Codeine Detox Program Fort Lauderdale

Understanding Codeine Addiction, Withdrawal & Detox

What is Codeine?

According to the National Library of Medicine, codeine treats pain, cough, and diarrhea, but its most common use is for the treatment of mild to moderate cough and pain. Codeine is a prescription medication with legitimate uses, but it does have the potential to be abused. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) labels Tylenol/codeine mixtures as a Schedule III Controlled Substance, meaning they carry up to moderate potential for abuse. Codeine cough syrup falls under the category of a Schedule V Controlled Substance, meaning it has a lower potential for abuse, but people may still misuse cough syrups.

Codeine-Bottle-and-Tablets

Codeine can be misused, and over time, misuse can lead to addiction. Codeine also has some unpleasant side effects, and in large doses, codeine can lead to overdose. Codeine use can be safe when people take it as prescribed, but abusing the drug can have serious consequences, and some people may need treatment to recover from codeine & other opiate addictions.

What Does Codeine Do?

Codeine is an opioid drug, which means that it binds to opiate receptors in the nervous system to create pain-relieving and cough-reducing effects. Codeine’s status as an opioid places it in the same category as drugs like morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. When people take codeine as prescribed or intended, it provides pain relief and reduces cough.

On the other hand, the National Institutes of Health reports that large doses of codeine can cause people to feel high, just like when they abuse other opiate drugs. A high from codeine can cause users to feel “good” or experience feelings of calmness.

Codeine Side Effects

Despite being a medication, codeine can have some unpleasant side effects. The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that common codeine side effects include headache, stomach pain, and difficulty urinating.

In serious cases, codeine may cause the following severe side effects:

• Hives
• Rash
• Seizures
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Weakness
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Fever
• Rapid Heart Rate
• Codeine Overdose

In addition to some rather unpleasant side effects, large doses of codeine can cause an overdose. Medical experts report that overdose is more likely when people mix codeine with alcohol. Combining codeine with other prescription medications, such as benzodiazepines, sedatives, and muscle relaxers, can also increase codeine overdose risk.

Some symptoms of a codeine overdose include the following:

• Extreme Drowsiness
• Trouble Breathing
• Unconsciousness
• Cold, Clammy Skin
• Dizziness and Fainting
• Slow Heart Rate

In cases of codeine overdose, emergency medical treatment is necessary. The drug naloxone can reverse a codeine overdose by blocking its opiate effects.

Is Codeine Addictive?

As previously noted, the DEA schedules codeine as a controlled substance, meaning there is some potential for abuse, especially among Tylenol/codeine combinations, which are in a stricter scheduling category as compared to codeine cough syrup.

The DEA labels codeine as having a potential for abuse, so scientists have carried out research to determine just how addictive and dangerous codeine is. A 2013 study in the journal Addictive Behaviors assessed codeine use among college students and found that 6.5 percent of the 2,349 students in the study had ever used codeine. In addition to this finding, the study revealed that most codeine users abused multiple substances. For example, all of them reported using alcohol within the past month, and 10.7 percent stated they also used marijuana.

College students are not the only population that may abuse codeine. In fact, a study in a 2013 publication of the medical journal PLOS ONE found that 6.8 percent of people who were taking codeine to relieve pain were abusing it, and 17.8 percent of them were dependent upon the drug. Codeine may therefore become addictive with both recreational and medical use, and the U.S. National Library of Medicine has warned that codeine can become habit-forming, especially among those who abuse alcohol, street drugs, or other prescription medications.

Street Names of Codeine

Given the fact that codeine can be abused, people may use street names to conceal their codeine use. A common name for codeine among party-goers and recreational drug users is “purple drank,” which originated in the rap music scene. This term is used to describe a formulation containing codeine cough syrup and alcohol, or codeine combined with a soft drink mixed with candy. Research in the journal Addictive Behaviors shows that people may also refer to this formulation as syrup, sizzurp, barre, or lean.

According to the National Institutes of Health, some other street names for codeine include:

• Captain Cody
• Cody
• Schoolboy

People may also refer to codeine cough syrup formulations as “Doors and Fours,” or “Pancakes and Syrup.”

How is Codeine Used?

People may use codeine by simply drinking large quantities of codeine cough syrup to achieve a high. In addition, as discussed previously, recreational users may make codeine cough syrup into “purple drank” by mixing it with alcohol or soft drinks. The combination of codeine and alcohol is particularly dangerous, as the user experiences not only the effects of codeine but also the intoxicating effects of alcohol. This can lead to overdose.

Beyond using codeine cough syrup, some people may abuse codeine pills. They may take larger quantities of a codeine prescription than a doctor intends them to take, or they may buy pills from street-level drug dealers. In some cases, people may take codeine pills by mouth. Others may crush codeine pills and snort them through the nose with a straw to feel high.

Long-Term Effects of Codeine Abuse

According to the National Institutes of Health, experts do not know all of the long-term effects of codeine cough syrup; however, what is known is that people who use large amounts of codeine will become tolerant over time, meaning they need larger doses to achieve the same pleasurable effects associated with codeine. This leads to dependence, meaning the body cannot function normally without codeine. This is when an addiction develops.

When people become addicted to codeine, they can experience undesirable physical and psychological symptoms.

According to the study in PLOS ONE, long-term codeine abuse can cause the following side effects:

• Constipation
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Stomach Ache
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Attention Problems
• Signs of Codeine Addiction

Codeine abuse comes with negative side effects, including addiction. Once someone develops an addiction, a treatment specialist will use the term “opioid use disorder” to diagnose and describe the addiction.

Some diagnostic criteria for a codeine addiction include:

• Taking larger doses of codeine than intended
• Difficulty stopping or reducing codeine use
• Using codeine even when it is dangerous
• Continuing codeine use even when it causes relationship problems
• Ongoing codeine use despite psychological or physical health problems resulting from the drug
• Giving up important activities to use codeine
• Difficulty performing duties at home or work because of codeine use
• Spending a great deal of time using or obtaining codeine

For example, someone who has an opioid use disorder involving codeine may want to stop using but find that it is impossible to do so. He or she may have arguments with a spouse or significant other about drug use, but continue to use codeine. In addition, someone who has developed an opioid use disorder may begin skipping work to use codeine or may give up hobbies such as exercising. Another sign may be using large amounts of codeine before driving, which can be hazardous to themselves and others.