What is Broncleer?
Broncleer is a prescription cough syrup that contains a combination of alcohol and codeine.
While codeine is usually thought of as a pain medication, it is also an effective treatment for coughs.
However, just like with any medication that includes codeine, Broncleer has a number of different negative side effects.
This usually happens when Broncleer is misused in any way because misuse can occur quickly, leading to addiction.
Understanding Broncleer
Millions of Americans are prescribed codeine cough syrups, like Broncleer, every year. When taken as directed, Broncleer is effective at reducing coughing and getting individuals over less severe colds and infections.
The codeine in Broncleer attaches to the opioid receptors in your brain, which reduces the urge to cough. It also helps make you feel more relaxed. Broncleer also contains alcohol, which helps make the cough syrup ingredients easier for your body to absorb.
However, this also makes abusing Broncleer much more likely because it can amplify the relaxing effects of the codeine.
What is Codeine Abuse?
When prescribed a medication for a cough, codeine-based cough syrups, like Broncleer, are usually safe because they are taken for a short period of time.
When codeine is abused, however, your body develops a tolerance for the drug. This means it will not work as effectively, and you will have to take more to get relief. Over time, this tolerance will turn into a dependence; your brain will only function normally when you take codeine. At this point, you are much more likely to develop an addiction.
A person who is addicted to a prescription medicine has what is called either a prescription drug use disorder or a substance use disorder.
Misuse of these medicines include:
- Taking the medicine more frequently or in higher doses
- Taking codeine that wasn’t prescribed to you
- Taking the medicine deliberately to get high
People with more prolonged or serious addictions to Broncleer may even try mixing it with alcohol. This combination is especially popular with teens and young adults. This can be very dangerous, however, as mixing codeine and alcohol makes your risk of overdose significantly higher.
The Effects of Broncleer Abuse
When codeine medicines, like Broncleer, are taken to get high, they can make you feel happy, relaxed, and euphoric. This is what leads people to codeine abuse.
It also has negative effects on your body, however, even when taken according to your doctor’s instructions.
These effects can include:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Poor Coordination
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Lowered Blood Pressure
When taken too frequently or in high doses, these side effects are even more serious. The most serious side effect of codeine abuse is slowed or stopped breathing.
Without immediate treatment, a codeine overdose can lead to death. You are at an even higher risk of experiencing an overdose if you mix Broncleer with alcohol.
Codeine Withdrawal Symptoms
A person who has an addiction to codeine does not just deal with side effects while high. They also experience severe withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking Broncleer.
These symptoms can start within just a few hours of your last dose of codeine.
They can include:
- Muscle or Bone Pain
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea or Vomiting
- Cold Flashes or Chills
- Uncontrollable Leg Movements
- Cravings for the Drug
Withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant to deal with for people who are addicted to Broncleer. This is what makes getting clean so challenging for many users.
Luckily there are medicines available that help control withdrawal symptoms for those struggling with codeine addiction.
Mental Illness and Broncleer
Codeine abuse affects your physical health and mental health. Codeine abuse leads to issues like anxiety, aggression, hallucinations, depression, and paranoia.
Half of all people who become addicted to this substance experience negative symptoms. This makes you twice as likely as someone who does not abuse codeine to experience at least one mental health problem.
Often, one of the most significant mental health issues codeine abuse can lead to is a feeling of isolation. Addiction makes you feel alone and makes it much more difficult to get help.
However, you do not have to face your addiction alone.
North Jersey Recovery Center has individualized treatment plans designed to help with codeine abuse issues.
Medical Treatment Options for Broncleer Abuse
If you are suffering from an addiction to Broncleer, we provide treatment options to help overcome your addiction.
We usually begin with medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This type of treatment uses medicines to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings for codeine. These medications include buprenorphine, lofexidine, methadone, and naltrexone. These medications work by blocking the euphoric effect of codeine which makes you feel high.
This helps overcome your brain’s dependency on Broncleer and return your brain chemicals to normal levels.
Behavioral Therapy Options for Broncleer Abuse
The next step of your recovery plan will include behavioral therapy treatment. There are a few different options available to you to help you overcome your addiction.
Three of the most common behavioral therapy options for codeine abuse include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This form of therapy helps patients become aware of situations that trigger drug use. This allows you to avoid these situations or to cope with them when they are unavoidable.
- Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT): This therapy is a special form created for adolescents with drug abuse problems. MDFT helps an adolescent address their drug issues, while also rebuilding their family dynamic.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI): This form of therapy helps a patient recognize how their behavior negatively affects their goals and offers tools to help change these habits.
Each of these therapy programs takes place with a counselor in either individual or group sessions. Many people benefit from participating in both types of sessions during their recovery process.
Get the Help You Need to Overcome Your Addiction
When it comes to trying to get help for Broncleer abuse, we are here to help.
With various evidence-based treatment programs available, we design the right codeine rehab program for you.
At North Jersey Recovery Center, we know addiction does not just affect your physical health; it also affects your mental and spiritual health.
We tailor all of our treatment programs to fit the unique needs of every client based on a variety of factors, including how long they’ve been using, how much they’ve been using, their choice of drug or substance, genetic history, past history, and much more.
We offer multiple levels of care, which allows us to help even those who have professional or educational commitments.
Our facility is designed with our clients’ comfort and success in mind, providing unique amenities, privacy, and a supportive recovery environment.
You can trust our team of experienced, highly-qualified addiction professionals to help you through every step of your recovery journey.
We realize many of our clients worry about how they are going to pay for their treatment. The good news is that we accept most private and commercial insurance plans.
Reach out to us today, and we will complete a free insurance verification to determine your benefits and coverage for addiction treatment.
If your insurance plan will not cover our services, we will not stop helping you on your recovery journey. Instead, our admissions team will work with you to make sure you get directed to a rehab center your insurance plan will cover.
It does not matter if your Broncleer addiction began with a prescription or from recreational use.
What matters is that you seek help when you realize you need it. At North Jersey Recovery Center, we are here to help you create a successful and personalized recovery plan for maximum success.
Take the first step on your recovery journey and give us a call today.
