Better Homes and Gardens Australia — December 2017

Seek help, break free

Reference: 1. Codeine Information hub, Therapeutic Goods Administration. Available at: https://www.tga.gov.au/

community-qa/codeine-information-hub. Accessed May 2017. 2. Update of codeine safety and efficacy review.

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Version 1.0, December 2016.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND VISIT TURNTOHELP.COM.AU

VISIT OUR

WEBSITE

Visit turntohelp.com.au,

a great online resource

that explains codeine

dependence and can

assist you to find help.

TAKE A

SCREENING TEST

Take a screening test:

a confidential online

assessment to see if

you might have signs

of dependence.

TALK TO

A DOCTOR

Talk to a doctor

or health provider, or

search for one near you

at turntohelp.com.au.

YOUR DOCTOR

CAN HELP

YOU BREAK

FREE FROM

CODEINE

DEPENDENCE

If you suffer from migraines, have had pain

after surgery or an injury, or even if you’ve

just gone to your pharmacist about a bad

cold or the flu, it’s possible you’ve been

given codeine. Codeine-containing medicines

currently available over the counter are

usually those also containing paracetamol

or ibuprofen.^1 These are easy to get from a

pharmacist; however, the codeine component

is addictive and can start a downward spiral

to dependence.

WHAT IS CODEINE DEPENDENCE?

Codeine is an opioid, like morphine. If used

regularly, your body builds up a tolerance

to it, which means you need a stronger dose

to have the same effect.^2 If this cycle continues,

eventually you will feel withdrawal symptoms

if you stop taking it, which can be like

withdrawal from stronger opioids.^2

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

If taken at high doses or for long periods of

time, some codeine-containing medicines

can damage your liver and kidneys, and can

cause gastrointestinal perforations, stomach

ulcers, or a heart attack.^2 When it’s in the body,

codeine is converted to morphine, so high

doses taken by someone who has built up a

tolerance can lead to respiratory depression

(dangerously slow breathing) and even death

in the most severe cases.^2

SLIPPING INTO A CYCLE OF CODEINE DEPENDENCE IS

EASIER THAN YOU THINK. IT CAN BE HARD TO BREAK

FREE ON YOUR OWN, SO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

TURN TO HELP ADVERTISING FEATURE