Eveleivibe
Ex-Bluelighter
THE CODEINE ADDICTION SUPPORT THREAD.
[bWhat is Codeine? [/b]
Codeine is an opiate which is used to treat moderate to severe pain and also can be used for the suppression of dry coughs. It was discovered by Pierre Jean Robiquet in 1832.
When used for pain codeine is often mixed with drugs such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or Aspirin These drugs work well with codeine in alleviating pain but are potentially dangerous when abused. The daily recommended amount for paracetamol is no more than 4 grams in a 24-hour period. ibuprofen no more than 2.4 grams and aspirin no more than 3 grams per day (double check these). Abuse of paracetamol can cause liver damage or even liver failure. ibuprofen in excessive amounts, can bring on stomach ulcers, bleeding in the stomach and kidney damage. Aspirin in excess can cause risk of Gastrointestinal bleeding / haemorrhage, peptic ulcers perforation, abdominal pain and or bowel problems. .
In some countries caffeine is also included in codeine-based medicines aimed at tackling pain. Caffeine, in excess can cause anxiety, insomnia and the heart to beat faster.
Harm Reduction (HR) Advice when using codeine-based products
Codeine addiction is problematic, not only because codeine, similar to other opiates can bring on respiratory depression or even death, when taken in excess, but in combination with the above drugs can be a dangerous concoction when addicted. For this reason it is advised to use a harm reduction (HR) method known as Cold Water Extraction (CWE) to separate the paracetamol or ibuprofen from the codeine as much as possible. Rather than explain the method of CWE I will leave the link to an informative thread produced by monstanoodle, titled; Newcomers - Cold Water Extraction: Method Do's & Don'ts . There are also plenty other threads that explain this technique in various places on BL particularly in sub-forums Basic Drug Discussion or Other Drugs.
When used for pain relief in conjuction with the other aforementioned drugs, it's usually in pill or capsule form. For supression of dry cough codeine is in liquid form know as Codeine Linctus. A prescription is not needed to purchase codeine linctus but it is down to the descretion of the pharmacist whether or not s/he will sell it to the customer. Whether or not codeine, for pain relief, has to be prescribed or can be given over the counter (OTC) is determined by the strength in dose of the codeine. Anything that is 12.8 mg codeine or less can be obtained OTC, but similar to codeine linctus, it all depends on the descretion of the pharmacists. 15 n 30 mg codeine, whether with other drugs or codeine only, cannot be obtained without a prescription in the UK.
Another piece of HR advice is to not use the route of administration (ROA), intravenous (IV) commonly known as injecting for codeine. Doing so could possibly bring on a excessive release of histamine, possibly leading to hypotension, which is otherwise known as low blood pressure. According to Medscape.com it is possible that the myocardial function may become depressed and also report a possible link between IV codeine in children and seizers. Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, and naloxone an opiate antagonist, were administered to a seven year child after having a seizer - and stopped further or continuing seizers. With the mention of naloxone it is important to note that naloxone is also used for opiate-overdose (OD), partially Heroin, where the public are advised to use the ROA, inter-muscle (IM) often advised to use the thigh muscle and through the person's clothing as it's an emergency. Many areas within the UK offer training to addicts and professionals as well as hand out naloxone kits as a HR measure.
It is advisable not to take codeine while breastfeeding a baby - or to stop breastfeeding if put onto codeine. This is because the codeine is metabolized to morphine in the liver n Morphine can go through breastmilk potentially causing harm or even death to the child.
Further advice would be to be careful taking codeine with other depressant substances including other opiates as well as benzos n alcoholsi. This is especially so if the person is abusing / addicted to codeine n thus taking large qualities. Consuming codeine with other depressant substances heightens the possible risk respiratory depression n possibly death.
What is addiction?
Addiction can be a physical or psychological (or both) attachment to the behaviour or substance, often termed drug of choice (DoC). A person has become addicted when they realise they have tried to stop but are unable to - ans when the desire becomes as important - or more so - than eating, drinking or survival in general.
