Codeine and weed are two drugs that are often used together. Codeine is an opioid painkiller that is prescribed for moderate pain and severe pain relief. Cancer patients and multiple sclerosis patients given codeine prescribed for chronic pain.
Codeine Can Be Addictive
Codeine can be addictive and lead to tolerance, which means you need more of it to get the same effect as when you first started taking it. Codeine also has a high potential for abuse because it can be injected or taken intravenously as well as orally through tablets or liquids.
Weed is a Psychoactive Drug
Weed is a psychoactive drug that alters how the mind perceives things. These two drugs are known for their pain relieving effects but mixing marijuana and codeine can lead to substance abuse.
What is Codeine?
Codeine is a drug used for its pain relieving properties. Codeine is also used in cough preparations.
Cough preparations are examples of schedule V drugs with less than 200 milligrams of codeine. Codeine is a prescribed dose in a tablet form, but it is also commonly found in prescription-grade cough syrups or in combination with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Usually a 15mg to 60mg codeine tablet every 4 hours with the option to increase as needed. If a you realized there has been a missed dose, skip it and go to your regular schedule. Do not double up.
Although codeine is less potent than other opioid drugs, it still acts on the brain in a similar fashion to provide the user with feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
What are the Effects of Codeine?
Codeine is a sedative drug that helps relieve mild to moderate symptoms of cough. Codeines are controlled substances may not be as addictive as some opioids. Controlled substances like codeine still affect the brain in similar ways to help the user experience a sense of euphoria and relax.
Similar to other opioids, codeine can cause a physical dependence and have adverse effects such as clammy skin, dark urine, bloating, chills, confusion, constipation and difficulty swallowing.
The misuse of cough medicine containing codeine is gaining in popularity among teens, mainly those in the southern USA.
What is Weed (Cannabis)?
Weed (marijuana, cannabis) contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Two of the most common cannabinoids of medical interest are THC and CBD.
Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive chemical that acts on specific cannabinoid receptors within areas of the brain associated with thinking, concentration, pleasure, thinking, sensory and time perception, coordination and memory. People typically smoke marijuana, but it can also be added to food or drinks such as marijuanas tea.
Two drugs containing THC- have already received FDA approval: one for AIDS patients’ appetite stimulation, and another for chemotherapy-induced nausea. In addition, researchers are now investigating the effect of cannabis on children with severe epilepsy and two forms of cancer.
THC
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals naturally made by the body,
The negative impacts of THC on cognitive and motor functions, as well as on risk-taking behavior and psychological disorders, are well-documented. Thus, a greater amount of THC in illicit cannabis may increase the risk of psychological illnesses and driving problems.
CBD
CBD is a psychoactive component found in cannabis and interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain. These receptors are found primarily in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is thought to alter the way the brain processes signals from the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Low serotonin levels are associated with severe psychological health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Conventional treatments for depression and anxiety include the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but these are only available by prescription. CBD has also been found to reduce myofascial pain similar to chronic pain disorders.
Are Edibles Addictive?
They can be. THC edibles contain some cannabis product. So the THC edibles that have any formula of the psychoactive component of marijuana can make a person high.
CBD edibles have no THC. They are not addictive from a intoxication perspective. However, those who have addictive personalities can overuse them seeking beneficial for their health.
What are the Effects of Marijuana?
Marijuana is a brain-altering drug made of the cannabis plant. Unlike other drugs marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as its major ingredient.
The physical effects of marijuana on one’s body may involve relaxation, increased sense perception and increased appetite. Those who smoke marijuana may also have mental health issues caused by anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations. The feeling of physical dependence and suffering mental health from marijuana is known as a marijuana use disorder.
Marijuana is a Schedule I Substance
Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, has a high potential for abuse, and lacks accepted safety requirements for use under medical supervision. A substance does not need to be listed as a controlled substance to be treated as a Schedule I substance for criminal prosecution.
Controlled Substance Analogue
A controlled substance analogue is a substance which is structurally and substantially similar to a schedule I or schedule II substance, and is pharmacologically substantially similar to a schedule I or schedule II substance.
Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV. Schedule III drugs are: products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), anabolic steroids and ketamine.
Increase Risk of Acute Coronary Events
The effects of mixing weed and codeine for human consumption on systolic blood pressure are unknown, but cannabis and opioids do increase the sensitivity of the airways to opiates. Weed and codeine use have been shown to increase the risk of acute coronary events in patients without coronary artery disease, however there is no conclusive evidence that marijuana use is beneficial.
Cannabis use has also been associated with an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Even though the effects on cardiac health are unknown, cannabis use is becoming increasingly popular in the United States.
Dangers of Combining Opioids and Marijuana
Drug interactions and risk are especially high when codeine is combined with other central nervous system depressants, even in limited quantities such as alcohol or other opioids. Although it is not classified as a depressant drug, certain compounds present in marijuana can cause side effects such as lethargy and low energy because it depresses the central nervous system and
The depressant properties of marijuana make it extremely dangerous to use in combination with codeine because it may cause an additive effect, resulting in exacerbated suppression of the central nervous system.
Can I take Tylenol While High?
There are no documented interactions with weed and Tylenol. That said is abusing or misusing any substance – it is wise to check with your doctor.
It is important to understand Tylenol is acetaminophen. When you combine codeine and acetaminophen it becomes a very addictive substance.
Seeking Chronic Pain Relief
Many patients use certain narcotics like codeine mixed with weed for chronic pain. Treating pain is a delicate situation, and people are obviously looking for relief. Mixing codeine, weed, or other drugs together is not an approved medication, and can be considered quite dangerous. It is important to understand the risks whenever mixing two drugs together hoping to relieve chronic pain.
Greater Anxiety and Depression From Opioids and Cannabis Use
Combining cannabis with opioids for chronic pain was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. There is a link between increased use of both substances and increased risk of addiction and misuse. Combining opioids and cannabis for chronic pain can cause greater anxiety and depression.
Drug Abuse
Using cannabis in conjunction with opioids or other drugs may not result in significant pain reduction. However, marijuana can cause opioid users to experience more withdrawal symptoms is they enter an addiction treatment program.
It is recommended that people seeking relief from chronic pain consult with a health care provider before taking cannabis and other drugs. The benefits of cannabis combined with opioids are not known, but the risks of addiction and misuse are real.
Understanding Drug Schedules
Most substances known as a prescription drug are classified into five schedules. Each schedule is determined by the use, abuse, or dependency depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency probability. Beginning with schedule I having the most probability for abuse through schedule V that represents the least.
You can find a complete list of controlled substances that include’s the basic or parent chemical on the DOJ website.
Schedule I Substance Example
Heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), ecstasy
Schedule II Substance Example
Vicodin, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, Dilaudid, Demerol, OxyContin, fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin
Schedule III Substance Example
Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone
Schedule IV Substance Example
Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol
Schedule V
Robitussin AC, Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin
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