Codeine Detox

Codeine is an opioid drug that is often used to treat mild to moderate pain. While it can be an effective medication for pain relief, many individuals do abuse it in order to experience the intense euphoria large doses can cause. This kind of abuse can lead to addiction as well as dependence. Those who become dependent on codeine don’t always realize the danger of withdrawal, which can occur after a dependent individual suddenly stops using the drug. This syndrome is considered to be one of the milder forms of withdrawal, but just like any other withdrawal syndrome, it can cause relapse as well as other problems. The best way to cope with withdrawal is to seek treatment at a professional codeine detox center.

Understanding Codeine Abuse

As stated by the National Library of Medicine, codeine is a pain reliever from the drug class of opioid agonists. It is one of the few opioids that is naturally found in the poppy plant as opposed to partly or fully synthesized from these substances. Codeine is prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain or to treat persistent coughing as part of a cough syrup that is only available by prescription.

• Codeine is effective as a treatment for a number of issues. However, many people try to obtain and misuse the drug because it can cause relaxation, drowsiness, and euphoria when taken in high doses. This makes it attractive to abusers who want to experience these effects.
• Codeine abuse is widespread, as many individuals in the United States are struggling with opioid misuse.
• Sometimes, even those who start out taking the drug as prescribed end up abusing it because it feels good when they are taking it. This leads them to using larger doses or using it more often, which is a form of abuse.

Anyone who takes codeine without a prescription or in a way other than prescribed is guilty of abusing it. This misuse can lead to a number of problems, including addiction and dependence.

Codeine Abuse and Dependence

When a person becomes dependent on a drug like codeine, they will not be able to function normally without the drug. They may need to take it just to get out of bed in the morning or to get through a difficult day. When they cannot take the drug, they won’t feel like themselves, they may become angry or irritable, and they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they go for too long without it.

Dependence on drugs like codeine can occur even in those who were not abusers of the drug. Anyone who takes an opioid for more than a few weeks can experience dependence, and this sometimes causes confusion in users who don’t realize they’ve become dependent (NLM). Most doctors attempt to keep their patients from becoming dependent on these drugs, but it does occur in often in both addicted and non-addicted individuals.

Codeine Withdrawal

Codeine withdrawal is similar to other types of opioid withdrawal, and it occurs if a dependent individual stops taking the drug suddenly. The drug is a short-acting opioid that is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours, so an individual will usually start experiencing withdrawal around 8 hours or so after their last dose. Codeine withdrawal is not considered to be one of the most dangerous syndromes that a substance of abuse can cause, but it can create serious effects that can be risky (and in some cases, even life-threatening) to the user.

Signs and Symptoms of Codeine Withdrawal

Codeine withdrawal symptoms are similar to those associated with other types of opioid withdrawal, including morphine and hydrocodone. Uncomplicated withdrawal is not considered medically dangerous but it can be extremely uncomfortable.

The common signs and symptoms of codeine withdrawal include

Withdrawal from codeine and other opioids feels similar to the flu. This is one reason why those who don’t realize they are going through withdrawal think that the syndrome is something else. These individuals are often perplexed when flu medications do not work on their symptoms.

Opioid withdrawal can be highly uncomfortable, but for most, it isn’t dangerous. However, certain symptoms can cause serious outcomes, and this can happen quickly and without warning. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on one’s withdrawal symptoms and to seek professional care no matter what.

Timeline of Codeine Withdrawal

As stated by the World Health Organization, the withdrawal timeline for short-acting opioids like codeine is usually about 4 to 10 days. You should expect to go through at least a week’s worth of withdrawal, and most treatment centers will keep you for at least two weeks (if not longer) so you can fully stabilize after the process of withdrawal.

• Day 1 through 3: Codeine withdrawal often starts out very uncomfortable. Most people experience flu-like symptoms very quickly in addition to the muscle, bone, and joint pain. This is usually the hardest part of withdrawal.
• Day 4 through 7: Most individuals experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and the other gastrointestinal issues of withdrawal here. Flu-like symptoms and pain can linger into this part of withdrawal as well.
• Day 8 through 10: Withdrawal symptoms start to subside. However, they could last as long as 15 days, so it is important to be aware of how symptoms are progressing over time.