Some definitions of addiction;
"A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses." Dictionary.com
"Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance." Medical Dictionary
Evey
[bWhat is Codeine? [/b]
Codeine is an opiate which is used to treat moderate to severe pain and also can be used for the suppression of dry coughs. It was discovered by Pierre Jean Robiquet in 1832.
When used for pain codeine is often mixed with drugs such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or Aspirin These drugs work well with codeine in alleviating pain but are potentially dangerous when abused. The daily recommended amount for paracetamol is no more than 4 grams in a 24-hour period. ibuprofen no more than 2.4 grams and aspirin no more than 3 grams per day (double check these). Abuse of paracetamol can cause liver damage or even liver failure. ibuprofen in excessive amounts, can bring on stomach ulcers, bleeding in the stomach and kidney damage. Aspirin in excess can cause risk of Gastrointestinal bleeding / haemorrhage, peptic ulcers perforation, abdominal pain and or bowel problems. .
In some countries caffeine is also included in codeine-based medicines aimed at tackling pain. Caffeine, in excess can cause anxiety, insomnia and the heart to beat faster.
Harm Reduction (HR) Advice when using codeine-based products
Codeine addiction is problematic, not only because codeine, similar to other opiates can bring on respiratory depression or even death, when taken in excess, but in combination with the above drugs can be a dangerous concoction when addicted. For this reason it is advised to use a harm reduction (HR) method known as Cold Water Extraction (CWE) to separate the paracetamol or ibuprofen from the codeine as much as possible. Rather than explain the method of CWE I will leave the link to an informative thread produced by monstanoodle, titled; Newcomers - Cold Water Extraction: Method Do's & Don'ts . There are also plenty other threads that explain this technique in various places on BL particularly in sub-forums Basic Drug Discussion or Other Drugs.
When used for pain relief in conjuction with the other aforementioned drugs, it's usually in pill or capsule form. For supression of dry cough codeine is in liquid form know as Codeine Linctus. A prescription is not needed to purchase codeine linctus but it is down to the descretion of the pharmacist whether or not s/he will sell it to the customer. Whether or not codeine, for pain relief, has to be prescribed or can be given over the counter (OTC) is determined by the strength in dose of the codeine. Anything that is 12.8 mg codeine or less can be obtained OTC, but similar to codeine linctus, it all depends on the descretion of the pharmacists. 15 n 30 mg codeine, whether with other drugs or codeine only, cannot be obtained without a prescription in the UK.
Another piece of HR advice is to not use the route of administration (ROA), intravenous (IV) commonly known as injecting for codeine. Doing so could possibly bring on a excessive release of histamine, possibly leading to hypotension, which is otherwise known as low blood pressure. According to Medscape.com it is possible that the myocardial function may become depressed and also report a possible link between IV codeine in children and seizers. Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, and naloxone an opiate antagonist, were administered to a seven year child after having a seizer - and stopped further or continuing seizers. With the mention of naloxone it is important to note that naloxone is also used for opiate-overdose (OD), partially Heroin, where the public are advised to use the ROA, inter-muscle (IM) often advised to use the thigh muscle and through the person's clothing as it's an emergency. Many areas within the UK offer training to addicts and professionals as well as hand out naloxone kits as a HR measure.
It is advisable not to take codeine while breastfeeding a baby - or to stop breastfeeding if put onto codeine. This is because the codeine is metabolized to morphine in the liver n Morphine can go through breastmilk potentially causing harm or even death to the child.
Further advice would be to be careful taking codeine with other depressant substances including other opiates as well as benzos n alcoholsi. This is especially so if the person is abusing / addicted to codeine n thus taking large qualities. Consuming codeine with other depressant substances heightens the possible risk respiratory depression n possibly death.
What is addiction?
Addiction can be a physical or psychological (or both) attachment to the behaviour or substance, often termed drug of choice (DoC). A person has become addicted when they realise they have tried to stop but are unable to - ans when the desire becomes as important - or more so - than eating, drinking or survival in general.
Some definitions of addiction;
"A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses." Dictionary.com
"Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance." Medical Dictionary
Evey
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if any one else has any advice on going ct please help!
