Codeine addiction treatment

Concerns about a possible addiction to codeine might bring up fear, anxiety or confusion, whether you’re worried about yourself or a loved one. While codeine addiction can be overwhelming, help is available.

Codeine is a prescription painkiller that's highly addictive and can lead to abuse or addiction. This guide will help you to understand the signs and symptoms of codeine addiction, what to expect when withdrawing from codeine and how to find the support you need. 

Managing withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal can be one of the scariest parts of recovery for users. Drug withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant so it’s understandable to want to avoid them.

Once you’ve become physically dependent on codeine, your body and brain expects it. Withdrawal symptoms happen when your body is attempting to adjust to the lack of codeine in your system. 

Symptoms differ from person to person depending on how long you’ve been taking codeine, and how much you’ve been taking.
When taken regularly, your codeine tolerance will increase. This means that you’ll need to take larger amounts of codeine, and more frequently, in order to achieve the same effect.

The short-term effects of codeine withdrawal include:

• Anxiety and agitation
• Muscle aches
• Sweating
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Yawning
• Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dilated pupils and goosebumps
• Intense cravings for codeine

More severe codeine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Fever
• Rapid breathing
• High blood pressure
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Agitation

Withdrawal from codeine can also cause suicidal thoughts, psychosis and paranoid delusions.

Codeine is a short-acting opioid so you can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms 8 to 24 hours after your last use. Withdrawal may last up to 2 weeks in total, but some physical symptoms may persist for months (which may indicate a dependence on the drug).

For anyone wanting to stop taking codeine, it's important to seek medical help. Addiction professionals are trained in helping people to withdraw from these substances in the safest way possible. If you’re physically dependent on codeine, you may need a medically supervised detox to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms and avoid potential issues like dehydration or other health complications during the process. We can also use carefully prescribed medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.

Withdrawing from codeine in a supportive, calm and medically assisted environment will ensure the process is as safe and comfortable as possible. Compassionate and supportive care is just as important as medication during detox. At Priory, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional care to everyone who goes through our detox process, offering round-the-clock support from a world class multidisciplinary team. 

The difference between codeine abuse and addiction

It’s helpful to understand the distinction between codeine abuse and codeine addiction.

Abuse or misuse refers to using codeine in ways that aren’t medically recommended. This might include taking the drug in higher doses, using it for longer than prescribed or taking it for non-medical reasons (for example, to achieve a ‘high’). 

Addiction is a chronic disease. This is when users have developed a physical or psychological dependence on codeine and are unable to stop using it, despite the harm it causes.

It’s important to understand that codeine misuse can easily evolve into codeine addiction. What may begin as occasional misuse (such as taking slightly higher doses than prescribed) can become a habit. Over time, codeine use might not be about pain management anymore and instead becomes a crutch for coping with stress or emotional upset.

As tolerance to codeine increases, you’ll need higher doses to achieve the same effects, leading to increased misuse. Eventually, it feels impossible to function normally without the drug, leading to cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

How to get help for codeine addiction

Help for codeine addiction is available and recovery is possible. Options for treatment depend on a number of factors, but these could include inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy and online support. It’s important to get advice and support from medical professionals who can guide you through the codeine rehabilitation process.

To take the next step, you can speak to your GP or call the Frank helpline on 0300 123 6600 for advice on support services near you.

Alternatively, you could contact a private provider, like Priory, directly. At Priory, we offer world-class treatment for substance addictions, including codeine. Our expert team is dedicated to helping you every step of the way towards overcoming your addiction and returning to the healthy and fulfilling life you deserve. We offer a range of codeine addiction treatment options across our network of UK centres, designed to support your recovery in a way that suits your individual needs and circumstances.

Your journey begins with a free, no obligation addiction assessment. This gives you the opportunity to speak confidentially with a specialist, explore the challenges you're facing, and receive expert guidance on which of our treatment options is likely to be the most appropriate for you.

Codeine rehabilitation and recovery

At Priory, we offer a range of treatment options for codeine addiction, to suit different needs and circumstances. These include inpatient programmes, day care, outpatient therapy and online support. Whether you need intensive, round-the-clock care or more flexible support around daily life, we’ll work with you to find the right approach.

For those needing more structured support, treatment may include a residential stay at one of our hospital sites. One of the most common options is our 28-day addiction treatment programme, where you’ll receive specialist care, daily therapy, and access to wellbeing activities in a supportive, therapeutic environment.

If required, treatment may begin with a medically assisted drug detox to safely remove codeine from your system. Once you're physically stable, you'll begin therapy to explore the root causes of your addiction and develop healthier ways to cope going forward. All treatment is tailored to your individual needs and follows guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Alongside therapy, many of our programmes offer wellbeing activities such as mindfulness, yoga, meditation and exercise to help support your recovery both mentally and physically.

Recovery is possible with the right support. Codeine addiction treatment isn’t just about removing the drug – it’s about rebuilding a healthy, fulfilling life.