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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask how long withdrawal lasts?

236 replies

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 11:37

So for some bizarre reason I have gained a bit of a habit buying Cocodamol and Nurofen plus. It got to a point where my stomach was starting to hurt and realised I was upping my dose so I have decided to nip this in the bud. Yesterday I took 2, this morning I have took 2 and had some diarrhoea (sorry tmi) I felt they helped calm me down after my divorce but in reality they didn’t and I will be so glad and proud to be free of this

OP posts:
FiveBarGate · 16/06/2025 22:35

Given you may have trouble sleeping, it might be an idea to download an audio book. You can usually get an audible free trial if you don't have one.

It will give your mind something to focus on.. slightly too quiet forces you to really listen and helps cut out other thoughts. Set it on a sleep timer (repeat if you wake in the night)

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:28

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:25

It appears you’re still taking the paracetamol/codeine combo? Sorry if mistaken

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My
last dose was 8am. It’s been almost 14 hours

OP posts:
Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:25

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:23

I’ve removed them. Getting pure codeine would be a big mistake

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It appears you’re still taking the paracetamol/codeine combo? Sorry if mistaken

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:24

And they need to look at your stomach and run some tests to make sure your liver is ok. It’s important

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:23

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:22

Not at all

Your liver is being damaged from the paracetamol and your stomach is being destroyed by the ibuprofen. These need to be removed asap.

It used to be available in prescription doses over the counter in French pharmacies. Easier to just ask doctor for help

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I’ve removed them. Getting pure codeine would be a big mistake

OP posts:
Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:22

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 12:44

Codeine alone would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Not at all

Your liver is being damaged from the paracetamol and your stomach is being destroyed by the ibuprofen. These need to be removed asap.

It used to be available in prescription doses over the counter in French pharmacies. Easier to just ask doctor for help

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:18

ButteredRadish · 16/06/2025 22:09

This is addiction and you need medical & drug addiction support

I will seek help if I cannot stay off them, I’ve never tried. Isn’t that when people seek help , when they cannot stop regardless

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 16/06/2025 22:10

Well done, keep going, you might need some outside support, many people are addicted to over the counter medication.
Best of luck. 💐

ButteredRadish · 16/06/2025 22:09

This is addiction and you need medical & drug addiction support

solvendie · 16/06/2025 21:48

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 16/06/2025 18:42

She wasn't.
There's 8mg codeine in one solpadeine.
There's 12.8mg codeine in one nurofen plus.

The OP was taking 4 of each daily.

That's nowhere near the safe recommended daily dose of codeine (which is 240mg).

Even if she was taking twice that amount she wouldn't be overdosing.

Edited
Show quote history

This. OP you are not in danger from withdrawal. Most of the withdrawal will be psychological/habit, not physical. Keep busy, use distraction and change your routine.

Best of luck - you can do this, you’ve got this

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 21:44

FriendofDorothy · 16/06/2025 21:32

Quite honestly your brain is that most powerful tool you have. If you expect withdrawals you will probably get them. If you are optimistic the worst that you might feel is a bit sniffly and coldy and a few aches. You should be fine.

Keep busy, have a bath, go to bed. Be optimistic that you will sail through and hopefully you will have few withdrawals. You really are not taking a lot.

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Love this

OP posts:
Unforgettablefire · 16/06/2025 21:33

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:57

God that sounds horrific and very extreme. Was he on really high doses?

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No just a very low dose. He’s been tapering for ages, we went on holiday and he thought he’d be ok with it being a small dose.
Nighttime was the worst, he couldn’t even sit or lie down he had to pace all night, I was convinced the exhaustion would kill him.
We had gone on holiday and the place we went to its banned so he said ah I’ll just not bother taking it it’s only a small dose.

Some people escape the withdrawals but some go through hell, hopefully you’ll be ok but I’d try and make sure you’re never completely without just in case.

FriendofDorothy · 16/06/2025 21:32

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:58

When should I expect the worst to happen? Does anybody know…if it was going to happen, I feel a bit out of sorts already so expecting this huge withdrawal

Quite honestly your brain is that most powerful tool you have. If you expect withdrawals you will probably get them. If you are optimistic the worst that you might feel is a bit sniffly and coldy and a few aches. You should be fine.

Keep busy, have a bath, go to bed. Be optimistic that you will sail through and hopefully you will have few withdrawals. You really are not taking a lot.

