How do NJ rehabs approach codeine addiction specifically? First of all, codeine is a very weak opiate found naturally in the opium poppy. It can also be prepared from morphine, which is another natural opium alkaloid, but codeine is technically an opiate, not an opioid. Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. An opioid is a substance, either synthetic or natural, that happens to have opioid-like effects on the body. These would include pain relief, sedation and euphoria. A New Jersey rehab would specifically be likely to take advantage of codeine’s typically milder withdrawal syndrome.
Fentanyl is an example of a synthetic opioid. Kratom is an example of a natural one. Opioids may or may not be chemically similar to opiates, but any semi-synthetic opioid like oxycodone, hydromorphone or hydrocodone would still have the basic morphinan, or morphine-like, structure that opiates like morphine do. On the other hand, kratom is a totally natural opioid with a completely different chemical structure when compared to morphinan compounds. All opioids, natural or not, work by binding to and activating the mu, delta and kappa receptor sites in the brain, spinal cord, stomach and intestines. Codeine is also called methylmorphine.
More About Codeine
New Jersey rehabs may approach codeine addiction differently, because it’s a bit different than many other opioids. For one thing, it’s relatively very weak. Withdrawal symptoms may be mild enough to manage without using other opioids. Any drug rehab would want to do a detox that way if possible. For another thing, codeine is a pro-drug. That means it has no drug activity of its own. Its effect comes from the way the body metabolizes it. Once in the body, codeine is converted to morphine. It’s the morphine, not the codeine, which produces pain relief and other effects. The ratio of this conversion is determined by a certain enzyme in the body. In turn, the percentage of the codeine dose converted to morphine is quite individual. Generally speaking, the conversion ratio ranges from 3 to 10 percent, but that’s a big difference.
For an adult, this is not dangerous, but many pediatricians don’t prescribe codeine to young children for this reason. Someone who takes 30 milligrams of codeine, for example, would expect to actually get no more than three milligrams’ worth of effect at the very most. It could be much less. That’s not really very much morphine, especially by mouth, and that’s probably why codeine tends to produce very low-level addictions, physically speaking. Codeine addiction may also be limited by its strong tendency to produce intense itching when taken in single doses exceeding 90 milligrams or so.
However, it can produce a psychological addiction as powerful as any other opiate or opioid.
New Jersey rehabs would be likely to look at your total codeine intake. If it’s not that much, with your permission, they may attempt to detox you without using Suboxone. Suboxone, although a very useful for both detox and long-term opioid addiction management, is still far, far stronger than codeine. In a way, it makes no sense to treat codeine addiction with Suboxone.
Clonidine
Clonidine is a non-addictive beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and some heart conditions. However, it’s also helpful in reducing many symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It doesn’t treat them all, but the New Jersey rehab may decide to add other non-addictive medications for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. There are medications that work very well for these last three symptoms, just about wiping them out entirely. Insomnia can be managed with tranquilizing drugs or even non-addictive melatonin, chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine. There are also medications for restless leg syndrome or muscle twitches should they occur, but with codeine withdrawal, they may not.
Some Encouraging Words
Codeine withdrawal isn’t that hard to get through compared to other stronger opioids like fentanyl. Although it can and will produce some of the narcotic withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, bone, stomach and muscle pain, these tend to be much milder and possibly treatable without using other powerful opioid agents like Suboxone and methadone. However, if you do need them, they should be available to you, as long as you’re in a medical detox situation and not a social one.
Do you Need Help?
If you need help with codeine addiction, the time to seek help is now. Do it before you start taking much stronger opioids that are far harder to detox from. We’re trained drug counselors familiar with codeine addiction and which New Jersey facilities would be best for you. Just call us anytime at 833-610-1174. Your call is confidential. We look forward to helping you.