7 Signs of Codeine Addiction You Probably Didn’t Know
This article was originally published on WebMD Connect to Care
Codeine is a prescription opiate medication used to relieve mild to moderate pain. It can be found in some prescription cough syrups and tablets and is prescribed by doctors to ease symptoms such as pain and cough. Codeine provides a feeling of euphoria and relaxation, a reaction that has the potential to lead to misuse.
Codeine Side Effects
According to Mayo Clinic, Codeine is prescribed in tablet form or as a cough syrup to relieve pain and cough. It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain, so drinking alcohol or using other medications that affect the CNS can worsen the side effects. Common side effects when taking Codeine as prescribed include:
Dizziness
Poor concentration
Drowsiness
Unusual dreams
Trouble sleeping
Constipation
With regular use, tolerance to Codeine can develop within a short period of time. This and its opiate effect give Codeine the potential to be misused, which can result in addiction. “Purple Drank” or Lean, is a recreational drug that contains a mixture of large quantities of prescription Codeine-based cough syrup, which is typically purple, with a carbonated soft drink and/or alcohol, and hard candy. According to a 2018 study published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, this mixture became popular on social media from professional athletes and rappers consuming it. This study found that 50% of images on social media showed Codeine in this form and being consumed with alcohol, cannabis, and benzodiazepines.
Addiction to codeine is a serious disorder that can have an accumulating effect physically and personally. “Like any opioid use disorder, codeine use and abuse can lead to adverse health and interpersonal problems,” Bizzell says. “The lesser-known warning signs of a codeine addiction might mean that an individual ignores commitments or responsibilities, unexplained absences, or problems at work or school.”
Additionally, “they may conceal their use or the gravity of their use to loved ones.” explains Christene Lozano, MS LMFT from Meraki Counseling. “This may increase guilt, shame, secrecy, and isolation, which can perpetuate their codeine use.”
Read on to learn more about 7 signs of codeine addiction to look out for if you’re concerned by your own or a loved one’s codeine use.
Increased tolerance
Similar to other opiates like oxycodone and heroin, codeine is a powerful drug. It’s possible to become addicted to codeine even if you’re taking a prescribed medication combined with a pain reliever. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) labels codeine as a highly addictive substance with a high potential for abuse.
“Many individuals who misuse or abuse codeine become tolerant to the mild effects of the opiate and begin to abuse stronger opiates to achieve greater highs,” Anton C. Bizzell, MD, president and CEO of The Bizzell Group, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
Tolerance to Codeine can develop quickly, causing the individual to require more of the drug to get the same effect.
2. Irregular appetite and nausea
One of the most common signs of an addiction to codeine is nausea, especially in higher doses. “It’s also a common side effect of withdrawal,” Michael Damioli, LCSW, CSAT, clinical director at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, says. “Users are more likely to take even more codeine to alleviate their nausea, worsening their addiction cycle.”
“Codeine can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea in some people.” explains Dr. Ketan Parmar, Psychiatrist at ClinicSpots. “This is typically a result of a slowed gastrointestinal motility.”
According to a 2017 study published in Plos One, the exact mechanism for opioid-induced nausea is unclear, but it is suggested that the drug may affect the semicircular canal in the ear. These canals are fluid-filled tubes in the ear that help us keep our balance. This leads to a mismatch between sensory information during head motion and canal input, resulting in nausea and potential vomiting.
3. Using other drugs
Codeine has a similar effect on the body as other opioids. According to the National Institute of Health, frequent prescription opiate users who are diagnosed with dependence or abuse are more likely to switch to heroin.
“To put this into perspective, a heavy codeine user can develop a physical dependency on the drug after only three to five days,” Damioli says. “When withdrawal symptoms begin, an individual often uses other substances to ease the withdrawal experience. The theory of ‘cross addiction’ suggests that as an addiction develops, you are more likely to seek out and use other substances.”
According to American Addiction Centers, although Codeine is converted into morphine in the body, it is only about 8-12% as powerful as pure morphine. Once someone develops a tolerance to Codeine and considering the cost of attaining Codeine, they may seek out stronger drugs to try to achieve the same euphoric high.
Abusing codeine can lead to the abuse of other drugs, such as:
Oxycontin
Heroin
Fentanyl
Alcohol
Xanax
An addiction to codeine involves both a physical and mental dependency. A dual approach of medical intervention and behavioral counseling services are recommended to treat a codeine addiction.
4. Withdrawal Symptoms When Not Using Codeine
“Opioids cause the pupils to constrict.” explains emergency medicine physician Alice Williams, M.D. “Dilated pupils are one of the main symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Body aches, fever, sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting are some other symptoms of opioid withdrawal.” According to American Addiction Centers, common withdrawal symptoms from Codeine include:
Runny nose
Watery eyes
Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Muscle pains
As someone regularly uses Codeine and develops an addiction, the body and brain adjust to the constant presence of the drug and can’t function normally without it. When you suddenly stop taking it, these adjustments lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Although opioid withdrawal is generally not dangerous, it can cause dehydration and be very uncomfortable, so it is best to talk to your doctor about getting off Codeine.
5. Dry Mouth
“Another symptom that could indicate a too-high dosage of codeine is feeling extremely thirsty and experiencing dry mouth.” says Dr. Parmar. Dry mouth is an uncomfortable symptom of many different medications, but since Codeine acts on the CNS, it can slow down basic bodily functions like breathing, heatbeat, digestion, and saliva production. Chronic use can reduce the production of saliva leading to dry mouth.
6. Itching
Codeine interacts with the CNS in a way that triggers a histamine response, which is inflammatory and can lead to itching. According to a 2017 study published in Nature, opioids can trigger a histamine response, but the exact mechanism is not fully understood.
7. Development of Other Health Issues
“Prolonged codeine abuse may contribute to lung infections, sleep disorders, irregular heart rate, and in some cases, brain damage.” explains Dr. Sean Ormond from Atlas Pain Specialists.
“While any one of these symptoms can indicate an unhealthy relationship with codeine, a combination of these symptoms is even more telling.” continues Dr. Parmar. “If you have increased your dosage of codeine over time without a valid medical reason to do so, you may be developing a codeine addiction. If you regularly “forget” to eat meals or eat very small portions, you could be experiencing codeine effects. And if you regularly use other drugs like alcohol or marijuana to “boost” your codeine experience, it could be a sign of a larger problem. These are signs that you have a potential codeine addiction.”
Other physical symptoms of a codeine addiction include:
Mood swings
Itching
Drowsiness
Constipation
Abnormal heart rate
Feeling tired and weak
Isolating from friends and family
Sources:
American Addiction Centers. Codeine Addiction, Side Effects & Rehab Treatment. 2023
Mayo Clinic. Codeine (Oral Route).
Cherian R, Westbrook M, Ramo D, Sarkar U. Representations of Codeine Misuse on Instagram: Content Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2018;4(1):e22
Heuser F, Schulz C, Sağlam M, Ramaioli C, Heuberger M, Wagner KJ, et al. (2017) Preventing opioid-induced nausea and vomiting: Rest your head and close your eyes? PLoS ONE 12(3): e0173925.
University of North Carolina Health Care. "How do some opioids cause severe itching?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 March 2017
