Codeine Addiction Treatment
If you are addicted to codeine, then you may be wondering how to treat a codeine addiction. Because codeine has a powerful effect on the user, there is also a high potential for abuse.
Codeine also provides the abuser with feelings of pleasure and reward.
When you use codeine you may also feel calm. This is because after using drugs, the brain releases neurotransmitters providing you with a feeling of happiness.
This release of neurotransmitters and stimulation of the reward center of the brain can quickly lead to psychological and physical addiction. When learning how to treat codeine addiction, or even understanding how to wean off Zoloft, it’s vital to recognize the boundaries of prescribed use. If you use prescription medication for any nonmedical purpose, you are considered to be abusing prescription drugs.
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What is Codeine?
Codeine is a moderately strong narcotic, short-acting narcotic prescribed by a physician for mild-to-moderate pain relief as well as cough suppression and relief from diarrhea. Codeine is an opiate analgesic derived from the opium poppy; other opiates include morphine and Demerol. Codeine is often combined with other painkillers, such as acetaminophen and aspirin, to increase their analgesic effects in a process known as drug synergy.
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What is Codeine Used For Medically?
When learning how to treat codeine addiction you need to know that codeine is an opiate, so like other opiate analgesics, codeine is used to manage pain. It has been used for many years by physicians and, unfortunately, has become a drug of choice. Now, because of its wide availability, codeine is often abused. Although it begins simply as tolerance to codeine, it eventually leads to addiction to codeine treatment.
Is Codeine Addictive?
Although codeine is not as serious a threat for how to treat codeine addiction, it is still dangerous. It is less addicting than stronger opioid narcotics, such as OxyContin or heroin, but the risk of abusing stronger opiates does exist. After a person abuses codeine for a period of time, the effects of the codeine wear off. This leads to the need to abuse more codeine each day in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
How to Treat Codeine Addiction: Know the Signs
Symptoms of codeine abuse come in three forms, mood, behavior, physical, and psychological. Withdrawal is also a sign of codeine addiction. These symptoms can vary among users depending upon brain chemistry. How to treat codeine addiction also depends on how much you have used, how long you have abused codeine and the purity of what you have been using.
Mood Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Euphoria
- Calm
- Depression
- Mood swings
Behavioral Symptoms
- Drowsiness
- Being overly awake
- Decreased appetite
- Apathy
- Increased ER visits for vague pain complaints
- Faking illness to obtain more codeine
- Indifference toward loved ones
- “Doctor shopping”
- Prescription forgery
- Ordering codeine from online or buying on the street
- Stealing prescriptions or opiates from friends and family
- Financial problems
- Healthcare fraud
- Lying to cover-up amount used
Physical Symptoms
- Constipation
- Blue tinge to lips and fingernails
- Muscle twitches
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Rashes
- Urinary retention
- Hypotension
- Seizure
- Respiratory depression
- Decreased libido
- Seizures
Psychological Symptoms
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Memory loss
- Lack of emotions
Withdrawal
Chronic abuse of codeine can cause physical and psychological dependence. How to treat codeine addiction in the event that someone is physically dependent upon codeine, means you need to be careful. If they stop taking the drug, withdrawal effects will occur.
How to treat codeine addiction means that Codeine should always be reduced under the supervision of a trained medical professional. This means you will need to go through a medically assisted detox. This helps to reduce and minimize the unpleasant and dangerous effects of withdrawal. These effects may include:
- Craving for the drug
- Runny nose
- Intense sweating
- Chills
- Goosebumps
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Spasms of the muscles
- Agitation and irritability
- Psychosis
- Suicidal thoughts
- Homicidal thoughts
- Racing thoughts
- Hallucinations
How to Treat Codeine Addiction For Those Who Have a Prescription
It can be very difficult to understand if you have a codeine addiction because many individuals who begin to use codeine do so for a legitimate medical purpose. Despite this, you can become physically addicted to the drug even if you have a prescription. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when codeine use is stopped, or never feel normal without the drug.
Codeine is so addictive that you can become addicted within 5-7 days of continued use. Withdrawal symptoms occur because your brain is used to having codeine and you must adjust to functioning without it.
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Effects of Codeine
Although codeine is prescribed legally, there are still many negative effects. Some of these include:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Major depression
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Financial problems
- Legal issues
- Domestic problems
- Job loss
- Heightened pain sensitivity
- Uncontrollable muscle twitches
- Muscle spasms, cramps, and pain
- Loss of productivity at school or work
- Impaired social relationships
- Seizures
- Incarceration
- Respiratory depression
- Bradycardia
- Cold, clammy skin
- Decreased muscle tone
- Coma
How to Treat Codeine Addiction With a Mental Illness
When you have a co-occurring disorder it means you have a codeine addiction as well as a mental health problem. Many individuals who struggle with a codeine addiction may have a co-occurring disorder that they do not know about. When you have an undiagnosed or untreated mental illness you might use codeine as a way to “self-medicate” your symptoms. Some-co-occurring disorders might include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Conduct disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
In this case, it is very important to obtain a dual diagnosis so that you can get help in treatment for your disorder.
How to Treat Codeine Addiction in Treatment
Codeine addiction recovery is difficult, but there are many options that can help you and fit your lifestyle. There are three main forms of treatment for how to treat codeine addiction, inpatient, outpatient, detox, and aftercare.
Detox
One of the largest problems for codeine addicts is the withdrawal symptoms. Although codeine is less potent than other opiates like heroin, it is still a strong drug that produces terrible withdrawal symptoms. This is why a medically assisted detox is so important.
Inpatient Rehab
After your codeine detox, typically the next step is to an inpatient treatment center. Inpatient facilities not only provide group counseling and support but actually have live-in nurses and medical professionals to help you around the clock, 24/7.
This is especially helpful if you are suffering from a co-occurring disorder. Inpatient rehab allows people addicted to codeine to receive uninterrupted care without the stress of the outside world. These programs last anywhere from 28 to 90 days.
Aftercare
After inpatient rehab, aftercare is essential. In order to reintegrate back into society, you may have to face temptations and avoid relapse. Without a support foundation, this can feel impossible.
Typically you will need to go to support groups, such as a 12-step program, or counseling. You may even want to go to outpatient rehab which is a 3-5 day per week program that spans two to four hours per session. These programs can help you to avoid triggers and work through anything you do not work on during inpatient treatment.
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Want to Learn How to Treat Codeine Addiction?
If you are wanting to find out how to treat codeine addiction then contact us at Resurgence Behavioral Health.
We can walk you through the steps, show you our free insurance verification for treatment program, and get you started on a healthier path.
Contact us today.
