5 Ways to Treat Codeine Poisoning

1. Look for Signs of Toxic Doses

Codeine is used as prescription cough medicine and is also used as a painkiller. It's an opiate, which puts it in the same family as morphine, opium and heroin. That means it can be taken and abused as a recreational drug. Symptoms include a slow response time, shallow breathing, weak pulse, pinpoint or dilated pupils and a bluish tinge to the skin (especially around the lips and fingers). Call a poison center or get the victim to an emergency room if she exhibits any of these symptoms.

2. Keep the Victim Breathing

In the worst cases, codeine poisoning affects the respiration system; it literally tells the brain to stop breathing. Make sure that the victim's airways are secure. Clear away any vomit or fluids in the mouth and nose, and monitor his breathing to make sure it stays steady. You may need to administer CPR if he stops breathing. Watch him constantly until help arrives and make sure that his respiration doesn't become erratic or stop.

3. Administer Naloxone

Naloxone (also known by its commercial name, Narcan) is a drug designed specifically to counteract the effects of opiates like codeine. Paramedics usually carry it in their ambulances and addicts receive it as part of a heroin emergency kit. You can administer it intravenously or via needle and though spray bottles into the nasal cavity work too. You should always have some around if you take codeine. Keep it out of the direct sunlight and store it at room temperature in order for it to work.

4. Take Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is an herbal supplement that can bond with poisons like codeine and render them inert, which keeps them from causing more damage until they pass out of the body. It usually works best if taken early--within an hour or so of taking the codeine. That gives it time to bond with the chemical before the codeine is absorbed into your body. Any later than that, and it's simply not as effective. A doctor may administer activated charcoal after gastric lavage or a similar procedure. Make sure the victim is conscious when you give it to her--never try to force an unconscious person to swallow anything.

5. Consider Gastric Lavage

Gastric lavage gets poisons out of your stomach quickly and thoroughly. It's usually conducted only at a hospital or urgent care ward. The doctors insert a tube into your stomach through the nose, and pump water or saline into it to cleanse out the stomach. Like activated charcoal, it works best the sooner it can be administered--preferably 1 to 2 hours after taking the codeine. After that, the poison has been absorbed into the system and you need to focus on riding out the symptoms instead of preventing them.