Codeine addiction treatment
Struggling with codeine addiction can be overwhelming, but seeking help is the first step toward recovery.
Take control of your life today by starting Priory’s personalised codeine addiction treatment programme.
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 is 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 recovery support you need.
Signs and symptoms of codeine addiction
It isn’t always clear whether someone’s codeine use is an addiction or not. By looking at the signs and symptoms of codeine addiction, you may see behaviours you recognise in yourself or others. Recognising these signs is the first step to getting help.
- Dizziness
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slow breathing
- Blue lips
- Itching
- Sexual dysfunction
- Lethargy
- Withdrawal symptoms if you haven’t taken codeine for a certain amount of time
- Confusion or delirium
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Using codeine for minor issues like headaches
- Regularly visiting a doctor to obtain more codeine
- Being secretive about your codeine use
- Becoming socially isolated
- Running into financial difficulties due to money you spend on codeine
- Faking or exaggerating illness or injury so you can get more codeine
- Drop in performance at work or an increase in the day you take off sick
- Sourcing the drug illegally if this is no longer available via legal routes
- Signs of increased tolerance – finding that you need to take more codeine to get the same effect
As with other prescription drug addictions, there are serious risks associated with long-term codeine use, so it’s important to get help as soon as possible.
There’s also the risk of overdose if you accidentally take too much codeine. An overdose happens when the amount of codeine you’ve taken overwhelms your body’s ability to process it. Codeine overdose can cause sickness, dizziness, sleepiness or difficulty breathing, and can be fatal. Codeine overdose is a medical emergency and it’s crucial that you get urgent help if you suspect that you or someone you know has overdosed on codeine.
The impact of long-term codeine use on mental health is also significant. It has the potential to cause long-term mental health problems, including chronic depression, anxiety and cognitive decline.
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 two weeks in total, but some physical symptoms may persist for month (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 and physical dependence takes place as it affects the brain circuitry, 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 support groups. 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 intensive codeine addiction rehab throughout our nationwide network of hospitals and wellbeing centres, helping you regain control of your life.
Addiction treatment at Priory starts with a free, no obligation addiction assessment, allowing you to discuss your addiction in confidence, receive guidance on our treatment options, and start your journey towards rehabilitation and recovery.
Codeine rehabilitation and recovery
Treatment for codeine addiction at Priory usually takes place as part of our 28-day addiction treatment programme. During this, you'll stay at one of our hospital sites on a residential basis, where you’ll receive specialist addiction treatment and help.
The first step may be a medically assisted drug detoxification if this is needed, to remove all traces of codeine from your body. When physically well enough under guidance from the medical team, you be able to start attending therapy, which will help you to get to root cause of your addiction and learn healthy coping mechanisms for the future. At Priory, we tailor our treatment to your individual needs, all structured within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
Alongside therapy, we can offer a range of wellbeing activities, including meditation, mindfulness, yoga and exercise to support your overall health and help you to recover in mind, body and spirit while you’re with us.
We also offer outpatient and day care treatment for codeine addiction at Priory either as an entry point to treatment or as a step down after residential treatment. The type of treatment you receive depends on the level of support you need and the nature of your condition.
Recovery is possible with the right support. Rehab and treatment for codeine addiction is not just about removing the drug from your system, but also about rebuilding a healthy life and a fulfilled future.
Frequently asked questions
Is codeine addictive?
Yes. Codeine is an opiate and is a highly addictive drug.
Why is codeine addictive?
When it’s consumed, the body transforms codeine into morphine. This acts on the brain’s pleasure and reward centres, inducing feelings of euphoria and offering users a temporary respite from pain and discomfort.
How addictive is codeine?
Codeine is moderately addictive, increasing with prolonged or high-dose use. While the risk is lower when it’s taken as prescribed for short periods, addiction can still occur, particularly in people with a history of substance abuse.
Is codeine a controlled medicine?
Codeine is a controlled medicine in the UK. It’s classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) when used in higher doses or pure form, and as a Schedule 2 controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001).
In lower doses, it’s available in over-the-counter medications (for example, in combination with other pain relievers such as paracetamol). These are restricted to short-term use due to the risk of dependence.
