Recognizing the 10 Most Common Codeine Addiction Symptoms

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Codeine offers a quick and effective solution for relieving pain symptoms. It is often combined with acetaminophen to treat mild to moderate pain or with guaifenesin for a cough. 

All opiates have the potential to chemically change the way the brain and its reward system function. Codeine acts on mu-receptors to block pain signals and release high amounts of dopamine, leading to feelings of euphoria and pleasure. Over time, the brain links codeine with pleasure, creating a strong motivation to repeat the experience. With continued use, the body develops tolerance to the substance, meaning it takes a higher amount of the drug to obtain the same effects.

As a person continues to chase those feelings of euphoria, the body often becomes dependent on the drug. Dependence means that the body can no longer function normally without it, and in its absence, withdrawal symptoms appear. 

Over time, dependence and withdrawal symptoms worsen as codeine addiction starts to influence a person’s overall decision-making and daily routines. For this reason, the sooner a person recognizes codeine addiction symptoms, the sooner he or she can get needed help.

Here are the 10 most common codeine addiction symptoms to watch out for:

1. Drug Cravings

Feeling sick or agitated without codeine is a sign you are becoming addicted to it.

As users come to anticipate codeine’s effects, cravings for the drug grow stronger over time. With continued use, brain cells grow less sensitive to codeine’s effects, which further aggravates the need for the drug.

2. Excess Sweating

Frequent codeine use throws off the brain chemical processes that regulate body temperature. Over time, sweating becomes more profuse and noticeable. 

3. Digestive Problems

Opiates in general interfere with specific cell receptor sites located in the brain, spinal cord and digestive tract. Codeine addiction can lead to Opioid-Induced Bowel Dysfunction (OIBD). The symptoms of OIBD include severe constipation, bowel obstruction, severe abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and bloating. 

4. Muscle Spasms

As a pain-relief drug, codeine disrupts normal communication between the cells. As cell structures start to deteriorate, cells start to misfire, causing random muscle spasms to develop.

5. Agitation

Agitation occurs as the brain tries to compensate for codeine’s “slowing” effects on the body. In response, the brain secretes high levels of norepinephrine as a counter-balance measure.

Side Effects of Codeine You Should Seek Help For

If you are taking codeine and you recognize a loss of control over your use of the drug, if you need more of it than usual to feel its effects, or if you feel sick without it you should seek help.

6. Confusion

As a codeine addiction symptom, signs of confusion indicate significant brain chemical imbalances are at work as the cognitive areas of the brain start to break down.

7. Psychological Dysfunction

Psychological dysfunction may take the form of psychotic-like behaviors, bouts of depression or persistent feelings of anxiety. These symptoms also point to significant brain chemical imbalances caused by drug use. 

8. Rising Tolerance Levels

As the brain grows more dependent on codeine, brain cell receptor sites become less sensitive to the drug’s effects. Users will need to ingest increasingly larger doses to experience the same desired effects.

9. Withdrawal Effects

After a certain point, withdrawal effects will occur more often as brain chemical imbalances worsen. Withdrawal effects commonly experienced include:

• Severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Generalized body pain, muscle spasms and twitching
• Excessive sweating, chills and goosebumps
• Runny nose and watery eyes
• Severe agitation, restlessness, anxiety and depression
• Severe insomnia, intense fatigue
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Lifestyle Disruptions

Lifestyle disruptions such as financial strain, damaged relationships and difficulties at work or school often signal that a serious addiction is present. When the symptoms of codeine addiction begin to interfere with a person’s daily habits, routines and priorities, it becomes critical to seek professional help. 

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