To be worried about Codeine

People are saying stuff like that because the level of anxiety the OP has over a few days of OTC painkillers looks like the actual issue, not the painkillers.

Are you the same person who got overly worried about a possible cold sore? You have health anxiety. You're not going to end up in a crack den from this.

OP, I gave you an answer on the first page of this thread. The most important factor in whether codeine will become an ADDICTION for you (which means you are pyscologically compelled to take it), is whether taking it gives you pleasurable feelings. If it does you are at risk and should avoid, particularly if as you say, you have an 'addictive personality'.
The most important factor in whether it becomes a DEPENDANCY is how much you take and for how long. Because taking larger doses for long periods will mean your body starts to need it to feel normal. Taken as you've been prescribed it's highly unlikely you will become dependent.
It is possible to form an addiction before you're physically dependent, and its possible to be dependent without being addicted, hence the range of different experience on this thread.
If codeine gives you NO pleasure, then take as prescribed and stop worrying. If it DOES give you pleasure, then don't take anymore and stop worrying.

Well and good that you’re trying to be informed, but addiction is a complex issue. Your curiosity can only achieve so much, and is unhelpful if you have anxiety. Get to your GP follow-up appointment for professional advice on getting mobile again.

TherealKimK · Today 09:41

I thought Tramadol was significantly stronger and more addictive than Dihydrocodeine?

I don't know, but the longest I've taken it without a break is 3 weeks.

PawPaw24 · 16/02/2024 13:54

I've been on dihydrocodiene since 2017 and no addiction issues with it

Do they still prescribe that? I was on it in 1999, after a motorbike accident left me with two slipped discs and spinal nerve damage. I knew it was addictive and spoke to the doctor about it and he said that it takes 3 to 6 months to develop a true addiction, but you can get psychologically dependent very quickly.

I have Tramadol, which is much better than Dihydrocodeine, no sour stomach, no constipation.

So, TherealKimK, you are vanishingly unlikely to get addicted in a few days. Talk to your doctor, to put your mind at rest. It's great that you are aware of the dangers and taking steps to avoid addiction!

OP people on this thread are not able to give you proper medical advice.
I actually think all the people saying 'I've taken it for years with no issues' have been really irresponsible. Its been explained that everyone doesn't react the same or metabolise opiates with the same efficiency.

I'd ring your surgery tomorrow and explain your concerns. Your GP may be able to give you a call back before Thursday.

To me, its highly addictive and I don't intend to ever take it again if I can help it. I was on it for a long time due to chronic back pain from hypermobility and it ended up being more trouble than it was worth. Clock watching, anxiety, worrying if my script would be ready, not to mention the constipation. I got off it and had serious withdrawal symptoms for about a month. I cope with yoga, paracetamol and improved core strength now. It's not addictive to everyone, but for some people it really is.

Well they don't start out taking copious amounts, like you they probably start with a prescription for pain and as people have said some people have feelings of well being/get a bit high - which after some time the dosage doesn't give the same effect and so they begin taking more etc etc. Then they reach the stage where stopping causes withdrawal and they are now dependant and taking higher amounts than they started with.

So no you aren't over thinking things and yes you could potentially develop an addiction, but then again as many have said you may not become addicted - although I would imagine that just because you aren't the one who gets addicted/the high feeling, you may still develop withdrawal from stopping. I personally wouldn't take them because there are many addicts in my family so I know the risks from reading so many threads on here.

Better to find out what's wrong with your back. For a bad back they often give injections of vitamin b

I take 30/500 3x per day for 5 days during my period every month and have done for years.
No issues.

If you’re drug naive and a rapid converter, yes. If you’re a long term user, less so as your tolerance will be high.

When eg addicts get clean their tolerance decreases again relapse can lead to overdose.

For me the line for addiction is when need over takes want.

You might want to take the codeine for the pain relief problems start to arrive when you absolutely need to take it regardless of the consequences

I can have a problem with alcohol. There are times when I want a drink. A single cold glass of something specific with friends. Fine I'll have that drink. When every cell in my body is screaming out for a drink any drink at 11 o'clock on a Mon morning. I NEED a drink. I know it's a bad idea because I am at work and I have a meeting later and so on but I desperately NEED to find that drink. On those occasions I do something else and check in with myself about why those urges have occurred. I talk myself down and address why there was such a strong need for destruction/obligation/harm/whatever. It has taken time but I now no longer drink when I feel the need to drink.

Codeine Withdrawal is so mild that many people don't even realise what it IS.

They may just feel slightly down, and have aching legs and a bit of a runny nose , headache and trouble sleeping, and not even attribute it to codeine cessation.

My friend was suffering what looked like codeine withdrawals... I mentioned it to him, and he took some of his prescribed codeine, and felt better within a short time.

His GP gave him a reducing prescription for codeine and advised him to come off them slowly.

Ah this is interesting. I recently had surgery and was given codeine and tramadol, they seems to have no effect on me whatsoever - either for pain relief or for giving me any kind of pleasant cosy feeling that people describe. They literally did nothing.

I saw a thread on here recently about tramadol and people saying you would be off your nut on it but it honestly did nothing for me. I stopped taking both and actually got more pain relief from paracetamol.

On the flip side I have a friend who got addicted to codeine quite easily, so it must just affect other people differently as you say.

I googled this..

"The hepatic CYP2D6 enzyme metabolizes a quarter of all prescribed drugs, including codeine. The CYP2D6 enzyme converts codeine into its active metabolite, morphine, which provides its analgesic effect. Consequently, pain relief may be inadequate in individuals who have 2 inactive copies of CYP2D6 (“poor metabolizers”, PMs), because of reduced morphine levels."

Seems ultra rapid metabolisers {converters} can overdose very easily on even therapeutic doses of codeine, poor metabolisers may not get a therapeutic effect from codeine.

How interesting.

I’m probably coming from a place of heroin cessation, which is obvs much stronger than Codeine. That said, I’d be surprised if the neurotransmitters were functioning sweet and dandy after a week+ off long-term Codeine use at a high dose.

A friend has that conversion rate issue too. One size does not fit all etc.

Hope you’re taking care re your back when lifting the kids, OP ✨

I have what's considered a very poor conversion rate for codeine - so even large doses have very little effect on my mood and pain relief. I understand that 10% of the population is like me. And then there's the super converters and they are very effective at converting codeine to morphine and they are the ones who need to be careful (and the reason why kids should not be given codeine) as they will get a lovely buzz from very little. If you are getting a lovely buzz, I'd be worried.

Same here. I would be more concerned about the possibility of becoming constipated as a side effect than becoming addicted.

Yes, addicts’ tolerance to certain drugs/alcohol increases over time, so higher doses are required to achieve the same effect.

But I didn’t want to stigmatize people who are necessarily on long-term pain relief, managed via a GP/hospital (altho sometimes people remain on meds long after an underlying issue has been sorted, and really struggle to come off - so, in effect they have to deal with withdrawal problems like addicts who are cleaning up).

Hope you’re starting to feel better. Good you’re aware re the addictive properties, but if it sorts the pain - great, and perhaps your prescription is short-term.

Either way, being on long-term pain relief isn’t necessarily the same as having an addiction problem. Think use vs abuse.