I'm withdrawing from codiene

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

...and it's pretty vile. I've been taking it for 4 weeks for pain that put me in hospital for over a week -?renal colic/?kidney infection. I'm freezing, feel sick and my stomach is doing cartwheels! I'd just really appreciate some hand holding and encouragement that it won't last very long!

[BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed]

I don't know anything about codeine withdrawal, but I do know that it's very addictive - just wanted to say 'hang on in there'. Hopefully someone who knows more will be along soon!

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

I take it otc for period pain and I know they say 'only take it for 3 days' but I am at how bad I'm feeling! Thanks for the encouragement!

[FoofyShmooffer]

Have you withdrawn from it completely? You must have been seriously putting it away to be like this after 4 weeks.
Not judging though. i was dependant for years and I know how utterly horrible it is to withdraw. Are you doing it under medical advisement?

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

I was taking 30mg 4 times a day until Sunday with oramorph for breakthrough pain the first two weeks! I was so bad I spent 9 days in hospital while the docs tried to work out what was wrong! I don't think it helps I have ibs and it's wreaked havoc with my bowels - both taking it and now stopping it. My ibs medications have kicked in tonight now so I'm feeling a bit better.
My GP(s) basically implied I'd just be able to stop when I felt better. I've cut down gradually and took co-codamol (so 8mg) the last couple of days but maybe it was still too drastic.

[FoofyShmooffer]

Good God. Yes thats fast.

I'm not sure what to tell you except that I tried to come off them as quickly as I could and was crawling the walls with the withdrawal symptoms. It got so bad I had to go back on them and ration myself less and less as the weeks went on. It took me a few months in all to be completely free of them.

However, you can only judge for yourself. If, now that your other meds have kicked in a bit, you are feeling a little relief you might want to see how you are tomorrow and you can judge better then. Are you even managing to sleep?

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Today is my first day cold turkey! I couldn't sleep without it yesterday to be fair. I actually feel better head wise, I've been so foggy on it! I had one terrifying night on the oramorph when I had no idea when I was awake and when I was dreaming. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or totally paranoid. I really believed DH was a vampire I couldn't understand why he hasn't bitten me yet! :) Stopped me taking the oramorph!
I guess length of time coming off should be somewhat relative to length of time on it so I'm hoping I should be ok within a few days?! I'll see if I settle without it I think but I can always take one if I need to. I've got nothing planned tomorrow so I can ride it out or take some codiene depending on how I'm feeling. Thanks for your support by the way!

[FoofyShmooffer]

For the little help i've been you are more than welcome

Yes just remember that you can take a little to help. There is no reason in the world that you need to rush this.
Your reaction to the other medication sounds extremely scary!
You sound utterly determined to crack this just try not to make life harder than it needs to be for yourself.
Personally I would take it a little slower BUT you know your own body and what you think it can handle.
Hope you manage to get some kind of a sleep.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

It's nice to have someone acknowledge how tough it is! I have taken some for tonight. You're right, there's no rush. I think ironically because I'm a nurse I expect to be able to hand it! I rarely hel people stop taking it though
Yes I will give myself a break and try to take it a bit steadier. There's no rush!

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Well I got some sleep although it took me a while to settle. I'm much brighter in the morning with less codiene in my system. This morning I decided to take 15 doses with some tricky splitting! today. I think I'll go to my GP tomorrow for some advice on coming off the codiene and going back to work. I'm thinking I'd be best off going back on phased return, maybe just doing mornings so I'll ask the doc.

[FoofyShmooffer]

Hi. Glad you got some sleep. Better than none I suppose.

I agree with going to the GP. A bit relieved you are really. So much better under advisement. Remember to tell him ALL your symptoms of withdrawal then he is fully aware of the effect it's having on your system.

(sorry. My mum came out in me there )

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

think I needed to be told! I never anticipated it being a problem. Honestly I was shocked how ill I've been full stop and I was gobsmacked when my GP admitted me!
The back story was I started feeling off one week, then got kidney pain the following week and got antibiotics. A week later I still want right so I went back expecting more antibiotics but she was worried about my appendix - the pain was in my abdomen by then- so she got me admitted! Then they didn't even start talking about discharging me for a week! I think I've underestimated just how ill I've been, how bad the pain is and I definitely underestimated how long it would take to recover!
I'm still all over the place, feel freezing and feel quite weepy although the bowel special effects have thankfully stopped! :)
So I'll talk to the doc about how to proceed and do it right. Most of my key work is in the mornings so I might see if I can do half days initially when I do go back.

[FoofyShmooffer]

Did you manage to get in at the docs?

How are you feeling today?

