codiene

  i have freind who recently cracked 4 of her ribs, her freind went and got the medications for her, he was giving her codiene, but he never showed her the bottle, would codiene be used for something liket his?

[HVM-MD-SA]

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Dear Orlando,
Codeine would be used in such situations because it kills pain and also suppresses coughing, which might aggravate the rib fractures and worsen the pain.  It probably isn't a good idea for anyone to take medication without knowing exactly what it is she is taking.  Codeine is a controlled substance, a narcotic, and persistent use can lead to physical dependence and may lead to addiction.  So your friend would be well-advised to switchover to non-addictive painkillers (like ibuprofen) once the pain becomes bearable.  If your friend is in Recovery, she needs to be especially careful, and anyone in Recovery should let prescribing physicians know about their history of drug and/or alcohol problems.  Much more information about narcotic addiction is available on my Ask DrSteve web site, conveniently hyperlinked below.
Steve Adelman, M.D. (a.k.a. DrSteve)

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.
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