Codeine Overdose

Codeine overdose can cause dangerous respiratory failure.

Caution with Codeine

Codeine overdose may occur less often than overdose on other opiate painkillers, because Codeine has a ceiling effect: increased doses render decreased results.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), drug overdose now ranks as the second-leading cause of accidental death in the US (2004).

• Codeine acts less powerfully than other opioids; Codeine overdose is unlikely due to its ceiling effect around 400-450 mg. (i)
• Respiratory depression is the most severe—possibly fatal--reaction associated with opioid overuse in general.

3. Federal law prohibits sharing Codeine or other controlled narcotic medications with others. Different patients and illnesses require different treatments.

Codeine Overdose Symptoms

• Bluish fingernails and lips
• Cold, clammy skin
• Coma
• Constipation
• Convulsions or seizures
• Dizziness, Fainting
• Extreme weakness
• Itching skin
• Loss of breath
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle spasms, twitches
• Pinpoint pupils
• Sedation
• Shallow or stopped breathing
• Short or slowed breathing
• Stomach spasms
• Weak pulse
  

Other opioid overdose symptoms:

• Dark urine
• Diarrhea
• Increased, unusual sweating
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe confusion
• Severe drowsiness
• Severe nervousness
• Yellow eyes or skin

If you suspect an opiate or Codeine overdose, contact a local emergency room, poison control center, or the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Are You Addicted to Codeine?

• You feel physically ill, when you stop taking Codeine.
• You require more to achieve the same effect.
• You take Codeine more often in greater doses than prescribed.
• You sense shame concerning your Codeine use.
• You loose the pleasure of simple things.
• You become indifferent to family, sexual relations, or outings.

Your dependency becomes addiction when:

• You rotate between doctors or hospital emergency rooms.
• You commit illegal acts in order to buy Codeine.
• You purchase medicine on the street to maintain a supply.

The above indicate your Codeine use has reached an addictive level.

If you increasingly self-administer opiate drugs (ii) like Codeine, seek medical attention. The Waismann Method of Rapid Detoxification humanely treats individuals who have a physical opioid dependency.

"Lifting the Burden of Dependency" by Darla Carter, excerpted below:

“…Many at-risk youths are downing soda laced with prescription cough syrup containing Codeine (an opioid), promethazine (an antihistamine) and alcohol because it's been promoted by some rappers as something cool,” said Dr. Ronald Peters, assistant professor of health promotion at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Houston.

(i) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codeine

(ii) Other prescription painkillers include Anexsia®, Darvocet®, Hycodan®, Hycomine®, Lorazapam®, Lorcet®, Lortab®, Norco®, OxyContin®, Percocet®, Tramadol®, Tussionex®, Tylox®, Vicoprofen®, and Zydone®, among various brands and generics.