Codeine sulfate is an opioid analgesic that’s indicated to manage mild to moderate pain. You can find this medication as a single codeine pill or in combination products which contain other painkillers or flu medicines.

Although the codeine tablet is safe when used precisely as directed, any form of abuse can lead to dependence and addiction. Read on to learn about different forms of codeine, including liquid codeine, and discover how to connect with compassionate and effective addiction treatment [1].

What Is Codeine?

Codeine is a type of medicine that doctors give to help people feel better when they are in pain or coughing a lot. It comes from the opium poppy [2], which is the same plant used to make other strong medications like morphine. Codeine works by changing the way our brain feels pain, making us feel better.

What Is Codeine Used For?

Doctors use codeine for a few different reasons:

• Pain relief: If someone has a headache, toothache, or other kinds of pain, codeine can help make the pain go away.

• Cough medicine: If someone has a bad cough that won’t stop, codeine can help calm the cough so they can rest and feel better.

• Diarrhea treatment: Sometimes, codeine is used to help people who have diarrhea, as it can help make the problem go away.

Stilpane Codeine vs. Pure Codeine

There are different types of codeine medicine, including Stilpane codeine and pure codeine.

Stilpane codeine

Stilpane codeine is a type of medicine that mixes codeine with other ingredients like paracetamol (which helps with pain) and promethazine (which is an antihistamine). It is used to help with pain and headaches. Sometimes, people take it when they have a bad cold or flu to feel better.

Pure codeine

Pure codeine is codeine all by itself, without any extra ingredients. Doctors might give this if they need a stronger medicine or if the extra ingredients in Stilpane codeine aren’t needed. Pure codeine is usually used for stronger pain.

Stilpane lean is when people mix Stilpane codeine with sugary drinks, like soda, to drink it. This is very dangerous and can hurt your body. Here are some reasons why Stilpane lean is bad:

• Too much codeine: Drinking Stilpane Lean can make you take too much codeine, which can slow down breathing and make you sleepy or even cause you to stop breathing.

• Damage to organs: Too much codeine and paracetamol can damage your liver and kidneys [3].

• Addiction: Using codeine this way can make you addicted, meaning you feel like you need to keep taking it even if it’s hurting you.

• Other health problems: Stilpane lean can cause other problems like nausea, vomiting, and confusion.

Use medicines like Stilpane codeine and pure codeine exactly how the doctor says and not in any other way. If you have any questions about your medicine, always ask your healthcare provider.

Is Codeine an Opioid?

Yes, codeine is an opioid [4]. Opioids are a group of drugs that come from the opium poppy plant. They are very good at helping with pain, but they can also be addictive and need to be used carefully. Other opioids you might have heard of are morphine and oxycodone. Take opioids only as directed by a healthcare provider to avoid complications.

What Does Codeine Look Like? Codeine Pictures

Here are some pictures of codeine so you can identify different forms of this medication.

Codeine Dosages

Codeine dosage can be different for each person. Always follow what your doctor says or the instructions on the label.

How much medicine you need depends on how strong it is. The number of times you take it each day, the time between doses, and how long you take it all depend on why you need the medicine.

For tablets taken by mouth for mild to moderate pain:

• Adults: Start with 15 to 60mg every 4 hours as needed. Your doctor may change your dose if needed, but usually, the dose is not more than 360mg per day.

• Kids 12 to 18 years old: The doctor will decide the right dose.

• Kids under 12 years old: Should not take this medicine.

If you forget to take a dose, skip the dose and take the next one. Do not take two doses at once.

How Long Does Codeine Take to Work?

Codeine doesn’t work right away. After you take it, it usually takes about 30 minutes to start feeling better. The full effect happens in about 1 to 2 hours. The pain relief from codeine can last for about 4 to 6 hours, so sometimes you need to take it a few times a day.

What Does Codeine Feel Like?

When you take codeine, it helps make your pain go away or makes you stop coughing. It can make you feel sleepy and relaxed. Some people might feel a bit dizzy or lightheaded. Do not to take too much codeine because it can make you feel too sleepy, and that can be dangerous. Always take codeine exactly how the doctor tells you to stay safe.

Codeine Side Effects

Taking codeine can sometimes cause side effects as well as its intended effects.

Common Side Effects

These side effects are not too serious and often go away on their own:

• Drowsiness: You might feel very sleepy or tired. This can make it hard to stay awake or focus on work.

• Dizziness: You could feel lightheaded or like the room is spinning. This can make it hard to walk straight or stand up without feeling wobbly.

• Nausea and vomiting: Your stomach might feel upset, and you could throw up. Eating small meals or drinking ginger tea can sometimes help with this.

• Constipation: It might be hard to go to the bathroom. Drinking lots of water and eating fruits and vegetables can help.

• Dry mouth: Your mouth might feel dry and uncomfortable. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on ice chips can help.

