Higher doses can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Very high doses can cause disorientation, convulsions, and hallucinations. Overdose can result in coma and death. Combining opioid drugs with other depressants like alcohol or tranquilizers is especially dangerous. Effects of Long-term Use People who take opioid drugs for a long time can feel depressed, have difficulty concentrating and sleeping, and have sexual problems.
Constipation can become a very serious problem.
Long-term use of codeine with Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding. Long-term use of codeine with Tylenol can cause kidney and liver damage. When you take opioid drugs for a long time, your body stops making natural painkillers so even small pains seem severe when the drug leaves your body. Taking large doses for long periods can cause agitation, tremors, and seizures. If you abuse drugs, even medications, you can develop serious personal problems.