[FriendofDorothy]

Darling Faithy I am an expert on codeine dependency and withdrawal.

My advice to you is do it slowly, reduce by one tablet, or even half a tablet a day if you can. Or, spread out how often you are taking the pills - so extend the length of time between taking them.

It is vile, but it will pass. From the time you stop the last pill it should be about 3 days before it is entirely out of your system. You could always consider symptomatic relief if you find the withdrawals too bad.

Other than that, be nice to yourself. Don't go back to work yet. Please.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Hey dor, I didn't know that. Thanks for your advice. Oh dear even people being nice has me in tears! I saw my Grandma in the nursing home yesterday. It is sad, she has advanced dementia but usually I just sit and feed her or sing to her. Yesterday I cried my eyes out! That's what swung it for me really. In my job I look after sick older people, dealing with sensitive stuff like Dementia, end of life care. I'm too wobbly to handle that right now.
Yes I'm at the doctors now waiting to be seen. DH who is not the argumentative type said he doesn't think I should go back and I imagine he'd be angry if I did chose to go back! My pain is relatively bad again this morning so I'm going to ask for a sick note, more buscopan (which helped but I ran out of) and advice on stooping the codiene when I'm ready - which I don't think is now!

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Hey dor, I didn't know that. Thanks for your advice. Oh dear even people being nice has me in tears! I saw my Grandma in the nursing home yesterday. It is sad, she has advanced dementia but usually I just sit and feed her or sing to her. Yesterday I cried my eyes out! That's what swung it for me really. In my job I look after sick older people, dealing with sensitive stuff like Dementia, end of life care. I'm too wobbly to handle that right now.
Yes I've been to the doctors, just now. DH who is not the argumentative type said he doesn't think I should go back and I imagine he'd be angry if I did chose to go back! My pain is relatively bad again this morning so I got a sick note, more buscopan (which helped but I ran out of) and advice on stopping the codiene when I'm ready - which I don't think is now! He's given me some 15mg tablets and said to try taking them at times, like 3 x 30mg and 1 x 15 in a day.
I rang my boss. He is not very sympathetic! No 'get well soon', just 'I look forward to getting your sick note'. Weird,.yes? Ah well, I'm no good to them at work like this anyway!

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Oops phone playing up!

[FriendofDorothy]

I would split the doses up fairly evenly, but you could give yourself a little more at night if you feel a bit withdrawally in the morning.

In terms of symptomatic relief, buscopan can be good and if you get the runs then you could take immodium and stuff like that.

I know it is uncomfortable, but do try to reduce if your pain has gone. long-term addiction to this shit isn't nice. Just remember the withdrawals are transient and you will start to feel better within a few days.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Thanks dor. I thought my pain had gone, but I took half a tablet last night and as soon as I woke up this morning my first thought was that I had pain. The pain is gradually reducing so I will reduce slowly. I feel so much brighter and motivated when I'm not taking the codiene that I am determined to cut it down sooner rather than later!

[FriendofDorothy]

Don't stop taking it if you need it, but just take only what you need.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Argh, tried cutting down to 15mg one dose today (took 30mg when I woke up then a 15 next dose). Couldn't walk round Tesco later despite taking 30mg the next dose. today I feel like I've gone backward! Good call not to go back to work next week, I'm simply not well enough yet.

[FriendofDorothy]

OK. Are you getting pain, or withdrawals when you reduce?

If you are getting pain you need to keep taking it. Simples.

You will have to deal with the withdrawals later.

[Tranquilidade]

Have you looked at the codeinefreeme website? I believe it is helpful, a colleague used to signpost people there.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

dor Wednesday it was definitely withdrawal. Yesterday I dropped a tablet on the floor missed a tablet and got withdrawal symptoms - like stomach ache and then loose stools. Today, it's the original pain that's causing trouble. I'll definitely take the full codiene doses tomorrow to get back on top of the pain.
I'll have a look at that website tranquil, thanks.

[FriendofDorothy]

You could cut the tablets into quarters and reduce the drop each time, but if your pain is still there that needs to be resolved first.

The other thing to remember is that you probably will get some withdrawals and you may just have to ride them out with symptomatic relief.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

Yeah that's a good idea, my body wouldn't notice a half drop. Just had an idea to take one 15mg codiene, one 500mg paracetamol and one co-codamol (8mg) which would be 3/4 of a 30mg codiene dose wouldn't it? Does that sound a bit rambley? I need to go to sleep!
My family have declared if my pain remains this bad by Tuesday I am going back to the GP since I was really struggling tonight and do actually appear to be going backwards. I do need to get on top of my pain as a priority!