How to Plan and Execute a Safe Codeine Withdrawal

Worse yet, once people with an opioid addiction run out of prescription pills, they will often turn to heroin to feed their addiction. Over half a million people in the United States are currently struggling with a heroin addiction.

Individuals who wish to quit taking opioids will try to stop on their own, but withdrawal symptoms are painful and distressing. Relapse, or experiencing adverse health complications can arise during a cold-turkey or at-home detox.

Fortunately,  there is help available for people with codeine addiction. Medical detox centers, staffed with doctors and trained therapists 24/7, can alleviate some of the worst withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.

There are three active phases of codeine withdrawal. The first phase will start in as little as four hours after the last dose. Usually, a person experiencing this early phase of withdrawal will feel flu-like symptoms and mild anxiety. During the second phase, which starts sometime between the first 24 hours and three days after the last dose, a person will experience more distressing and painful symptoms, such as depression and stomach upset. Within the first week, symptoms will peak. The third phase lasts anywhere from one week after the last dose and can linger for months. Depression and cravings for the drug are the most common lingering withdrawal symptoms.

• Sweating, fever, and chills
• Aches and pains
• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• A runny nose
• Excessive yawning
• Rapid heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Tearfulness
• Muscle twitching in the extremities

Physical symptoms can be distressing and if someone has any underlying physical health problems, especially cardiovascular issues, they may need beta-blockers to help them through the acute withdrawal phase.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Intense cravings
• Agitation and irritability

Depression and cravings can linger for months and sometimes years after cessation. Replacement drugs, like Buprenorphine/Naltrexone, may be recommended for people who are recovering from a codeine addiction.

It isn’t safe to go ‘cold-turkey.’ With a cold turkey detox, the body gets quite a shock when a substance it’s needed to function is suddenly withdrawn. Withdrawal symptoms are intense during a cold turkey detox. And if someone attempts to do this at home without supervision, they can experience serious medical problems. Medical detox facilities can give patients tapering off schedule or replace codeine with drugs like Buprenorphine/Naltrexone to lessen withdrawal symptom.

Also, depression is a typical experience with codeine withdrawal. Without help and supervision, people can become severely depressed, and self-harm or attempt suicide. They may even reach for other drugs or alcohol to deal with these withdrawal complications. But with a medical detox facility, doctors and therapists can adequately monitor patients for withdrawal complications.

It isn’t safe to go ‘cold-turkey.’ With a cold turkey detox, the body gets quite a shock when a substance it’s needed to function is suddenly withdrawn. Withdrawal symptoms are intense during a cold turkey detox. And if someone attempts to do this at home without supervision, they can experience serious medical problems. Medical detox facilities can give patients tapering off schedule or replace codeine with drugs like Buprenorphine/Naltrexone to lessen withdrawal symptom.

Also, depression is a typical experience with codeine withdrawal. Without help and supervision, people can become severely depressed, and self-harm or attempt suicide. They may even reach for other drugs or alcohol to deal with these withdrawal complications. But with a medical detox facility, doctors and therapists can adequately monitor patients for withdrawal complications.

Antidepressants are usually safe for people undergoing a codeine detox. Antidepressants can help someone with depression or anxiety. Doctors can even prescribe short-term sleep aids for insomnia and anti-nausea medications. Also, for cardiovascular complications, doctors can prescribe beta-blockers or blood pressure medication for patients in a medical detox facility.

It isn’t safe for someone to detox from codeine unassisted. They can self-harm, end up in the ER, relapse, or self-medicate with other drugs or alcohol. It’s also not safe for someone to take caffeine during detox, because it can increase feelings of anxiety and also increase heart rate and blood pressure.

In a medical detox facility, patients are assessed for underlying physical and mental health conditions and for polydrug abuse. They are put on tapering off schedule and kept in a serene and supportive environment while they undergo withdrawals. Depending on their needs, they may need to take antidepressants or short-term sleep aids during this challenging time. After withdrawals subside, they can begin a stay at an inpatient rehab facility to learn how to live a successful, drug-free life outside of a hospital or medical setting. Ongoing maintenance plans are put in place from trained counselors, doctors, and social workers to lessen the chances of relapse.

Codeine withdrawal acts in much the same way as other opioid drugs in its class. But because it is also used as a sleep aid, people are at risk of developing rebound insomnia when undergoing withdrawals. This isn’t much of a risk with other opioid drugs. Codeine withdrawal patients may need more help from doctors getting their sleep cycles back on track.

Codeine withdrawal will differ from person to person in longevity and intensity. A person’s physical and mental health, their age, and metabolic rate and how long they’ve been using all affect their outcomes. It’s crucial that people get help from trained professionals to prevent a relapse or serious medical complications during codeine withdrawal.