Withdrawal is uncomfortable, and unfortunately, it doesn’t usually stop with its acute stage. PAWS or post-acute withdrawal syndrome often stretches on for weeks after acute withdrawal, and issues like depression, sleep problems, and phantom pain can linger for quite a while after.

Dangers of Codeine Withdrawal

Codeine withdrawal, like other types of opioid withdrawal, is not considered life-threatening in its uncomplicated stage. However, there are dangerous potential side effects of this withdrawal syndrome that, if not recognized or treated properly, can become a risk to the health of the withdrawing individual.

• Relapse is always a present danger when one is detoxing from opioids. Those who return to substance abuse either during or after withdrawal can easily overdose because they often do not realize their tolerances have diminished during the process. This can quickly lead to a deadly overdose because opioids can cause respiratory depression when taken in large doses, potentially causing coma, brain damage, and death.
• Dehydration can also occur during opioid withdrawal. Those who go through the gastrointestinal problems of the syndrome (as well as the sweating caused by fevers during the early phase of withdrawal) often do not drink enough water to compensate. This can lead to dangerous levels of dehydration.
• Anyone going through withdrawal from opioids should be screened for depression. Those who are struggling with depressive symptoms often need further treatment, as they could potentially experience suicidal thoughts.

Though considered one of the milder syndromes, there are still potential risks associated with codeine withdrawal.

Am I Dependent on Codeine?

If you have been abusing codeine for several weeks, you are more than likely already dependent as well as potentially addicted to the drug. However, if you were taking it as prescribed by a doctor, you won’t be addicted but you could still be dependent. Anyone who takes codeine regularly for more than a few weeks can become dependent simply because the drug causes the brain and body to rely on its effects, leaving the individual with, among other things, an extremely low tolerance for pain (Open Chemistry Database).

Should I Go through Codeine Withdrawal at Home?

It is not safe to try navigating codeine withdrawal without the proper treatment. Some individuals attempt to go through this at home, possibly with a detox kit or by tapering their medications themselves. This is extremely risky, especially because you could easily take too much or too little of the drug and put yourself at risk of overdose, relapse, etc. Instead, it is much safer to seek treatment in a detox center.

Some people are afraid to seek professional detox because they are convinced it will be too expensive. In truth, there are many different facilities that offer different options for care, including low-cost and free detox centers. Make sure you seek out a program that will suit your needs and your budget in order to recover safely.

Codeine Detox Treatment

Detox treatment for codeine follows the same protocols as other opioid detox programs. Doctors use the clinical opioid withdrawal scale (or COWS) to determine how severe an individual’s withdrawal symptoms are and which treatments will best suit their needs (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

Depending on the patient, different medications may be utilized to treat withdrawal symptoms.

• Clonidine is an antihypertensive that can treat muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, and anxiety. However, it is not effective for treating cravings or gastrointestinal issues.
• Methadone is a strong opioid agonist that can treat all the withdrawal symptoms associated with clonidine, including cravings. It can also be continued as a maintenance medication after stabilization.
• Buprenorphine can be used to treat those with milder dependencies on opioid drugs, and it is safer in abuse situations than methadone. This drug can also be used as a maintenance medication after stabilization.

Behavioral therapies and counseling can be utilized during detox as a way to help patients with feelings of depression and anxiety. These programs can also prepare individuals for rehab.

Dependence can be difficult to overcome without the proper treatment. As such, it is important to seek professional detox to recover safely.

What Happens After Detox?

After detox, you will need to seek rehab if you were abusing codeine. Without proper rehab, you will not be able to safely navigate your recovery because detox only treats dependence. Once you finish detox, most facilities will help you make the transition into addiction treatment, and after this program, you may want to choose an aftercare option that will suit your overall recovery.

Sources

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018). Codeine.
2. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016). Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal. 
3. World Health Organization. (2009). Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. 
4. Open Chemistry Database. (2018). Codeine.
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse-Wesson, D. R., & Ling, W. (2003). The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). J Psychoactive Drugs, 35(2), 253–9.