The effects of codeine can vary based on the chemical structure of the user, as well as the amount that is used, the length of time it is abused, and how pure the codeine is. However, any abuse is harmful.
If codeine abuse leads to addiction, it will require professional treatment, so it is important to seek help as soon as possible because it will take just as long to recover as it took to become addicted.
If you or someone you know is suffering from codeine abuse or addiction, please call 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?) and someone will assist you in finding the help needed.
Mood Symptoms of Codeine
Codeine abuse can have a noticeable effect on a person’s mood. Often, a codeine user may shift through multiple different moods, exhibiting things such as:
- Euphoria
- Anxiety
- Calmness
- Depression
According to the National Institutes of Health, some of these symptoms may be serious enough to need to be addressed by a medical professional, like extreme mood swings. A change in mood can branch from the causes of the abuse and enhance the negative emotions, most commonly depression and anxiety. Codeine abuse can also cause the person to feel and act uncharacteristically euphoric and calm.
Behavioral Symptoms of Abuse
Codeine abuse can cause extreme mood shifts.
Codeine is commonly used as a cold medicine, so it is not surprising to find that the abuser will feel drowsier than normal and sleep more than they normally would. Users may exhibit behavior such as apathy or indifference toward their loved ones.
The euphoria an addict gets from codeine abuse may cause further behavioral changes, often so they can get another dose. Behaviors that manifest to acquire more codeine include:
- Faking illnesses to multiple doctors to obtain more codeine prescriptions
- Ordering codeine online
- Forging prescriptions
- Stealing to get it from their loved ones
Physical Symptoms of Codeine Abuse
While behavioral symptoms are hidden by the abuser, the physical symptoms are very noticeable and can be spotted by family and friends. These symptoms can include:
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Dry mouth
- Seizure
- Blue tinged lips and fingernails
- Respiratory depression
- Rashes
- Decreased libido
- Urinary retention
- Muscle twitches
- Itching
- Hypotension
The cause of the physical symptoms may be first mistaken as something else, but they are often severe enough to warrant medical intervention. Treatment of the physical symptoms will usually lead to the uncovering of the person’s codeine abuse.
The Psychological Symptoms
The brain can be affected by codeine abuse and can cause many symptoms that can also be detected by loved ones. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, codeine acts as a depressant of the central nervous system, which can cause a sedative or calm effect. But, it can also cause:
- Sensation of physical distortion
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Memory loss
- Lack of emotion
Codeine abuse can cause just as many problems as addiction and should be treated before it becomes a full blown addiction. By knowing the mood, behavioral, physical, and psychological symptoms of codeine abuse, loved ones can stage an intervention or a sit down and calmly convince the abuser or addict to seek treatment.
For more information on codeine abuse, contact opium.org at 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?).
How Long Does Suboxone Last? -
Suboxone is a medication assisted treatment option recommended by many medical professionals due to its effectiveness and low abuse potential. 
Surprising Ways to Help a Loved One During Recovery from Opium Addiction -
One of the reasons addicts return to substance abuse again and again is their warped relationship with dopamine. When it experiences pleasure, the brain increases levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemicals that transmit signals in the brain). This is one reason human beings strive to seek out pleasurable activities; they get rewarded. When opium is ... 
Opium Addiction Treatment -
Opium is a substance that is derived from the poppy plant and which causes a euphoric state when smoked or eaten. The drug is considered a narcotic and was widely abused throughout Chinese culture for hundreds of years before the dangers of addiction were first noticed. Opium addiction has led to life-threatening consequences, dangerous illness and a world ... 
5 Tips to Prevent Holiday Opiate Relapse -
It is extremely difficult to stay away from opiates if you are craving them as a recovering addict. The stress of the holidays just makes these cravings worse especially if you are freshly out of rehab or still in outpatient treatment. Many people start using opiates as a form of self-medication. They use them to ... 
Why Is Opium Addictive? -
About Opium According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, the opium poppy has had a long history of being used for medications. The ancient Mesopotamian and Sumerian cultures passed it on to the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, and the Greeks introduced opium to India and Persia, where it was grown in mass quantities. Opium ...