Codeine medicine is indicated for the short-term relief of mild to moderate body pain. It is usually used when other forms of non-opioid pain relievers have not able to manage pain. People all over the world not only buy Codeine online for the treatment of chronic pain but also to suppress dry cough.
Details on Codeine Medicine
Codeine is classified as an opiate analgesic and antitussive medication. It is often combined with other drugs and can be habit-forming. Moreover, in long-term use for severe pain management, Codeine can lead to dependence. Hence it is available with a valid prescription only.
Codeine is primarily used for managing moderate to severe bodily pain or muscle spasms. Apart from that, Codeine is also used as a cough suppressant and is occasionally used to treat gastrointestinal problems.
How Codeine Works
Codeine’s mechanism of working in the body is similar to that of Morphine and Hydrocodone. Interestingly, a small amount of Codeine is converted to Morphine in the body during metabolization. Just like Morphine, Codeine binds to receptors in the brain called opioid receptors that are responsible for transmitting the sensation of pain throughout the body.
Codeine increases the tolerance of an individual to feel pain. Indeed decreasing the discomfort due to musculoskeletal pain. Additionally, Codeine also causes an effect of sedation and drowsiness. This medicine is generally combined with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Aspirin to increase its effectiveness.
Codeine Precautions
Codeine may not suitable to be used by all individuals. It may suit the patient’s systems or may not. Always try to buy Codeine online in the exact dosage while ordering it online. To ensure Codeine is safe for use, let your doctor know before starting the medicine if you have:
Ever had an allergic reaction to codeine
A lungs problem
A head injury
Problems in the adrenal gland
Any condition inducing seizures or fits
Alcohol or other drugs addiction
An underactive thyroid gland
Kidney and liver problems
Gallstones
Low blood pressure
Myasthenia gravis
Ulcerative colitis
Are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding
Codeine Dosage and Usage
Codeine alone or in combination with other medications is supplied as a tablet, a capsule, and a solution for oral use. The available variants of Codeine on the Rxpharmasmeds website are:
Codeine 15 mg
Codeine 30 mg
Codeine 300/30 mg
Codeine 60 mg
Dosage for Pain Relief
For adults: 1-2 tablets of Codeine 30 mg should be taken every 4 hours. A maximum of 8 tablets must be used in a day.
For children (aged 12 to 17 years): 1-2 tablets of Codeine 30 mg is prescribed to be taken in 6 hours intervals.
For Geriatric use or people with kidney and liver problems: 1 tablet of Codeine 15 mg is sufficient. It must be taken every 4 hours.
Dosage for Cough
One or two 5 ml spoonful of Codeine cough syrup is recommended to be taken 3 or 4 times in a single day. This is common for both adults and children.
Overdose of Codeine
When an individual uses Codeine medicine excessively or in a greater amount than prescribed, he/she is most likely to suffer from overdosing. For the same reason, it is strictly advised to order Codeine as per the prescription whenever you opt to buy Codeine online. Due to overdosing various symptoms can be induced. Some of the symptoms of overdose are:
Difficulty while breathing
Excessive drowsiness
Loss of muscle tone
Cold and clammy skin surface
Fainting
Dizziness
Slowed heartbeat
Harmful Effects of Using Codeine
Agitation
Hallucinations
Fever
Sweating
Confusion
Fast heartbeats
Shivering and chills
Severe muscle twitching
Loss of coordination
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite, weakness, and dizziness
Erectile dysfunction
Irregular menstruation
Decreased sex drive
Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
Rashes and itching
Hives
Change in vision
Seizures, etc.
An authorized doctor will always consider all the risks related to Codeine use before prescribing. Following the doctor’s prescription to buy Codeine online from any telemedicine provider or any online pharmacy is a very good idea.
Drug interaction
Opioid medication like Codeine can interact with many other drugs and substances causing fatal side effects or even death. Make sure your doctor is well informed about all your medical history and the medications used recently. Inform the concerned doctor if you use:
Cold, allergy medicines, COPD medication, or a diuretic pill
Medicines for motion sickness and bowel syndrome
Other opioid or narcotic medications
Sedatives like Valium – diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, Versed, etc.
Muscle relaxers and sleeping pills like Ambien, Lunesta, or Restoril. etc.
Stimulants, or medicine for depression,
Medicines for Parkinson’s disease, migraine or headache
Codeine can impair the thinking and physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery.
Alcohol
Drugs that stimulate and block opioid receptors (like Pentazocine) tend to reduce the effect of Codeine.
Anticholinergic drugs
Codeine should not be used by patients taking Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Codeine Dependency
Tolerance can be defined as the need for increasing doses of opioids to maintain the drug effects. Whereas physical dependence can be described by the withdrawal symptoms after abrupt discontinuation of the drug. Physical dependence and tolerance are not unusual during chronic opioid pain-relief treatment.
The opioid withdrawal syndrome can be characterized by:
Uncontrolled cravings for Codeine
Searching for Codeine drug-containing medicines
Dilated pupils
Abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
Lack of appetite
Runny nose, sneezing, sweating, chills, and fever
Difficulty while sleeping
Pain in muscles and joints
Getting goosebumps
Restlessness, irritability, depression
Increased blood pressure and respiratory rate, etc.
Addiction and Withdrawal
Codeine is addictive, as it is a Schedule II controlled substance drug. Mental and physical dependence are common but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief treatment. Using Codeine during pregnancy can lead to a life-threatening opioid withdrawal syndrome in the newborn
When Codeine is abruptly withdrawn after prolonged use, symptoms of withdrawal may develop easily. To avoid withdrawal symptoms the dose of Codeine must be reduced or tapered gradually. If the Codeine medication is discontinued all of a sudden, withdrawal symptoms can be observed including:
Agitation
Anxiety
Shaking or tremors
Unusual sweating, etc.