Long-Term Side Effects

If you take codeine for a long time, it can cause more serious problems:

• Dependence: Your body can get used to codeine, and you might feel like you need it to feel okay. This means you could feel sick or uncomfortable [5] if you stop taking it suddenly.

• Tolerance: You might need to take more and more codeine to feel the same effects, which can be dangerous because higher doses can cause more side effects and increase the risk of overdose.

• Liver damage: Taking too much codeine, especially if it’s mixed with acetaminophen, can hurt your liver. This can make you feel very tired, weak, and sick.

Serious Reactions

These side effects are very serious, and you should tell an adult and get medical help right away if they happen:

• Breathing problems: Codeine can make it hard to breathe, which is very dangerous. You might breathe slowly or feel like you can’t get enough air.

• Allergic reactions: Signs include a rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing. This can happen if your body doesn’t like the medicine.

• Confusion or hallucinations: You might feel very confused or see things that aren’t there. This can be scary because you might not know what’s real.

• Severe dizziness or fainting: You could feel like you are going to pass out or actually faint. This can be dangerous, especially if you are standing or walking when it happens.

Remember to take codeine exactly as the doctor tells you and tell them if you feel any side effects. This helps keep you safe and healthy.

Codeine Warnings

There are important warnings you need to know about codeine to stay safe:

• Do not share: Never share your codeine medicine with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms.

• Avoid alcohol: Do not drink alcohol while taking codeine. Mixing alcohol and codeine can make you very sleepy, slow down your breathing, and increase the risk of dangerous side effects [6].

• Operating machines: Be careful when doing things that require you to be alert, like driving, because codeine can make you drowsy and dizzy.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, tell your doctor. Codeine can pass to the baby and cause serious problems.

• Other medications: Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking. Some medicines can interact with codeine and cause dangerous side effects.

Codeine Interactions with Other Substances

Codeine can interact with other substances, which can cause serious health problems. Here are some important interactions to know about:

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol while taking codeine can make you extremely sleepy and slow down breathing. This can be dangerous and potentially deadly.

Other medications

Some medicines can interact badly with codeine. Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including:

• Other pain relievers: Medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen can increase the risk of side effects.

• Sleeping pills: Medicines that help you sleep can make you even more drowsy when taken with codeine.

• Antidepressants: These can interact with codeine and cause dangerous side effects.

• Sedatives and tranquilizers: These can make you very sleepy and slow down breathing when taken with codeine.

• Herbal supplements: Some herbal products can also interact with codeine. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Addiction Risk

Codeine has a high risk of addiction [7]. This means that your body can start to need it to feel normal. Here are some important things to know about the risk of addiction:

• How addiction happens: If you take codeine for a long time, your body can get used to it. You might start needing more and more to feel the same effect. This is called tolerance [8]. Eventually, you might feel like you need codeine just to get through the day.

• Signs of addiction: Some signs that you might be addicted to codeine include feeling a strong need to take codeine, taking more codeine than you planned or for longer than you meant to, and ignoring school, work, or family.

• Withdrawal symptoms: Feeling sick or uncomfortable when you stop taking codeine.

• Getting help: If you think you might be addicted to codeine, talk to a doctor. There are treatments and support available to help you stop using codeine safely.

Overdose

Taking too much codeine can lead to an overdose, which is dangerous and can be life-threatening. Here’s what you need to know about codeine overdose:

Symptoms of overdose

Signs that someone might have taken too much codeine include:

• Slow or shallow breathing: Breathing very slowly or weakly.

• Extreme drowsiness: Being unable to wake up or stay awake.

• Confusion: Not knowing where you are or what is happening.

• Cold, clammy skin: Skin that feels very cold and sweaty.

• Blue lips or fingernails: This can happen because of a lack of oxygen.

If you think someone has overdosed on codeine, get medical help right away. Call emergency services or go to the nearest hospital. Do not wait, because an overdose can be very serious.

To prevent an overdose, always take codeine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dose, and never mix it with alcohol or other drugs without checking with your doctor.

Remember, codeine can be helpful for pain and cough relief, but it needs to be used carefully and safely. Always follow your doctor’s instructions and talk to an adult if you have any questions or concerns. This way, you can stay safe and healthy.

Get Addiction Treatment in a Renowned, World-Class Treatment Facility at Gratitude Lodge

If you need opioid addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, we can help you at Gratitude Lodge in southern California. Our luxury rehab in Newport Beach and Long Beach are dedicated to your whole-body recovery.

Start with supervised detox to make codeine withdrawal safer and easier. You can access medications and continuous care. You will transition to ongoing inpatient treatment after about one week of detox.

All opioid addictions are different, so all our treatment programs offer personalized therapies like:

• Talk therapies
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Motivational therapies
• Counseling
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Holistic therapies
• Aftercare

Call our recovery experts today at 844-576-0144.

Sources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678283/

[2] https://museum.dea.gov/exhibits/online-exhibits/cannabis-coca-and-poppy-natures-addictive-plants/opium-poppy

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6713258/

[4] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/opioids

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/

[6] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537318/

[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11224198/