Codeine Detox
Medical detox can help ease the transition off Codeine and reduce withdrawal symptoms. For many, this detox is the first step in recovery, and it may be done at home. Codeine, an opioid prescribed for coughs or mild to moderate pain, can still lead to dependence and addiction.
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What Is Codeine Detox?
Codeine detox is a process that involves slowly lowering your dosage day-by-day or week-by-week until you can safely go without the drug. This process is called “tapering.”
Throughout medical detox, a team of healthcare personnel provides varying levels of medical supervision depending on your individual needs. So, you won’t go through it alone, and you can get help through intense withdrawal symptoms.
Medical detox can take place in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitalization
- Standalone detox centers
- Inpatient treatment facilities (i.e., residential rehab)
- Outpatient clinics
Is It Safe to Detox from Codeine at Home?
It’s not advisable to detox from Codeine on your own. Many attempts to quit drugs solo don’t establish lasting change. Additionally, quitting abruptly can lead to worse mental and physical symptoms, which can drive you to seek other opioids or return to Codeine abuse for relief.
Plus, while opioid withdrawals aren’t typically life-threatening, some people have died due to complications from their symptoms, like dehydration or low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia).
That said, not everyone needs to check into an inpatient clinic to detox from Codeine. Outpatient detox programs allow you to live at home while you go through medical detox.
People with mild-to-moderate Codeine dependence, access to transportation, and a good support system may find outpatient detox to be a good fit.
What to Expect During Codeine Detox
During your Codeine detox, your care team may suggest switching you to a slower-acting opioid before beginning your taper, like methadone or buprenorphine. While these drugs have longer withdrawal periods, they can also come with milder withdrawal symptoms.
Other tapering methods involve giving you non-opioid medications, such as clonidine or lofexidine. These drugs interact with your central nervous system (CNS) and help relieve certain opioid withdrawal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and sweating.
According to a 2015 case review in Australia and New South Wales, opioid substitution was the most common treatment option for Codeine addiction, with buprenorphine more popular than methadone.
Codeine Withdrawal Symptoms
Even with medical interventions and a slow taper, you may still experience some common opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Some withdrawal symptoms arise directly from how codeine affects the body, often producing opposite effects. For instance, while codeine typically causes drowsiness and constipation, stopping its use can lead to insomnia and an upset stomach.
Typical symptoms of codeine withdrawal can include:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Muscle aches
- Hot flashes or chills
- Runny nose
- Insomnia
- Increased or rapid heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Muscle aches or twitches
- Racing heart
- Sweating
- Cravings for Codeine
Withdrawal symptoms for short-acting opioids like Codeine start 12 to 24 hours after your last dose of Codeine and typically subside within 4 to 7 days. But if you switch to a longer-acting opioid, side effects can start within 1 to 3 days and can last two weeks or more.
Codeine Detox and Withdrawal Timeline
There isn’t a universal tapering schedule for Codeine withdrawal syndrome: Your doctor will customize one for you based on your usual dosage, how long you’ve used Codeine, and which medication you taper with.
However, you can see examples of suggested tapering schedules for different medications in the table below.
| Medication | Day 1 | Day 2 onward |
| Buprenorphine | 2 to 4 mg every hour for four hours | Begin with 16 mg twice daily, then decrease 2 to 4 mg per day |
| Methadone | 10 mg every 6 to 8 hours for a maximum dosage of 40 mg | Decrease by 10 mg each day up to four days, then 2 mg each day.
Or decrease by 5 mg every day. |
| Clonidine | 0.1–0.2 mg every 4 to 6 hours | Decrease by 0.1–0.2 mg every day |
| Lofexidine | 0.54–0.72 mg every 6 hours | Decrease by 0.18 mg every 1 to 2 days. |
The total length of your taper will vary. For example, non-opioid medications like lofexidine should only be used for up to 2 weeks. However, some evidence connects longer tapering schedules to better results for slow-acting opioid tapers.
For example, one older study found that 4-week buprenorphine detoxes led to better abstinence rates than opioid tapers lasting 1 to 2 weeks.
Another study on methadone found that opioid tapers lasting 12 weeks to a year were more effective than those lasting less than 12 weeks. Although, both studies involved a more potent opioid than Codeine.
What Happens After Codeine Detox?
Completing medical detox is something to be proud of, but it isn’t a “one-and-done” solution for Codeine addiction. In fact, people who don’t get follow-up treatment after medical detox don’t always have the tools to maintain long-term sobriety.
So, many people choose to continue their treatment with one of the following options.
Codeine Rehab
Rehabilitation (rehab) programs address both the physical and mental effects of addiction (i.e., substance use disorder).
Some rehab programs include medical detox as a first step in their treatment. However, they may also include access to counseling services, such as individual sessions, family therapy, and group therapy.
Just like individual medical detox programs, you can go through rehab in different settings, such as checking into an inpatient treatment center or visiting an outpatient treatment program while you live at home.
Counseling
If you don’t want to go through a rehab program or don’t have the budget, you can also try addiction therapy during or after detox.
One of the most common therapy methods for substance use disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) This technique works by giving you new tools to cope with unhelpful thought patterns.
Studies have linked CBT to lower use of Codeine and other opioids. For example, one 2016 study found that opioid addicts who received CBT in addition to medical treatment had double the abstinence rates of those who had medical interventions only.
Codeine Support Groups
Support groups are meetings where recovering Codeine addicts and their loved ones can discuss their experiences and form new connections. One of the most popular support groups is Narcotics Anonymous (NA,) which follows a 12-step model like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA.)
A 2015 study found that attending a 12-step program in addition to buprenorphine maintenance treatment led to better results during the first six months of opioid addiction treatment.
Additionally, people involved in support groups often cite them as instrumental parts of their long-term recovery success.
Find Codeine Detox and Addiction Treatment
Codeine withdrawals can make you sick and uncomfortable.
Thankfully, a professionally guided medical detox program can help you transition off the drug as a first step on your recovery journey.
FAQs About Codeine Detox
Do I need to go through detox when quitting codeine?
While you don’t have to go through a medical detox to stop Codeine use, quitting cold turkey is associated with more severe withdrawal symptoms. A Codeine medical detox can lead to a more comfortable withdrawal period and provide the first steps toward lasting change.
Are codeine withdrawals dangerous?
Codeine withdrawals aren’t typically life-threatening. However, there have been rare cases of people who die from complications of opioid withdrawal, like dehydration.
How long does it take to detox from codeine?
The amount of time it takes to detox from Codeine varies from person to person. Some opioid tapers last anywhere from 4 weeks to a year or more.
