Codeine Withdrawal

Safe And Successful Codeine Detox Can Ease Patients Through Withdrawal

If you have been through codeine withdrawal, you probably know how uncomfortable this can be. Taking codeine for a long period of time or abusing it can lead to codeine dependence and codeine addiction. Coming off of codeine once you are dependent will lead to withdrawal, which can manifest in both physical and psychological symptoms.

Codeine is a narcotic medication that is often prescribed for mild to moderate pain relief. It is also used for cough and diarrhea suppression. Despite its mild nature, codeine is powerful and can become habit forming. Opiate withdrawal can be both painful and dangerous, so it's best for a professional to handle this.

What To Expect From Codeine Withdrawal

Professional codeine detox can help to ease patients off of the drug. A "cold turkey" opiate detox is discouraged because of the dangers involved. People who have been taking high dosages of codeine or abusing it in any manner can experience seizures or other serious difficulties during an unsupervised codeine withdrawal.

Other possible symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Stomach cramps
• Chills
• Headache
• Runny Nose
• Sweating
• Yawning
• Dehydration
• Muscle Pain
• Muscle twitching
• Irregular heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Fever
• Sleep problems
• Agitation
• Depression
• Hallucinations

Codeine Treatment Should Address Both Aspects Of Addiction

If a patient is physically dependent, a doctor may suggest that he or she gently wean off codeine, under supervision. If the problem has progressed to physical and psychological dependence, this indicates opiate addiction, and detox is the safest bet.

There are different types of detox available for this problem, including traditional detox, which may use pharmaceuticals to help patients wean or stop taking codeine altogether. Rapid opiate detox is another option that can quickly reverse the opiate dependency at the receptor sites.

No matter what type of detox you choose, it's important to follow it up with some type of addiction treatment. Many detox facilities offer continuing care to help address the codeine psychological dependency. This type of aftercare or rehab can help patients through group or individual therapy, meditation, relaxation, behavior modification, pain management and holistic services.