My husband has been taking codeine cough syrup since last 8 to 9 yrs. How to stop him from this addiction. He also says so many lies and takes money from his mother for this as he is unemployed. He takes 5 to 6 bottle per day. He fights with me a lot whenever I try to convince him to stop it. Really whole family and me is suffering due to this. please plz kindly help me.

Dr. Surbhi AgrawalGeneral Physician12yrs exp

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Hello, Thanks for your query. I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress. Codeine is an opioid compound which causes feeling of wellbeing and it is responsible for corex addiction. Opioid are highly addictive substance. It lead to psychological and physical dependence on it. Sudden stoppage of codeine lead to severe withdrawal like anxiety, lack of sleep, diarrhea and body ache etc. Which make it impossible to leave corex without help. Apart from that patient motivation is also needed to quit it. To quit codeine help of psychiatrist is needed as deaddiction is a complex and specialised work. For de addiction from corex following steps are followed: -Consent of the patient: So motivate him for treatment. -Motivational interviewing: by the psychiatrist. -Stoppage of codeine with prevention of discomfort or withdrawal by safe and long acting opioid compounds. Slowly tapering and stoppage of opioid compound over a period of few days. -Relapse prevention counseling. I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups. 

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