Dihydrocodeine Addiction | Signs, Symptoms and Effects
Dihydrocodeine is a potent opioid analgesic typically prescribed for the management of severe pain, such as post-operative discomfort or cancer-related pain, when standard treatments are insufficient. In appropriate clinical settings, it can significantly improve quality of life by helping patients manage otherwise debilitating pain.
However, the same properties that make dihydrocodeine effective also carry risks. Misuse or prolonged use can lead to unwanted side effects and a high potential for dependence. Dihydrocodeine addiction can develop gradually and may have serious, even life-threatening consequences. Understanding the risks, recognising early warning signs, and knowing when to seek professional support are essential steps in ensuring safe and responsible use.
What is dihydrocodeine?
Dihydrocodeine is an opioid analgesic developed in the early twentieth century as a stronger derivative of codeine. It works by suppressing pain signals in the nervous system and may also be prescribed for the management of severe or persistent coughs and certain respiratory conditions.
However, the calming and sedative effects that make dihydrocodeine effective can also increase the risk of misuse. Taking higher doses than prescribed, or using the medication without a genuine medical need, may produce feelings of relaxation or euphoria. While this may appear harmless, misuse can lead to serious side effects, including dizziness, nausea, respiratory depression, opioid dependence, and potentially fatal overdose.
What is dihydrocodeine addiction?
Dihydrocodeine addiction develops when continued use of the drug persists despite clear physical, psychological, or social harm. It may begin with a legitimate prescription, self-medication for unresolved issues, or repeated use to experience its calming effects. Over time, this can lead to both physical dependence and psychological reliance.
As tolerance builds, the body requires higher doses to achieve the same level of pain relief or perceived benefit. This escalation keeps the nervous system continuously exposed to dihydrocodeine, causing the brain to adapt and rely on the drug to function normally. When use is reduced or stopped, this dependence can trigger distressing withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, sweating, and agitation.
Beyond physical dependence, dihydrocodeine addiction often becomes deeply psychological. The drug may be used as a coping mechanism for stress, emotional trauma, or daily pressures. When both mind and body become dependent, the addiction can dominate decision-making and significantly impact overall health and quality of life.
Dihydrocodeine addiction in the UK
Classified as a Class B controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, dihydrocodeine is subject to strict regulation in the UK, with serious legal consequences for unauthorised possession, misuse, or distribution. Despite these controls, dependence on dihydrocodeine remains a growing public health concern and reflects wider issues linked to opioid use worldwide.
Although the UK has not experienced an opioid crisis on the scale seen in the United States, opioids continue to be the leading cause of drug-related deaths nationally. Between 2001 and 2020, dihydrocodeine was associated with 2,071 fatalities in England alone, highlighting the significant risks linked to misuse and long-term dependency.
How to spot the symptoms of dihydrocodeine addiction
Despite common misconceptions, you are unlikely to suddenly wake up one day and realise you have a problem. Dihydrocodeine addiction starts with small changes that you might dismiss but which quickly blow up into a life-threatening issue. To stop that from happening, ask yourself if any of these often-missed symptoms of dihydrocodeine addiction sound familiar:
- You’re taking larger doses of dihydrocodeine because the old amount doesn’t work anymore.
- You’ve stopped following your prescription or even using dihydrocodeine without one.
- Without dihydrocodeine, you are hit by withdrawal symptoms like sweating, anxiety and nausea.
- You are keeping your dihydrocodeine abuse a secret from friends or family.
- There are times when you can’t think about anything other than dihydrocodeine.
- You have resorted to risky methods to get more dihydrocodeine, like doctor shopping or buying it illegally.
- You are behaving in ways that don’t feel like you, such as stealing or acting deceitfully.
- You know dihydrocodeine is causing problems, but feel powerless to stop.
If these symptoms of dihydrocodeine addiction feel uncomfortably familiar, understand there is help available, and you don’t need to struggle on your own.