Opioids First time taking codeine, allergy or anxiety?

[SaosinEngaged]

I've been taking Oxycodone for a few months now. Not a crazy habit. Really only 10mg of Oxy will get me into a very comfortable spot and I have no need to go above that. A friend of mine had a few Tylenol 3's laying around, so he gave me a few.

I've had Codeine once I think, back when I had to go the Emergency room for something, and I don't remember any weird side effects.

However, a few hours ago I took the tylenol 3 which I believe has 30 mgs of Codeine. Believe me, I know Codeine is considerably weaker than Oxycodone (which I handle without ANY side effects beyond constipation), but my body just seemed not to handle it well.

I didn't have any immediate signs of what I would think an allergic reaction would be (no swelling, hives, or pounding heartbeat), but shortly after taking it I developed a LOT of anxiety (I have anxiety problems in general, but not severe enough I've ever been medicated for it) and what I would describe as a very heavy sensation in my chest followed by a feeling of not getting enough oxygen on a given breath. This has NEVER happened taking even 20 mgs of Oxycodone. Like I said, I can handle Oxy without any side effect other than constipation.

What I'm essentially asking you guys is this: Do you think I have some kind of allergy to Codeine, or was this probably more a result of anxiety? I actually became anxious about possibly being allergic to the codeine, since I've read a lot of people have allergies to it. Did my mind lead my body to follow?

Any thoughts? Since I'm taking opiates recreationally, I can't exactly ask a doctor. You guys are the best bet

 

[sekio]

It's an allergy, or at least a bad reaction to the histamine release from codeine. I get them too, esp. on high doses (100mg+). The solution is to not use codeine, because it's a shit opiate anyway.

 

[Scheduled]

Allergy. Fuck codeine.

 

[SaosinEngaged]

Man that sucks. I was hoping it was just anxiety, because I thought I read it would be rare to have a reaction to one opiate and not another.

Would you say it'd be dangerous to take it again? I'm not going to if you'd say it is, I'm just curious.

And yeah, if that low a dose of a weak opiate can trigger a reaction like that, fuck it.

 

[stirfry]

Did you feel itchy at all? did you have red, blotchy patches on your skin? Nausea? Any other symptoms of allergic reaction?

To me this sounds like anxiety more than allergy. you could try taking half a pill and see if it happens again. Just don't jump in with a high dose without testing it first, if you actually do have a serious allergy to it, your throat could close up (this is very unlikely though, just better to err on the side of caution with these things).

It is noted that for most people, codeine tends to cuase a stronger histamine reaction than most opioids at equivalent dosages (itching, hives, etc). Yet, I actually find codeine to be decently euphoric even though it's short lived and causes more side effects than other opioids.

30mg is a low dosage btw, I would not be able to feel that at all (I have essentially zero tolerance). After your allergy test, I would try again with 60mg (which is still low IMO).

 

[ZeroFries]

Do you have a caffeine sensitivity and does caffeine usually make your anxiety worse?

 

[SaosinEngaged]

I'm weird man, I'm telling you. 5 mg of Oxy will make me feel "good." 10 will "fuck me up." 20 will make me pretty much on the verge of it not being enjoyable/too intense.

I'm a big guy, too. 6'3 and a good 210lbs.

I kept expecting to hit some kind of wall where I feel like I'd have to up my dosages being that I'll usually take one dose every day or every other day, but so far it hasn't come. I don't seem to be building much tolerance to them, perhaps because I started low and only dose once a day, if that. I take them to chill out and relax after work. I've also had some back problems and dosing as I do (usually between 8-10pm) helps me sleep comfortably and relax. I know it's not the smartest thing, but we all have our vices.

As for the Codeine, I did not feel itchy or have red or blotchy patches on my skin. I also did not feel any nausea. Literally the ONLY adverse reaction I had was an extremely heavy feeling in my chest and a sensation I can only describe as my breaths not transferring enough oxygen to my body, making me feel a slight bit out of breath. Truthfully I haven't had a panic attack or any anxiety related episode in quite a while, so I really can't say.

And that's exactly why I only took one pill, to "test the waters." I was planning on taking 60mg, and now I'm kind of glad I didn't. I might try as you suggest and break the next in half and try again, going into it with a more positive attitude (because I was "nervous" of being allergic to it).

I know this isn't big stuff, but it was really disconcerting for something that's always been "fun" to me. Like I said, I'm like a kid in a candy store on Oxy and have never had any ounce of side effects besides constipation which I've learned to manage.

