likely to experience codeine withdrawal symptoms.
Some codeine withdrawal symptoms include:
The timeline for codeine withdrawal can vary from person to person. Below is a general overview of what the codeine withdrawal timeline can look like:
There are some things you can do on your own to cope with codeine withdrawal, such as drinking water to stay hydrated, finding things you enjoy doing, and making sure you’re getting proper nutrients. However, symptoms can be severe, so a professional detox treatment program is the best decision for many.
Dealing with codeine withdrawal at home can include a tapering off schedule or going cold turkey. When you taper off codeine, your dosage is gradually reduced so that you experience fewer withdrawal symptoms. In a cold turkey approach, you stop suddenly, meaning the withdrawal symptoms can be more severe.
Codeine withdrawal help is available in the form of both inpatient and outpatient detox programs, such as what’s offered at Colorado’s The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake.
If you try to quit cold turkey or go through codeine detox at home, intense cravings can make the experience harder and derail your attempts to stop. Codeine detox treatment can help you detox successfully, particularly if you do an inpatient program.
Detox from codeine at an inpatient facility can include medical interventions to alleviate some of the physical and psychological symptoms you’re experiencing. You’re more likely to be successful with your codeine detoxification if you have professional support.
Once you have safely gone through codeine detoxification, you can begin treatment. The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake specializes in helping people detox from codeine and other opioids through evidence-based treatments that increase their chances for a successful recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with codeine addiction, reach out to The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake today. We have representatives standing by to discuss treatment options with you.
One of the cornerstones of addiction treatment in recent years is medication-assisted treatment. With MAT, we can help people with opioid addiction begin and maintain a long-term recovery.
Because heroin is an addictive, deadly and illegal substance, it’s common for people to wonder about what heroin looks like and how to recognize it – especially those who suspect a friend or loved one may be using.
Inpatient rehabilitation offers constant live-in care for people with substance use disorders. At an inpatient care facility, all evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation is supervised by medical professionals.
Women who are pregnant may find themselves wondering if it is safe to use hydrocodone during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Ultimately, using any kind of opioid while pregnant or breastfeeding should generally be avoided.
Medical detoxification, more commonly known as medical detox, this process is crucial to successful recovery. When you’re dependent on a substance, your body has to compensate for the constant presence of that substance.
Drugs.com. “Codeine.” October 30, 2020. Accessed May 31, 2021.
Drug Enforcement Administration. “Controlled Substances.” May 10, 2021. Accessed May 31, 2021.
American Academy of Family Physicians. “Opioid Conversion Table.” Accessed May 31, 2021.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse.” May 2014. Accessed May 31, 2021.
Cherian,Roy; Westbrook, Marisa; Ramo, Danielle; Sarkar, Urmimala. “Representations of Codeine Misuse on Ins[…]am: Content Analysis.” JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, January-March 2018. Accessed May 31, 2021.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Opioid Overdose.” December 24, 2020. Accessed May 31, 2021.
World Health Organization. “Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Manag[…]e in Closed Settings.” 2009. Accessed May 31, 2021.
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
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