Codeine Addiction

Help is Needed to Overcome Codeine Addiction

Codeine, like heroin and morphine, is an opiate derived from the poppy plant. It can be found in over the counter medications (cough syrups, cold medication, etc.). In the United States it is also known as Tylenol 3. It's primary purpose is for the relief of pain and anxiety.

It doesn't take very long for the recreational use of this drug to turn into codeine addiction. How long this takes varies from one person to the next, but typically addiction can occur within two or three weeks.

One of the consequences of codeine addiction is that certain vital functions of the body are depressed. These include breathing and other systems.

There are a number of side effects of chronic codeine use. These include drowsiness, constipation, itching, urinary retention, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, and orthostatic hypotension.

Codeine addiction can also lead to a reduction in the user's sex drive.

The recreational use that can lead to codeine addiction can have other consequences. Besides slowing breathing (too high a dose can cause respiratory arrest), the drug can lead to a general dulling of the sense and a loss of co-ordination.

There are also commonly available medications that should not be combined with codeine. For people with codeine addiction, this is especially problematic. For example:

• Combining it with acetaminophen could cause liver damage
• Combining it with ibuprofen can lead to kidney failure
• Combining it with aspirin can lead to stomach bleeding

Treatment of codeine addiction should be started as quickly as possible. It may involve a detox program because, as an opiate, the drug creates a physical dependency and results in withdrawal.

Once this has been dealt with, the process of breaking the addiction can begin in a treatment center.