 

[SaosinEngaged]

Do you have a caffeine sensitivity and does caffeine usually make your anxiety worse?

Caffeine has triggered anxiety in me before, but I used to be big into gym culture and took lots of diet supplements in my day with many times the amount of caffeine that would be in that codeine pill. Anxiety that I pinpointed as being agitated from caffeine was uncommon and never "that bad."

I will say I am absolutely a bit of a hypochondriac, and that's where a lot of my anxiety comes from. But what I felt a few hours ago was definitely not in my head.

Thanks for the responses guys.

 

[BlueRox]

They both cause CNS depression, but oxy is alot more stimulating than codeine is so that might explain the feeling of not enough oxygen per breath. But as previous posters said it could be some sort of allergic reaction. Codeine is a pure opium alkaloid, oxycodone comes from the alkaloid thebaine, so even though they are both opiates(oids), some people will have a different or weird to drugs from one opium alkaloid compared to another.

 

[muvolution]

well they are both in the codone family so I don't reckon that you would be allergic to oxycodone but not codeine. I would recommend taking some benadryl or another OTC antihystamine next time.
It sounds like it is anxiety to me - but be careful, if it was an allergy it will get more serious every time.
If you are going to do it, have plenty of benadryl on hand and a Primatene inhaler. (It is an epinephrine inhaler that you can get OTC that is really really good for emergency type situations where you don't have an epi-pen.

This is, of course, the dangers of fucking with drugs you aren't prescribed. But I think you will be fine and that it was mostly anxiety. Based on your weight and what you said about your usual doses of oxy, I would say you metabolize drugs differently than most people so you could have gotten more of the less active metabolite of codeine.
Good luck, PM me if you have questions.

 

[8L4YN3]

The solution is to not use codeine, because it's a shit opiate anyway.

Do you also think hydromorphone and morphine are shit opiates? Maybe your liver is whats shit mate? Or maybe codeine aint potent enough for you? Don't bag codeine because you pushed your tolerance too high for it to be of any use to you. Codeine is a very euphoric opiate for those who can metabolise it into hydro and morph.(and of course the rest).

 

[drug_mentor]

^ I have to back up these sentiments, codeine is a fucking lovely opiate when your liver and tolerance allow you to get high off it. I have done most mainstream opiates and the most euphoric highs I ever got were my early days doing codeine CWE's, even now if I let my tolerance get low enough for codeine to work it is my favourite buzz.

Just because codeine doesn't work for absolutely everybody and the fact that it has a ceiling dose does not make it a shit drug. I for one am pretty sick of seeing people talk smack about such a great drug, there isn't a better place to start with using opiates than codeine.

Who the fuck are you to say something is shit just because you don't like it? Funny, your opinion on drugs is not neccessarily fact. 8)

 

[SaosinEngaged]

It just seems inefficient that you essentially have to take more of it to get a similar effect.

Regardless, it's just annoying to not know whether this incident was anxiety or allergy for sure. Thank you for all the comments, I'm definitely leaning toward allergy. But then again, that was the only symptom I had. Unless it gets worse next time, which is a scary thought.

It sucks, because my buddy who gave them to me is prescribed them and hardly takes them, so he gave me a bunch for free. I'd love to enjoy them, but don't want to risk my health.

As previously mentioned, I think I'm gonna buy some benadryl and check out that inhaler and possibly try a reduced dose and see if it negatively effects me. I'm really hoping I just threw myself into a mild panic attack.

 

[8L4YN3]

It just seems inefficient that you essentially have to take more of it to get a similar effect.

Regardless, it's just annoying to not know whether this incident was anxiety or allergy for sure. Thank you for all the comments, I'm definitely leaning toward allergy. But then again, that was the only symptom I had. Unless it gets worse next time, which is a scary thought.

It sucks, because my buddy who gave them to me is prescribed them and hardly takes them, so he gave me a bunch for free. I'd love to enjoy them, but don't want to risk my health.

As previously mentioned, I think I'm gonna buy some benadryl and check out that inhaler and possibly try a reduced dose and see if it negatively effects me. I'm really hoping I just threw myself into a mild panic attack.

Okay, i'm going to play detective here, lets work out this mystery!

Okay, you said you had received codeine in the past in a hospital setting. With no allergy effects at all.

You felt no symptoms of allergy, but you had the thought of it in your mind and admitted you being worried about it.

Your only symptoms being anxiety and a tight chest, this clearly is just paranoia.

