To ask how long withdrawal lasts?

Hilarious

Bloody love a bit of codeine of a night time, glass of wine, 2 codeine and a blanket, bloody bliss

Codeine CAN be very dangerous to come off - but as I said in my earlier post my pain consultant told me that it depends very much on how your body metabolises it. In my case I reduced from 8 x 30 mg tablets per day to 1.5 fairly quickly but it doesn’t work like this with a lot of people and like lots of medicine it needs to be managed very carefully. Throughout the last three years since I damaged my back, the main pressure from all the doctors I’ve seen has been to stop the naproxen I was taking because of the damage it was doing to my stomach, and the ibuprofen you are taking is the same type of drug and will be just as damaging.

Don’t be so hard on yourself op, and well done for recognising the issue and dealing with it head on. I totally understand why you don’t want anything on your medical notes and I don’t think the amount / time you’ve been taking codeine warrants GP supervision. The stomach issues on the other hand, keep an eye on and if they don’t improve having stopped the nurofen, it’s worth seeing the GP for that in case there’s any damage to your stomach that needs treatment. Just be carefully if you do take omeprazole, I’d stick to things like gaviscon if possible. Omeprazole can cause issues too and should only be taken short term. It stopped me absorbing B12, folate and iron and can give horrible reflux rebound symptoms when you come off it.

I used to take codeine prescribed for pain, I gradually cut down from 6 tablets a day to nothing, think I reduced by 1 tablet a week but reckon I could have done it in half that time as apart from feeling a bit jittery and anxious I don’t remember any side effects being that bad. If you’d rather go cold turkey and just get it over with I don’t blame you though

I ended up with an awful codeine habit after being prescribed it post surgery. At the worst I was taking 4 x 30mg codeine per day even if I didn't need it for pain relief.
I came off it by tapering down slowly, as I didn't want to go cold turkey and go through withdrawal. You don't need to see a doctor to do this at all.

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If you've got six left and have taken two today, can you start tapering it?

So one and a half tomorrow, one the next day (or for a couple of days), then half. And perhaps keep up the half dose with the remaining few as you may need this as your system starts to remove the residual levels.

See how you get on cutting each day down slightly?

They can make you feel calmer and more confident in dealing with crap OP, hence the addictive quality.

Gradually withdraw, write a diary. Including how you’re feeling, it can help you pinpoint how you’re coping on a day to day basis.

It’s awful how needing something can creep up on you.

What you "know for a fact" about opiates is full of misconceptions. If there was no danger from withdrawals from opiates, many addicts would not require a medicated detox under medical supervision in an inhouse treatment centre.

At your level of use of OTC drugs, it is hardly likely to be dangerous. But this is at least the third comment you have blithely made minimising opiate withdrawal and the potential dangers.

You have probably caused some damage to your stomach with the ibuprofen. Which you are also oddly blithe and dismissive about.

OP asks for information/advice.

Ignores and rebuffs all information and advice. 'Knows better'.

Peak Mumsnet.

If I were you, I’d reduce the codeine slowly - reduce the dose and then a couple of days later reduce it again so your body gets used to the smaller amount gradually. You should get away with the smallest amount of “withdrawal” symptoms that way. The hard part is the mental challenge of not taking them. I speak from experience as a former heroin addict. I have done many withdrawals and it’s not pleasant. I’m pleased to say I have been “clean” for many, many years and that part of my life is well behind me. Good luck, stay strong and focus on getting yourself better x

Maine drugs absolutely need a safe a safe withdrawal/taper process but opioids aren’t one of them.

Well, that's absolute bullshit! I think, however, at this level, you will be okay to just come off them, and feel wretched for four days or so particularly, then improving after about a week. I would be more concerned about peptic ulcers from what you've subjected your stomach to.

DH found it harder to stop smoking tbh

The thing now is it is on his records and I cannot even get pain relief, is it because I live with him? do they think that I will give it to him? I have not had any problems myself but after a major operation and then developing other health problems, I have had to beg and beg for pain relief and then was just told to take paracetamol.🙄

I think you're right in that withdrawal is unpleasant but not dangerous. If you've managed to cut it down to 2 a day, just do that for a few days, then 1 for a few days and then you could just drop the last one (or do a half for a bit). That should be quick enough but also keep you comfortable enough so you can still function and you'll be less likely to take more if you're not feeling like crap. Sounds like you're very determined. Well done and good luck!

Hi op. I was addicted to codeine for 7 years. I did stop abruptly and I didn't have any noticeable side effects. I'll caveat that by saying I stopped drinking alcohol at the exact same time so it was quite hard to disagregate the impact of stopping both at the same time. I certainly didn't feel great but nothing "dangerous" happened.

I guess I'm lucky that my stomach hates codeine and it seems to do nothing whatsoever for me.

I just stopped the prescription ones cold turkey after a year. I hated myself for not being able to deal with physical pain.Felt like hell for 5 days with sickness, but I saw it as my punishment and as a cautionary tale that however bad pain is you just have to power through it.
Ultimately, opiate withdrawal is very unpleasant but harmless.

I was taking the maximum dose of codeine for over two years when I slipped a disc, and was concerned about possible withdrawal problems when I was finally improved enough to start to reduce the amount I was taking. The consultant at the pain clinic told me that different people metabolise codeine differently and by no means everyone will have withdrawal problems. That has definitely been the case with me, and I’ve had no problems at all in reducing the amount I’m taking as my pain has reduced, including when I made quite a significant drop once the impact of my surgery started to kick in. I know a lot of people can have withdrawal problems but definitely not everyone, so you may be fortunate and be able to stop quite quickly like I was, especially with the amount of codeine you will be having in over the counter pills.

I've ended up with codeine addiction through prescribed meds which were needed at points. I would suggest being mindful of the psychological addiction too. I managed to come off these tablets several times, reduced them and managed the withdrawal. And for a long time I just told myself that it was an unfortunate physical side effect to these meds. But there was a reason I always ended up back on them even when they weren't needed for pain relief and that is something I've finally had to address.