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Codeine is an ingredient in medications, but some people take codeine like a drug over the counter and over the counter. Codeine has an analgesic, morphine-like and antitussive effect, which is why it can be found in cough and cold syrups. Used in accordance with the doctor's recommendations, it alleviates disease symptoms, but its long-term use or taking in doses higher than the therapeutic ones may lead to addiction.

Codeine(more specifically codeine phosphate) is an ingredient in popular over-the-countermedicationspainkillers, andsyrup s used to treat coughs and colds. However, some people consider codeine asdrug .

Codeine - action and indications for use

Codeine belongs to the group of opioids (as a component of opium), i.e. it is a derivative of morphine.The action ofcodeine in the body is related to its transformation into morphine. In some people, codeine is converted into morphine faster than normal, resulting in high levels of morphine in the body. Codeine has therefore a similar analgesic effect to morphine - it reduces pain or eliminates it completely. Codeine is part of many combination drugs - most often with acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen, sulfowaacol and caffeine. Drugs with a high content of codeine available in Poland without a prescription (OTC) include, for example, Nurofen Plus, Antidol 15 and Solpadeine. The Nurofen tablet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen and 12.8 mg of codeine phosphate hemihydrate, Antidol contains 15 mg of codeine phosphate in combination with 500 mg of paracetamol, and Solpadeine contains codeine phosphate (8 mg), paracetamol (500 mg) and caffeine (30 mg). They are intended for use in moderate pain that has not disappeared after treatment with drugs containing only one active ingredient.

Codeine syrups should be used with extreme caution, preferably under medical supervision. You should only take such medications for a short time and in the prescribed daily doses.

In addition to its analgesic effect, codeine has an antitussive effect - it inhibits the cough center located in the nervous system. In this case, codeine-containing drugs are used in doses lower than those that relieve pain. Medicines (most often syrups)containing codeine are indicated in the states of tiring, dry cough of various causes, which is not related to the retention of secretions in the respiratory tract. Over-the-counter codeine syrups include Thiocodin. It is indicated for the treatment of dry, persistent cough without expectoration. What is the dosage of the syrup? 10 ml of syrup (1 scoop) 3 times a day, not more often than every 4 to 6 hours. If the cough does not stop after 3 days of using the drug or if the cough is accompanied by side effects, stop using the syrup and consult a doctor.

Alsodrugs with codeinehave an anti-diarrheal effect.

Important

Codeine - contraindications

As mentioned, codeine is the transformation of the human body into morphine, which has an inhibitory effect on the respiratory center. Some people (especially children) have so-called Ultrafast codeine metabolism, which leads to significantly higher than normal blood morphine levels following codeine ingestion. The morphine levels after taking these medications can cause breathing difficulties. In order to minimize the serious side effects of e.g. regarding respiratory disorders, the following prohibitions have been introduced for codeine-containing products used to treat cough and colds in children: ¹

  • codeine-free drugs forbidden until the age of 12
  • ban on the use of drugs with codeine in children aged 12 to 18 years old with breathing disorders
  • no drugs with codeine are allowed in breastfeeding mothers because codeine is passed on to babies through their milk
  • no drugs with codeine are allowed in people (regardless of age) who have been found to rapidly convert codeine into morphine

These recommendations are based on the finding of several severe cases of codeine-treated children with respiratory depression (including fatalities) and the death of a breastfed child whose mother was taking codeine .²

Codeine enhances the effects of sleeping pills, sedatives and alcohol, so do not use this type of substance while taking the drug.

Codeine - side effects

Codeine can cause other side effects in addition to breathing problems

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • dizziness
  • sleepiness
  • rash
  • constipation

Codeine like a drug. Codeine addiction

Codeine consumed in too high doses has a narcotic effect. Taking a large dose of codeine at one time (for example in tablets or cough syrup, which is mixed with, for example, Sprit) makes the person under its influence feel brieflyeuphoria. However, more frequent exposure to codeine can cause complications such as metabolic and heart problems. Not to mention addiction - both mental and physical.

You should not use preparations containing codeine for more than a few days.

Symptoms of codeine overdose, i.e. taking too much of a dose, give symptoms identical to those of drug overdose:

  • arousal
  • entanglement
  • hallucinations
  • anxiety and panic attacks
  • aggression
  • imbalance
  • chills (along with body shaking)
Worth knowing

From January 1, 2022, patients can buy one-time over-the-counter medicine packaging containing max. 150 mg of codeine. Drug packages containing more than 150 mg of codeine can only be obtained with a prescription issued by a doctor. In practice, this means that you will only be able to buy an over-the-counter cough or cough medicine in one small package. If the patient wants to buy a larger quantity, he will have to go to the doctor for a prescription or … to another pharmacy for another small package of the drug.

Check>>From 2022, some cold medications ONLY FOR A PRESCRIPTION

Codeine can be addictive if used for a long time

Source: x-news.pl/TVN Style

According to an expertEwa Guzowska, educator, graduate of postgraduate studies in therapy and diagnosis of children and adolescents with developmental disorders

Codeine pill addiction - what to do?

My son has been taking codeine tablets (akodine, thiokodin antidol) for about 6 years, he is very physically and mentally dependent on it. He doesn't even want to talk about any treatment or therapy. His body is getting weaker. How can I help him? how to motivate him to start treatment? I have been looking for help for him unsuccessfully for years. I am asking for some rescue for my 25-year-old child.

mgr Ewa Guzowska - educator, addiction therapist: From what I understand, my son is an adult, so he decides about himself and his he alth. I know that it is very difficult for a father or a mother to watch a child agree to a slow death. The situation with addiction is that a person who has a problem with psychoactive substances is in the mechanisms of addiction and therefore does not make a decision about treatment. Sometimes it takes years for the addicted person to make the decision about treatment themselves. Apparently, the time has not come for your son. It must be the son who wants to start healing, it must be his will. All you can do is bring your case to court for compulsory treatment. As far as I know, it takes years with himthe addicted person will go to a drug rehabilitation center. It should also be remembered that if treatment is compulsory, patients often return to their habits again.

Source:

1. Prohibition of using codeine for cough and cold in children under 12 years of age of the European Medicines Agency, http://pharmindex.pl/sm/Komunikat_kodeina_2015-04-24__294.pdf

2. Restrictions on the use of codeine for pain relief in children - CMDh endorses the PRAC Recommendation, http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_PL/document_library/Referrals_document/Codeine_containing_medicinal_products/Position_provided_by_CMDh/WC500144850.pdf

3. Codeine, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5284371section=Canonical-SMILES

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