Anxiety 100% man. What evidence suggests allergic reaction AT ALL? None.

Also, why can't you go see a doctor about this? You took 30mg of codeine, the recommended dose is 60mg. Recreational doses don't even start until 100mg+ even for non-tolerant people. I realise you werent prescribed this, but i doubt he's going to call you a junky if you say a friend gave you 1 codeine/acetominophen pill because of a headache or something...

Not an allergy at all, some people really are paranoid about drugs they take. Even 30mg of codeine lol...


---
Again like i said, what even makes you think you are even slightly allergic to codeine/morphine. Here is a list of symptoms of morphine allergy:

# Skin rash - localized or widespread
# Sun-sensitive skin - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Aching joints - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Aching muscles - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Swollen lymph nodes - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Changed urine color - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Hives
# Fever - occurs within a week or two of taking the medicine
# Itchy skin
# Itchy eyes
# Reduced blood pressure
# Irregular heart rhythm
# Skin redness
# Facial swelling
# Tongue swelling
# Throat swelling
# Nausea
# Vomiting
# Abdominal symptom
# Wheezing
# Breathing difficulty
# Lip swelling
# Anaphylaxis - rare
# Unconsciousness - rare
# Death - very rare

Again, what the bloody hell is making you lean towards allergy. You have everything pointing towards paranoia about allergy induced anxiety..... Just chill out dude.

 

[SaosinEngaged]

Haha, hey man, thanks for the reassurance.

I don't know what it is with me, but I do greatly worry about the things I put in my body. I recently got very comfortable with Oxy, but anything else scares me just because I haven't tried it before, so I feel like, "what If I'm allergic? Shit I'm usually alone when I dose, wtf would I do...etc" and I get worried.

The anxiety lead to tightness in my chest, making me feel like I couldn't breath properly.

Then you look this shit up online and see "breathing difficulties" as a possible sign of a severe reaction to codeine, and it gives you a sinking feeling. So I stress more, probably making it worse as a product of my racing thoughts. I could see this definitely being the cause then.

Let me say this; you guys know your shit. I read through a lot of these topics, and I trust what you all have to say (and I thank you for it, makes me feel better).

Check it out, when I was 14 I smoked pot for the first time. The three dudes I was with still site this as one of the funniest 2 hours of their life as I was freaking out, thinking I was dying.

 

[8L4YN3]

It's all good dude. And thanks for understanding the tone of my post, i think i was abit harsh, i didn't mean to be an ass sorry about that.

You summed it all up in your post there man. But dont beat yourself up for worrying so much, as you've kinda created a complex about taking drugs after the traumatic weed experience and shit when you were young.

Best thing to do is arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can before doing drugs(not implying you dont bro) to increase your confidence about the drug your doing.

But also remember that caution with druguse is not a negative trait at all. In fact i respect you for it, you just need to guide it so to speak. I'm somewhat like you, in the sense that i never had the balls to ever touch a drug(guilty of not researching alcohol though) before i was confident i had some basic understanding of what it is and what it does to you. But i definitely understand that what if factor. But you just have to really win over your mind with logic and rationality. Like you dosed 30mg of codeine, you have had codeine before, in all honesty, throwing emotion out the window and purely operating with logic, what are the real odds of you being allergic and something horrible happening? Know what i mean.

Whip that paranoia into line boy! Apathy and ignorance are much worse traits to have bro.

 

[dokomo]

Haha, hey man, thanks for the reassurance.

I don't know what it is with me, but I do greatly worry about the things I put in my body. I recently got very comfortable with Oxy, but anything else scares me just because I haven't tried it before, so I feel like, "what If I'm allergic? Shit I'm usually alone when I dose, wtf would I do...etc" and I get worried.

The anxiety lead to tightness in my chest, making me feel like I couldn't breath properly.

Then you look this shit up online and see "breathing difficulties" as a possible sign of a severe reaction to codeine, and it gives you a sinking feeling. So I stress more, probably making it worse as a product of my racing thoughts. I could see this definitely being the cause then.

Let me say this; you guys know your shit. I read through a lot of these topics, and I trust what you all have to say (and I thank you for it, makes me feel better).

Check it out, when I was 14 I smoked pot for the first time. The three dudes I was with still site this as one of the funniest 2 hours of their life as I was freaking out, thinking I was dying.

Glad you're feeling better about this man, your symptoms sound exactly like anxiety.

I'm going to go ahead and close this up since your questions were answered. Don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions about this.