How to Manage Codeine Withdrawal Symptoms and Beat Drug Addiction

Codeine withdrawal is often as severe as any form of opiate withdrawal whether legal or illegal. Codeine is prescribed by a physician as a pain reliever or in extreme cases a decongestant.

The effects are euphoric, bringing about a state of relaxation and numbness, being opiate based it is also highly habit forming and can and will more than likely lead to codeine addiction. This drug should not be abused but the feeling that codeine brings is often as addictive as the properties of the opiate itself. When you have reached a point of addiction to this or any opiate you should cease taking the drug and seek professional help.

How to beat codeine withdrawal

The first stages of withdrawal are much like nicotine, leaving one craving the effects. Consuming your thoughts with ways of procurement and talking yourself out of the discomfort of withdrawal, just one little pill or sip won’t hurt. This is the crucial point for many addicts. As the drug leaves your body you experience symptoms much like influenza, stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea, and fever, loss of appetite and in extreme cases hallucinations. These generally last three to four days as your body works to rid it of the toxins. The first week is by far the hardest to get through codeine withdrawal.

This is the time when relapse is most likely. Never drink alcohol or use a substitute drug to ease the effects of  codeine withdrawal this will only mask the symptoms. As you progress through these symptoms and begin to regain your health it is best to keep busy with hobbies or anything time consuming that you enjoy and will keep your mind off of the drug, also distance yourself from the temptation of the drug and remember the things that led you to their use in the first place. Yes, codeine is legal when prescribed but as with any drug it can be abused. Be careful and use as directed and you should not experience any ill effects when you have finished with this drug.

I know some of you may have become addicted to this drug by getting it for pain from your doctors but never the less if you have a problem with this drug sooner or later you will have to get help to go through codeine withdrawal unless you prefer to kick codeine on your own.

The best way to stop using codeine is to go to a opiate rehab. If you do go you will medically help you to get over your codeine withdrawal. This will be done with prescription medications like suboxone. Detoxing from codeine usually takes around 3 days. I would have a solid recovery plan in place so you do not go home and relapse right away. If you do not have a plan of action in place you will relapse.

A solid recovery plan would include either going to drug addiction therapy or 12 step meetings like N. A. or if you are feeling really recovery orientated do both that’s what I did and it worked for me and is still working one day at a time. I know people hate to hear the one day at a time thing but that’s the way we stay clean and realistically all we have is today because tomorrow is not promised to us.

Good luck