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What are the Symptoms of Codeine Withdrawal?

Jacob Queen
Jacob Queen

Codeine withdrawal is usually less severe than withdrawal from many other opiates, but that often depends on the severity of the person's addiction. When people are suffering codeine withdrawal, they break out in sweats, shake, suffer with abdominal pain, and often have fevers. Some other symptoms include things like heart arrhythmia, pains in various parts of the body, and mucus drainage from the nose. Basically, addicts who suddenly stop taking codeine tend to get sick, and they sometimes get sick enough that they are in danger of death.

According to experts, most codeine addicts are simply regular people with some kind of long-term pain problem. Maybe they have a bad back or some kind of ongoing joint pain. Doctors prescribe codeine to help deal with these symptoms, and the person finds its effects hard to resist. The drug can be very effective in dulling pain and it also has a euphoric feeling. This euphoria is weaker than the effect of many other opiates, but sometimes addicts will consume more of the drug to compensate for that.

Codeine withdrawal causes fever, shaking, and sweating.
Codeine withdrawal causes fever, shaking, and sweating.

The severity of codeine withdrawal usually depends on how extreme the person's addiction has become. If someone is only taking a few codeine pills a day, his withdrawal may be relatively minor, but that's not generally common. Experts suggest that many people who are addicted to codeine take much more than the prescribed amount, which means that the physical addiction is generally more severe.

Codeine addicts in withdrawal may search out other opioids not prescribed to them.
Codeine addicts in withdrawal may search out other opioids not prescribed to them.

Emotional addiction to the feelings of euphoria and enhanced pain relief is usually what causes people to become addicted to codeine, but the physical addiction is what leads to withdrawal. Over time, a person's body will literally become dependent on codeine, and if it's not present, the body will generally react violently. People may be able to overcome the emotional aspect of the addiction, but the physical codeine withdrawal is often much too painful for people to tolerate, and sometimes it's even dangerous.

Insomnia is a common codeine withdrawal symptom.
Insomnia is a common codeine withdrawal symptom.

People can actually die from codeine withdrawal, and experts suggest that it's very important for doctors to keep an eye on the addicted person during the process. The doctors will watch the person's life signs to make sure that nothing dangerous is happening, and they usually provide medications that can ease the difficulty of the process. Codeine withdrawal is usually over much more quickly than withdrawal from other opiates, but there is still the potential for danger.

Discussion Comments

anon335569

I've been taking codeine regularly for about two months, and when I wake up in the morning and haven't taken it, my joints feel really sore. Is this normal?

candyquilt

I've been experiencing restless legs syndrome during the night lately. I quit my codeine medication last week. I guess this is a withdrawal symptom?

I'm also feeling slightly depressed. Does codeine withdrawal usually cause depression or anxiety? How long will these symptoms last for?

ysmina

@anamur-- Yes, it can. I had migraines when I was withdrawing too, as well as shaking and terrible cold sweats. It felt like I had a severe infection like cholera. All of these symptoms also messed up my sleep routine. I would wake up throughout the night and would take lots of naps during the day.

The weird part is that I was on codeine for only three weeks. I can't imagine what kind of withdrawal symptoms someone would experience after taking this medication for months and years. I wish I had never taken codeine to begin with, it's very addictive.

serenesurface

Can codeine withdrawal cause migraines?

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    • Codeine withdrawal causes fever, shaking, and sweating.
      By: Nejron Photo
      Codeine withdrawal causes fever, shaking, and sweating.
    • Codeine addicts in withdrawal may search out other opioids not prescribed to them.
      By: kmiragaya
      Codeine addicts in withdrawal may search out other opioids not prescribed to them.
    • Insomnia is a common codeine withdrawal symptom.
      By: Innovated Captures
      Insomnia is a common codeine withdrawal symptom.
    • Agitation and depression are common side effects of codeine abuse.
      By: Monkey Business
      Agitation and depression are common side effects of codeine abuse.
    • Abdominal pain may be a symptom of codeine withdrawal.
      By: sframe
      Abdominal pain may be a symptom of codeine withdrawal.