Does Codeine Reduce or Can it Cause Anxiety?

Codeine is a prescribed drug used to treat coughs and pain that can cause addiction and be abused. Co-occuring conditions, like anxiety, are often found in users of codeine.

Codeineis a commonly prescribedopiateused for pain and severe cough. While considered by some to be a less risky opiate, codeine is still dangerous and highly addictive. More than half of all opiate prescriptions are written for patients who also have a co-occurringmental health conditionlikeanxiety.

People with mental health conditions like anxiety are also at a higher risk of misusing or abusing medications prescribed and becoming addicted. The connection between opiates, like codeine, and anxiety is known by medical and mental health professionals but not always understood.

Article at a Glance:

Some relevant facts to remember about codeine and anxiety include:

• Whether anxiety or codeine use comes first, treating an anxiety disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder requires a skilled professional.
• People with mental health conditions like anxiety are also at a higher risk of misusing or abusing medications prescribed and becoming addicted.
• More than half of all opiate prescriptions are written for patients who also have a co-occurring mental health condition like anxiety.
• While codeine may initially cause an anti-anxiety effect, it’s often not long-lasting.

Does Codeine Reduce Anxiety?

People seeking a quick fix for anxiety may ask “Does codeine reduce anxiety?” or “Is codeine good for anxiety?” While codeine may initially cause an anti-anxiety effect, it’s often not long-lasting. A person using codeine to reduce anxietywill need to continually take the drug.

Can Codeine Cause Anxiety?

People who misuse codeine for anxiety relief have reported codeine causing anxiety. Someone who abuses codeine and has experienced symptoms of anxiety after its use may wonder, “Can codeine cause anxiety?”.

For those people who use codeine as prescribed, anxiety side effects are not uncommon. When codeine use becomes chronic, anxiety is likely to be experienced when codeine is not being used. Not only is the anxiety awithdrawal symptom of codeinebut it is also associated with the craving to use codeine.

Codeine Anxiety Attack

Codeine anxiety attacks are uncommon and likely occur more frequently for people who use codeine with a pre-existing anxiety disorder. Someone who experiences an anxiety attack when withdrawing from codeine may feel the only way to avoid a future attack is to continue codeine use. Using codeine to avoid experiencing symptoms of anxiety can become a negative cycle in which fear of anxiety encourages more use of the drug which further inhibits someone from managing anxiety using healthy coping mechanisms.

If you think you may be addicted to codeine, take thisself-assessment.

Codeine and Anxiety Treatment

Effective treatment is available for people who struggle withsubstance use disorder and anxiety. Whether someone uses codeine to relieve anxiety or develops anxiety following opioid use, recovery is possible. When substance use and anxiety treatment are co-occurring, a structured treatment plan is likely to give the best outcomes. Whether someone seeksinpatientoroutpatient treatment, an effectiveanxiety treatmentplan could include:

• Peer support
• Individual counseling
• Medication management for codeine anddepressiontreatment
• Medical support duringdetoxification
• Family education and counseling
• Step-down and transitional services
• Follow-up and on-going support

If you or a loved one struggles withaddictionand a co-occurringmental health conditionlike anxiety, help is available at treatment centers across the country. The Recovery Village offers comprehensive treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. For more information about our care options,reach out to a representativetoday.