call 800-291-1732 (Who Answers?) for a free referral.
Treatment can help you overcome the effects of codeine and alcohol.
Dangerous side effects may occur if you drink alcohol while taking codeine. There is even a potential risk of fatal overdose occurring if alcohol and codeine are mixed. It’s important to check all food and medicine labels prior to use if you are prescribed codeine or if you are taking the drug for recreational purposes. This drug can impair your thought processes and reactions so you should avoid driving or operating machinery while you are under the influence of codeine, especially until you know how the drug will affect you.
Certain combinations of substances can be fatal and codeine mixed with alcohol is one of those potentially fatal combos. If you have been prescribed codeine or a drug that has codeine in it, it’s very important that you do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking the codeine. Additionally, many of the medications that have codeine mixed in also have high concentrations of acetaminophen which is another dangerous combination when paired with alcohol. Consuming alcoholic beverages while taking large amounts of acetaminophen can lead to liver and kidney damage or renal failure.
Codeine can impair your thinking and your judgment and when paired with alcohol the effects of the drug are magnified. Additionally, alcohol often tends to lower inhibitions so pairing these two substances together can also lead to many behavioral changes that may not work in your best interests. Those who drink while taking codeine are likely to get into trouble as a result of their intoxication or may take part in risky behaviors that otherwise may be out of characteristic for that individual.
Healthcare professionals urge patients not to drink alcoholic beverages while taking most prescription medications including codeine. If you are a heavy drinker, chances are your doctor will not even prescribe codeine for your pain relief because of the inherent dangers associated with drinking alcohol while taking this medication. If you have been prescribed a medication that includes codeine, stay away from alcohol to prevent your risk of potentially fatal consequences.
If you believe that someone you know has taken codeine along with alcohol, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911. The effects of codeine and alcohol could prove to be a deadly combination if left untreated so it’s better to call for help than to risk serious consequences that cannot be reversed.
If you suspect that someone you care about may need treatment for codeine addiction, call our helpline at 800-291-1732 (Who Answers?)
for help. Counselors can assist you in getting the right treatment and care for yourself or for an individual whom you care about.
Codeine Withdrawal Timeline -
Long term codeine use takes a toll on the body leaving it dependent on the drug’s effects to function normally. For someone who stops using, the body requires a certain amount of time to repair and restore normal functions. Codeine withdrawal symptoms result from this repair process. With ongoing use, a person’s tolerance level and overall ... 
Is Codeine Cough Syrup Overdose Even Possible? -
Codeine, like other opiate-based drugs, has a high potential for abuse and addiction, leaving users at risk of experiencing an overdose. 
Signs of Codeine Tolerance -
Codeine is a narcotic analgesic that can be obtained directly from opium or though a methylation of morphine. It’s most common uses are for treatment of mild to moderate pain and to relieve persistent and painful coughs. Like its counterpart, morphine, codeine has the potential to produce tolerance after only a few uses. Codeine for Pain ... 
Codeine & Nursing Mothers -
Very small amounts of codeine can be excreted in human breast mil which can pose a risk to a nursing infant. The Food & Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory pertaining to a severe (but very rare) side effect that can occur in nursing infants whose mothers take codeine. Because codeine is metabolized as ... 
Symptoms of Codeine Dependence -
Codeine is an opioid narcotic analgesic that is recommended in the treatment of mild to moderate pain and coughs. In short term treatments, codeine may cause a relatively minor physical dependence. However, in long term use or abuse, it can cause a harsher physical dependence as well as psychological dependence which may increase the risk ...