While many people turn to codeine when they have a cold or flu, those who don’t follow the recommended dosage put themselves at risk of failing a random drug test and having an accident at home, on the road or in the workplace.
Codeine is found in popular over the counter drugs such as Codral Cold and Flu, Nurofen Plus and Panedeine. It’s a derivative of opium and its use generally rises in winter due to a greater incidence of colds and flus.
Taken at the recommended dose, codeine is perfectly safe for most people. The issue arises when codeine is not taken at the recommended dose and the dosage is doubled or tripled in the misconceived belief that it will help a cold of flu sufferer feel better or get better quicker.
Taking codeine above the recommended dosage puts users at risk of side effects such as drowsiness, tiredness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, erratic behaviour and sweating.
It also puts users at risk of failing a random drug test at work or on the roads and can make them unsafe to carry out normal daily tasks, including driving a car.
So when you next get a cold or flu or experience pain and turn to codeine, make sure you follow the dosage. Not doing so can put you at a greater risk than you might think.
