Codeine is a drug that doctors prescribe to deal with moderate to severe pain. The drug comes in a small tablet, but the side effects that it can cause are vast. One of the worst is an addiction. Once people develop an addiction, they have to go through codeine withdrawal symptoms to fully recover.
What Causes Drug Withdrawal?
The longer that people take codeine, the higher that their tolerance becomes. In short, they have to keep taking higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Eventually, the dose is too high, so they overdose.
However, the fear of overdose isn’t the only thing that they have to worry about. Once they develop a tolerance for codeine, their bodies start to depend on it. When they stop taking the drug, their bodies think that they need it and go into shock. This shock is what doctors refer to as withdrawal.
How Quickly Do People Build a Tolerance to Codeine?
Several factors determine how long it takes to build a tolerance and dependency on a drug. Some of them include genetics, drug dose, and the overall length of drug use.
People who have a family history of drug abuse have a higher risk of developing a tolerance. They could also develop it faster than those who don’t have a family history of substance abuse. In the end, anyone can develop an addiction to codeine. It doesn’t matter if drug addiction runs in the family or not.
Codeine Withdrawal Symptoms
The good news is that the symptoms of codeine withdrawal aren’t life-threatening. With that said, they’re extremely painful and typically trigger people to use again to find relief. Doctors refer to this process of quitting and using drugs again as relapse.
It’s important to note that the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms varies between individuals. However, some of the early codeine withdrawal symptoms that arise include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Muscle aches
- Chills
These effects usually start within a few hours of taking a dose of codeine. From there, the symptoms continue to get worse until they finally peak at around the 72-hour mark. The peak codeine withdrawal symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.
Although these aren’t deadly effects, some significant complications can arise. One of the most common is dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. The side effects of dehydration can be extreme and require medical attention.
It’s also worth pointing out that withdrawal doesn’t stop after the symptoms peak. The effects become more mild and manageable but are still present. In most cases, people experience withdrawal for at least one week total. Sometimes, though, they experience mild symptoms for months after they quit using.
Does Recovery End With Withdrawal?
Once withdrawal ends, people still need to enroll in a codeine addiction treatment program. Getting past withdrawal is just the first step in the recovery process. They have to resolve the cause of their addiction to achieve lasting sobriety. They also have to learn how to control cravings and avoid triggers.
Without proper treatment, people stand little to no chance of recovering. In fact, they often relapse if they don’t seek professional help. Addiction is a mental disorder. Like any other mental illness, it requires ongoing management.
Memphis Recovery Can Help You With Codeine Addiction
At Memphis Recovery Centers, we strive to provide lasting care. For this reason, we encourage you to enroll in our residential treatment program. It can help you manage codeine addiction so that you never have to experience codeine withdrawal symptoms again.
Beyond residential treatment, Memphis Recovery provides many other programs. We customize each one to fit your individual needs. We believe that every person is different and needs a tailored treatment plan. A few of our services include:
Don’t let the fear of codeine withdrawal symptoms keep you from getting rehab. Get the help that you need to get over codeine addiction today. Reach out to Memphis Recovery Centers at 901-272-7751 to learn more about our facility.
