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Codeine painkillers are widely available in many countries without prescription to ail a variety of aches; codeine further acts as an anti-diarrheal and cough suppressant drug. In some countries, authorities made the drug prescription-only. This may seem justified or not, the fact remains that codeine is a medication to be taken very seriously. Overuse of opiate-based painkillers like codeine carries numerous risks for the patient. It is important for the patient to find out whether overuse stems out of chronic pain or, in the worst case, a developed addiction to codeine or opiates. Non-diagnosed chronic pain that is solely treated with codeine should be seen to by a medical professional as soon as possible - you may risk your life if you only treat the painful symptoms, but not the causes of a disease.

Addiction

Addiction is only associated with long-term use of codeine. One dose of codeine may only by chance cause addiction. Long-term use addiction is due to the plasticity of the brain - it adapts to the analgesic effects by rebalancing levels of neurotransmitters and opiate receptors slowly. For example, in a developing addiction: One would need elevated blood levels of codeine to feel "normal". This effect, however, is roofed; meaning there will be no build-up of codeine tolerance, requiring increasing levels of codeine in the addiction process. Withdrawal symptoms are caused by the same mechanism described above - they may be very unpleasant, but in comparison to other opiates not an everlasting hellish torture. Codeine may be a drug that is not too harmful - but addiction is always harmful to you. There are many ways and substances to quit your codeine addiction but the wisest choice for you would be to consult a medical professional to minimize unintended consequences during your withdrawal and quitting phase.

Allergy & Genetics

A possibly unknown allergy to codeine can induce typical and sometimes severe allergic reactions. It is therefore important for first time patients to use the lowest therapeutically effective dosage as possible! Genetically, a differing percentage of white or mixed-skinned people per nation rapidly metabolizes codeine to morphine. This may not seem dangerous, as the overall mass of morphine does not increase. Surprisingly it is, as morphine blood levels in these patients can rise rapidly. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take special care. There has been a fatal case of an unborn child with a fatal morphine blood

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