The
innocuous cough syrup that usually acts immediately when one has a
common cold or bad cough in providing relief to us , can also become
addictive if taken in unnatural amounts for a long enough period
time.
The
addictive component is the derivative of codeine or of opioid origin.
This
requires a doctor’s prescription to obtain from the pharmacy.
The
normal medical dose is 5-10ml a day about two or three times as
advised by the physician.
Common
brand names- Phensedyl, Corex etc.
If
taken in large quantities it gives a drowsy feeling , buzzed out
throughout the day which is then enjoyed by the person who is using
it.
Quantities
taken can be several bottles of 100ml or 50ml orally per day.
Side
effects- Perspiration, insomnia, dryness of mouth, weight
loss, lack of appetite, overt drowsiness, respiratory depression,
pain in stomach, constipation, headache, dizziness, nausea ,
vomiting, anxiety, pancreatitis, Itchiness of skin, lowered blood
pressure.
Long
term effects of addiction - Insomnia, anxiety, nightmares,
liver damage, physical pain, seizures, motor tremors, coma, death,
multiple organ damage
Overdose-
can result in - Pin point pupils, heaviness in chest,
Unconsciousness, cyanosis (blueness around the lips and nail beds) ,
difficulty in breathing due to respiratory distress, Chest pain,
sluggish pulse rate, vomiting, fatigue that is extreme.
Treatment
This
involves stopping the substance to begin with . This can give rise to
withdrawal symptoms that can be as follows-
Insomnia,
stomach cramps, headaches, muscle pains, diarrhea, lack of appetite,
rapid heartbeat, lachrymation, runny nose, yawning, heaviness in
head, nausea, vomiting.
The
period of Detoxification enables the individual seeking help to get
beyond the withdrawals.
Treatment
involves residential stay at a rehabilitation center for about 8-12
weeks in an accepting loving compassionate ambience. Treatment is of
the addictive traits in the person and the inability to manage and
deal with emotions that make the person doing the only thing they
know to cope ie of using
Meditative
techniques that are psychotherapeutic enable the client to relax,
calm own, and bring to the fore suppressed and repressed emotions
stored in the cellular memory. Counseling , sharing, writing and
various alternate therapies facilitate in helping the client go
beyond using to understanding oneself and living life fully without
finding the need to use.
