[https://newerablog.com/must-read-advantage-and-disadvantage-of-codeine/]Codeine, when used appropriately and under the supervision of healthcare professionals, offers several advantages:[/https://newerablog.com/must-read-advantage-and-disadvantage-of-codeine/]

1. **Pain Relief:** Codeine is an effective analgesic, providing relief from moderate to moderately severe pain. It can be particularly helpful in managing pain following surgeries, injuries, or medical procedures.

2. **Cough Suppression:** Codeine is commonly used to suppress coughing. It helps to alleviate the urge to cough, providing relief from persistent or irritating coughs caused by various respiratory conditions.

3. **Widely Available:** Codeine is available in various forms, including tablets, capsules, and syrups, making it accessible for medical use in different situations.

4. **Combination Medications:** Codeine is often combined with other medicinal ingredients, such as acetaminophen or acetylsalicylic acid, to enhance its effectiveness in treating specific conditions. These combination medications can provide a broader spectrum of relief.

5. **Lower-Dose Options:** Some lower-dose codeine products are available without a prescription, allowing individuals to temporarily manage mild to moderate pain or cough symptoms under the guidance of a pharmacist.

6. **Quick Action:** Codeine is absorbed relatively quickly into the bloodstream, leading to relatively rapid pain relief or cough suppression, depending on the intended use.

7. **Alternative to Stronger Opioids:** In certain situations, codeine can serve as an alternative to stronger opioids like morphine or oxycodone for managing pain, as it may have a milder effect and fewer side effects.

However, it is essential to note that the use of codeine comes with potential risks and side effects, especially when used improperly or in excessive amounts. Codeine is classified as an opioid and can lead to dependence, addiction, and respiratory depression when misused. Therefore, it should be used strictly according to prescribed guidelines, and healthcare professionals should closely monitor its use to ensure patient safety.

Short-term effects of codeine
The potency of codeine is unpredictable and it can be hard to tell how it will affect each individual because each person breaks down codeine differently and at different speeds. How quickly codeine affects you also depends on how you take it.

Mental effects
When you use codeine, especially at high doses, it reaches your brain and produces light sedation followed progressively by a feeling of well-being (euphoria) between 20 and 60 minutes later. The effects usually taper off in 2-3 hours.

Other effects are:

confusion
dizziness
going “on the nod” (being in and out of consciousness)
Physical effects
Codeine taken at high doses could produce the following effects that can last 3-5 hours:

drowsiness
headaches
slowed breathing
nausea and vomiting
smaller (constricted) pupils
feeling heavy in the arms and legs
severe itching or warm/hot sensation on the skin
If you take codeine along with too much acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid (which are often combined with codeine), it can result in liver toxicity and gastrointestinal bleeding. These severe medical conditions can cause the following symptoms:

constipation
feeling weak
fast heartbeat
blood in vomit
muscle cramps
black or tarry stool
severe pain in the chest and/or gut
Long-term effects of codeine
Codeine has many harmful effects on your body and mind when taken repeatedly over many days, weeks, and months.

Like all opioids, codeine can cause physical dependence. To avoid symptoms of withdrawal, people who use codeine for a long time may feel the need to use it every day.





Mental effects
Like for other opioids, long-term codeine use can cause:

worsening pain (known as “opioid-induced hyperalgesia”)
substance use disorder or dependence
changing moods
lack of emotion (apathy)
depression, suicidal thoughts
learning and memory problems
difficulty in controlling impulsive behaviour
Physical effects
Long-term codeine or opioid use can also cause:

increased tolerance to opioids
insomnia
severe constipation
poor nutrition, weight loss
sexual problems in men
irregular menstrual cycles in women
irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest
Risks related to codeine use
Even the use of lower-dose codeine medications over an extended period can cause dependence, problematic use, risk of slowed breathing, and death.

As products with codeine are often combined with other medicinal ingredients, some of the risk comes from the acetaminophen or acetylsalicylic acid in the product, which are associated with liver and kidney toxicity or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially when taken at higher than recommended doses.

Like other opioids, codeine use carries a risk of overdose and poisoning if you consume more than recommended. Symptoms of overdose include:

unresponsiveness
slow, shallow breathing
gurgling sounds or snoring
cold, clammy or bluish skin
severe sleepiness or loss of consciousness
In large quantities, codeine can stop your breathing. This can be fatal.
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