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

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'll 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 a range of flexible options for codeine addiction treatment, such as day care, outpatient therapy and online support. The right approach for you will depend on the level of care you need, your personal circumstances and the nature of your addiction.

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.