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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 and Pregnancy -
As with many other drugs that are passed on from the mother to unborn fetus, Codeine use should generally be avoided during pregnancy to ensure the safety of both mother and child. At this time, the actual safety of codeine use by pregnant women has not yet been determined and therefore should be avoided whenever ... 
5 Short-Term Effects of Codeine -
Codeine is one of the few opiate-type drugs that’s marketed in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. Codeine produces pain-relieving effects and also acts as an effective cough suppressant agent. In spite of its wide range of medicinal uses, the effects of codeine can be detrimental when used for nonmedical purposes. When ingested, the initial experience ... 
Health Risks of Codeine Abuse -
Contrary to popular belief codeine can be dangerous if it is abused. Codeine abuse has been on the rise in the United States and is widely used by teenagers and young people because it is so easily accessible. Codeine is prescribed for pain but it may also be prescribed to treat diarrhea and coughs that ... 
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 ... 
Dangers of Codeine Overdose -
Brain damage and fatality can occur from a Codeine overdose Codeine, on its own, is a prescribed pain killer Codeine will slow down a person’s respiratory and nervous system How Codeine works Codeine is typically found mixed with other drugs to help people alleviate pain in the body caused from different ailments or diseases. Codeine ...