Codterpinum - the flip side of the cough medicine

Codterpinum is a popular drug sold by pharmacy chains. It demonstrates high efficiency in the treatment of dry cough problems. The active ingredient is codeine, an opium alkaloid with narcotic properties.

When using codeine in recommended doses, it is safe for humans and does not cause addiction. Still, with irregular intake, the amount of codeine entering the body increases significantly, which provokes the gradual development of stable codeine addiction with all the ensuing consequences. The drug codterpin’s high popularity is explained by its high availability: it is legal and relatively cheap.

Features of the medication

Available in tablet form by various manufacturers (package design may vary significantly). It is prescribed by family doctors, therapists, and other specialists for the treatment of dry cough and a number of respiratory diseases.

The main feature of codterpinum is the active substance “Codeine,” which has narcotic and analgesic properties. Exceeding the recommended dose, it provides a noticeable psychostimulating effect, due to which it gained high popularity among young people. Specialists of the narcological clinic “MEDLUX” in Kyiv characterize the resulting euphoric effect from codterpinum, as comparable to heavier opiates: methadone and heroin.

Signs of codterpinum addiction

Taking excessive doses of codterpinum is accompanied by symptomatic manifestations, due to which relatives and those around the addict can determine the presence of dependence. The main signs of codterpinum addiction include:

Atypical behavior caused by a feeling of euphoria;
Dry mouth, intense thirst;
Drowsiness, regardless of the time of day;
Violation of consciousness, distortion of perception of the surrounding world;
Increased respiratory activity, without high physical activity;
Abrupt changes in human behavior, mood swings, and use of new slang;
New dubious acquaintances, phone calls, hidden exits from the house in the evening (for 3-5 hours).

Back call

Signs of codterpinum addiction may differ depending on the length of use and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Please note that codeine addiction is prevalent in teen addiction – the average life of a codeine addict is 30-32 years, so when the first signs are found, you should immediately contact a narcologist for help.

Addiction development and consequences of use

Unlike salts and other powerful narcotic substances, addiction to codterpinum does not develop immediately. After the first dose, there is no withdrawal syndrome, so immediate detoxification from drugs is not required. The process of developing addiction is gradual, including three main stages:

The first stage – lasts up to six months, accompanied by sleep disturbance, diuretic disorders, a gradual increase in tolerance to the drug (to achieve the desired effect, the patient regularly increases the dose);
The second stage – the formation of psychological dependence on the substance, tolerance increases in parallel, and the nature of drug intoxication also changes: intestinal disorders and diuresis disappear, the person becomes very sluggish, the physiological effect of codeine entering the body disappears;
The third stage is the final one. A person acquires all the signs of drug addiction. Moreover, severe consequences of systematic intoxication of the body appear. The interval between using the next dose is reduced to 4-5 hours. The life of a drug addict turns into existence with a single goal – to get a new dose and use it. Drug addiction treatment is less effective at this stage than in the first or second stages.

Codterpinum – narcotic effect

Therapeutic doses of codterpinum are up to 3 tablets per day. But to obtain a narcotic effect and imaginary euphoria, an experienced drug addict can increase the dose to 20-30 tablets daily.

A few minutes after taking the pills, a person feels imaginary positive sensations. One’s body feels slightly relaxed, and there is a feeling of euphoria, a wave of energy. Sociability increases, carelessness appears, and the pain threshold decreases, so many codterpinum addicts can take rash actions that lead to severe or fatal consequences.

The narcotic effect persists for 4-6 hours after taking the drug. Experienced drug addicts suffer from withdrawal symptoms. To get rid of withdrawal symptoms, a new dose or complex detoxification of the body in a drug clinic is required.

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Withdrawal from codeterpinum

When stopping the use of the drug, a person dependent on codterpinum experiences withdrawal symptoms, which are accompanied by psychological and physical suffering. Psychologically, the addict strongly desires to find the next dose and use it to relieve physical suffering and again feel an imaginary euphoria.

Withdrawal from codterpinum causes the patient severe physical suffering. They feel pain all over their body, cannot sleep, feel cramps in the abdomen, etc. Blood pressure rises, tachycardia, rapid breathing, and increased sweating are observed during withdrawal. The best way to quickly and with minimal discomfort for a drug addict to relieve withdrawal symptoms is a comprehensive detoxification of the body – this can be done by calling a narcologist from MEDLUX to one’s house in Kyiv or visiting a narcological hospital.

The consequences of using the drug

Abnormal use of the drug codterpinum has many negative consequences for a person’s mental and physical health. The result of codterpinum addiction is severe disorders of the nervous system, exacerbation of chronic diseases, psychological exhaustion, and metabolic disorders.

Gradually, the drug addict loses normal sleep and wakefulness patterns, nervosa, psychosis, and depressive states appear, which often lead to rash, life-threatening actions. Vision also worsens, the skin acquires an earthy hue, sweating increases, and convulsive phenomena are possible. The most dangerous consequence, in the absence of timely treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, is death.

Codterpinum addiction treatment

Treatment of codterpinum addiction is always complex, carried out by specialists in narcology. The number of stages and the duration of treatment may vary, taking into account the complexity of the problem and the period of drug use by the addict. The main stages of treatment are:

Initial examination of a drug addict – an assessment of the mental and physical condition of the patient is carried out, and the type and stage of drug addiction are determined;
Detoxification – the remains of the drug codterpinum and toxic products of its decay are removed from the body. It also allows the patient to go through the withdrawal period comfortably;
Medication therapy – the normalization of the work of vital organs and systems of the body;
Rehabilitation is the longest stage of treatment, allowing a person to return to an everyday life where there are close people and a favorite business, but no drugs.

Is your loved one abusing Codterpinum or already addicted? Contact the MEDLUX specialists in Kyiv, and they will help!