To ask how to come off co-codamol

I don’t think you are at all! But even if you were… I don’t really see an issue with being dramatic.

I recently had a major operation and was on Oxycontin for a bit. I’m still in a lot of pain but now only on paracetamol, not because my health care providers are sadists but because opioids are highly, highly addictive and they know they need to be very careful with them. You’re not “weak”, not dramatic, not pathetic, you’ve been led into a very common trap and are now looking for the way out. You sound very strong and together to me.

If for some reason your GP or pharmacist is unhelpful, find someone else to speak to. Some people just have no empathy or enjoy being horrid. I doubt you’ll encounter one of those but just be aware of the possibility.

Op I’ve managed this a few times.

Start slowly replacing your zapain with over the counter cocodomol which is a lower dose. For example start by taking 1 zapain and 1 otc cocodamol.

Then from there start slowly replacing the otc cocodomol with paracetamol. So 1 otc and 1
paracetamol.

Then you should be able to stop quite easily. You just need to do it slowly and then gradually leave it longer between doses.

I’ve done this a few times and it’s worked each time.

True. It was more just that the unpleasantness of cold turkey withdrawal frequently leads to relapse, unless the other symptoms are managed medically (e.g nausea, rebound pain). But yes, unlikely to be dangerous.

What makes you think you are addicted to them if you haven’t tried coming off them?

Lots of people can just stop and have no withdrawal symptom ms.

You can get neurofen plus over the counter. Neurofen and codeine. It will take the edge off.

Op I am sorry you’re going through this.
Do you have any Narcotics Anonymous meetings in your area? If so I would recommend you go to one as addiction isn’t an easy thing to stop on your own.
At a meeting you will get help and support from people who are going through/have been through the same thing.

Me too. I ought to know better. It often makes us more vulnerable.

I've been there too OP. Addicted to Tramadol, then Zapain (taking a similar amount to you)

I came off Tramadol cold turkey - worst thing ever and wouldn't recommend it.

Zapain was a gradual taper and then I went onto OTC. You can buy Paramol and cocodamol from the pharmacy to help get you through. Don't tell the pharmacist anything, you don't have to explain yourself and they will likely refuse to sell it to you if you tell them you're having addiction problems with Zapain.

You are going to have a withdrawal of sorts if you taper but it's much easier to cope with thank cold turkey.

Good luck, it's shit but you CAN do this

Do you have none left at all?

I think you've got two options:

1. Go to the GP.

1. Buy solpadeine max over the counter, take 8 a day for 6 days (2 packs). Repeat with the next dose down (8mg a tablet). Repeat with cutting down to 4 tablets a day. Repeat down to 2 tablets a day.

I highly doubt any pharmacist would supply you with medicines on the basis you were weaning yourself off an addiction and they will notice if they see you again and again.

Opiate withdrawal is no joke and can make you very sick

yes, but is also not dangerous unlike sudden alcohol withdrawal. Also op is only taking 120mg a day which is a very low dose in the grand scheme of things

Here is what you do - get someone to help you a friend for example.

cut the 4 tablets into 2 giving you 8 tablets per day
week 1 you take 7 tablets each one being a mini tablet per day
week 2 6
week 3 5
week 4 4

and so on until you get to the point you are on 1/2 a tablet a day eg 1 of your bits
then you do one 1/2 tablet every other day and then you do it every 3 days then every 4 days then every 5 days and then every 6 and then you stop.

I was addicted Had a horrific bad back after an accident and this is what I did with my GP. When you finally stop don’t go back - good luck!

I took cocodamol for two weeks after an operation a few years ago and was so annoyed that no one at the hospital or the pharmacy warned me it was so easy to become physically dependent on it! (Later on I was told 3+ days is the timescale).

I vaguely remember having nausea, diarrhoea and dizziness as I came off it.

I can't remember dosages or how I tapered off but I do remember that I did it very gradually with GP's guidance and a certain amount of teeth gritting to get through the withdrawal. I just kept telling myself the withdrawal would be over after a few days but if I increased the dose again it would just drag out the withdrawal process.

I complained to the hospital team and the surgeon's office about the fact I'd had no prior warning.

I have real empathy now for people who unwittingly get addicted to painkillers. I previously had trouble imagining getting addicted to something which doesn't make you high. I've recently been reading about the Oxycontin scandal in the USA and it's horrific.

Good luck OP. One day at a time and please get support and advice from medical professionals.

I'm sorry you're in this situation. I'd second the advice to get professional help and advice.

Don’t be such an utter dick. FFS

What difference does the OPs grammar make to her situation.

Op - consider buying some solpedeine max OTC use that to taper off with. Don’t stop codeine cold turkey.

I was on dibydrocodeine was about 4-5 days due to surgery on my hand. Felt really odd and dizzy when I stopped. It was quite grim and the thought of repeating that feeling helped me stick to just paracetamol and ibuprofen. Much shorter time I appreciate. You can do this. But do it slowly.

Well done for trying to make someone who is struggling feel stupid. I’m sure you will have really helped her with her addiction.

When you have been in pain for whatever reason - you will have needed the pain relief and that is why it was prescribed for you.
Your doctor should willingly look at alternatives and ways of reducing dosages so you can wean yourself off the medication however long you have been on the medication. Going cold turkey is not the answer as you will feel worse in the interim.
Speaking as someone who has been on anti-depressants and also pain relief for peripheral neuropathy after breast cancer and all the chemo shite that went with it. With help from the clinical pharmacist at the doctors surgery, I followed her advice and began to reduce the medication and it was not done in a matter of weeks - it took months. Prescription strengths were changed so I was still taking the meds but reducing over time until I was eventually taking one at minimal dosage every other day which went to two days and so on. All timed to effectively 'run out' at the end of a packet - it was a gentle and effective way to do it. On a recent annual medication review - they were finally removed from my repeat prescription list - so it can be done. You just need to be patient and kind with yourself.
I have a friend who works in the NHS with people suffering from addictions - she has dealt with all kinds of people and their addictions from cocaine, paracetamol to sugar!! Lots of people have addictions - look at all those who try and fail to get to grips with smoking or alcohol so don't beat yourself up about it.
Wishing you lots of luck in dealing with this.

The failure here is your doctor/pharmacist - not yours. It is well known that they are highly addictive and that nobody should be taking them long term. The fact that you have been using it this long should have been seriously questioned. Many GPs will no longer prescribe it at all - they prescribe paracetomol and codeine separately with codeine being "maxed" at doses for only two or three times a week when pain is worst. This means that patients become less tolerant to codeine (and it is therefore more effective) and less likley to become addicted.

Well I'm sure you didn't start taking them for entertainment purposes. There was a painful medical issue and you didn't want to feel unwell when tried to stop so didn't, really this should be supported more.

Don't be hard on yourself you've recognised there is a problem and are seeking help off your own back. The only similarity is they add both addictions as how you deal with them can be totally different to another person.

I've taken dihydrocodeine since 2017 and no issues but I don't get any sort of nice feelings from it
It's a mild pain relief for me and I can stop and start it