How it Works

Codeine Cough Syrup

CODEINE COUGH SYRUP IS A MILD NARCOTIC analgesic (painkiller) similar to but less potent than morphine. Codeine is relatively more effective than morphine after being taken by mouth. It is used mainly to relieve mild to moderate pain. It is also an effective cough supressant and can be found as an ingredient in many cough syrups and cold remedies. CODEINE COUGH SYRUP acts as a cough supressant by depressing the central pathways of the cough reflex in the brain.

When taken at the recommended dose, its onset of action occurs within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for four to six hours. When the recommended dose is exceeded, signs and symptoms of overdosage will appear. These include slow or irregular breathing (respiratory depression), severe drowsiness (central nervous system depression) or loss of consciousness.

CODEINE COUGH SYRUP can cause drug dependence when taken for prolonged periods and not at the recommended doses. In Malaysia, codeine-based cough syrup abuse is rampant among teenagers and drug addicts who take it as a substitute to dadah.

* There is an increasing trend in using cough syrups as a substance of abuse.
* It was reported in a local newspaper that cough syrups with a codeine content of 9 mg per 5 ml of syrup is particularly sought after.
* This syrup is drunk by the bottle and at least one 60 ml to 100 ml bottle a days is needed to give hallucinatory feelings.

These are mostly used by drug addicts who are unable to get their regular fix. It is known to the public that there are a number of ways by which codeine-containing cough syrup is consumed or abused. In some cases, drug addicts are reported to have often taken it as a spiked soft drink. The drink is then shared among them. It is even said to be popular among school children.

There may need to be a nationwide drive to stop the unregulated sale of cough mixtures with codeine. This is necessary to prevent the problem from becoming a social menace. In addiction to giving a “high,” the easy availability of cough mixtures could lead to addiction among youth.

Codeine-based syrups can cause both psychological dependence is the emotional craving for a drug. There is a need for the drug to be present in the body so that the desired effect can be obtained. If it is absent, it will result in undesirable effects.

Physical dependence involves physiological changes to the body. These include withdrawal symptoms (severe physical disturbances) and development of tolerance to the drug’s effects.

* Withdrawal symptoms occur when the drug has not been taken over a prolonged period of time, for example, for more then eight hours.
* The withdrawal reactions reach a peak in about 48 hours and then gradually lessen, returning to normal in about one to two weeks.
* At any time during this period, the reactions may be terminated when the drug is taken again or when antagonist (a drug that conteracts or prevents the action of another drug or endogenous body chemical) to the drug is taken.
* An excellent non codeine cough syrup treatment to relieve coughs and coughing is the latest treatment discovered by James Churchill. This new and unique cough remedy is a natural and it simply involves three readily available plant extracts and a mineral. This coughing treatment seems to work by killing the bacteria and viruses that cause infection in the lungs.

This new discovery is proving very popular and effective. For more details of this simple coughing treatment, please click Cough Treatment