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:58

When should I expect the worst to happen? Does anybody know…if it was going to happen, I feel a bit out of sorts already so expecting this huge withdrawal

OP posts:
Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:57

Unforgettablefire · 16/06/2025 19:25

Taper them @Scunthorpeeplease. I’ve seen withdrawal from a low dose and I never want to see it again it was horrific.
Your job will be at risk if you try jumping straight off because you won’t sleep. At all. My partner didn’t sleep a wink for over a week, he was vomiting, had open sores all over where he was so restless and literally rubbed the skin off himself from shifting about constantly.
He couldn’t function at all it he gave in after a week, now he’s tapering and on a tiny dose, he’d have given in the first night but we were abroad and he had no choice. He was still ill after a week.

I would seriously think twice about going cold turkey, or at least keep some handy just in case it hits you at night.
Good luck 💐

Show quote history

God that sounds horrific and very extreme. Was he on really high doses?

OP posts:
Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:50

It’s been just over 12 hours since my last dose

OP posts:
Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:46

I do feel a bit yawny, shivery and tad more anxious than usual.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 20:45

Unforgettablefire · 16/06/2025 19:25

Taper them @Scunthorpeeplease. I’ve seen withdrawal from a low dose and I never want to see it again it was horrific.
Your job will be at risk if you try jumping straight off because you won’t sleep. At all. My partner didn’t sleep a wink for over a week, he was vomiting, had open sores all over where he was so restless and literally rubbed the skin off himself from shifting about constantly.
He couldn’t function at all it he gave in after a week, now he’s tapering and on a tiny dose, he’d have given in the first night but we were abroad and he had no choice. He was still ill after a week.

I would seriously think twice about going cold turkey, or at least keep some handy just in case it hits you at night.
Good luck 💐

Show quote history

I have a couple just incase it hits

OP posts:
Unforgettablefire · 16/06/2025 19:25

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 12:40

This is why it is so pointless to go to your GP. They don’t really know that much about it (some of them) and then when you need pain relief in the future genuinely you won’t be given it. Especially with opioids when it is about 72 hours of withdrawal and then it gets rapidly better.

Taper them @Scunthorpeeplease. I’ve seen withdrawal from a low dose and I never want to see it again it was horrific.
Your job will be at risk if you try jumping straight off because you won’t sleep. At all. My partner didn’t sleep a wink for over a week, he was vomiting, had open sores all over where he was so restless and literally rubbed the skin off himself from shifting about constantly.
He couldn’t function at all it he gave in after a week, now he’s tapering and on a tiny dose, he’d have given in the first night but we were abroad and he had no choice. He was still ill after a week.

I would seriously think twice about going cold turkey, or at least keep some handy just in case it hits you at night.
Good luck 💐

CanneryRow · 16/06/2025 18:45

I went from being on 8 x 30/500 mg codeine and 4 Naproxen a day for over a year to nothing. No side effects whatsoever.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 16/06/2025 18:42

Floatlikeafeather2 · 16/06/2025 16:09

The OP was taking double the recommended daily dose of codeine as it's in both cocodamol and Nurofen plus. And it's the codeine that's the addictive part.

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She wasn't.
There's 8mg codeine in one solpadeine.
There's 12.8mg codeine in one nurofen plus.

The OP was taking 4 of each daily.

That's nowhere near the safe recommended daily dose of codeine (which is 240mg).

Even if she was taking twice that amount she wouldn't be overdosing.

MartyAddison · 16/06/2025 18:36

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 18:25

Yes. Especially with Heroin/fentanyl but from OTC codeine to methadone/subutex seems a little extreme.

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Yes I was thinking about heroin when I wrote that. I doubt if inpatient admission is needed for somebody withdrawing from codeine. As others have said, it is pretty safe.

Trendyname · 16/06/2025 18:28

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 12:40

This is why it is so pointless to go to your GP. They don’t really know that much about it (some of them) and then when you need pain relief in the future genuinely you won’t be given it. Especially with opioids when it is about 72 hours of withdrawal and then it gets rapidly better.

If GP dont know then check Dr Google.
Do ypu know ibuprofen is bad for kidney and you may need some tests to rule out any serious issues with it?

Original poster
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 18:25

MartyAddison · 16/06/2025 18:22

But IP treatment could make withdrawal more comfortable for somebody. They could be monitored, given fluids if sweating profusely and having diarrhoea, given Imodium etc. Some may then transfer to a methadone program for example. I can see arguments for an inpatient detox that are nothing to do with making money
or safety as such.

Show quote history

Yes. Especially with Heroin/fentanyl but from OTC codeine to methadone/subutex seems a little extreme.

OP posts:
MartyAddison · 16/06/2025 18:22

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 18:03

I guess a of Inpatient treatment programmes will advocate for medically managed withdrawal (money needs to be made of course)

But IP treatment could make withdrawal more comfortable for somebody. They could be monitored, given fluids if sweating profusely and having diarrhoea, given Imodium etc. Some may then transfer to a methadone program for example. I can see arguments for an inpatient detox that are nothing to do with making money
or safety as such.

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