Codeine withdrawal?

[UhOhOops]

I've been taking 30/500 co-codamol for 4 months. I've had a small op which should fix the original injury, so gp is keen to cut down the meds ASAP. Have scared myself silly reading about codeine withdrawal, any tips?

(the pills have been essential for pain relief, I deffo want to get off them and the side effects of them have not been great constipation)

Do it very gradually. Say you're taking the maximum dose of eight tablets per day, drop down to seven and a half in week one. Then seven in week two, cutting down by half a tablet each week. Whatever you do, don't stop abruptly. That is when things can get really horrible. Best of luck, it can be done.

How many are you taking currently?

Tapering off them is much better than stopping abruptly

I was on them for four years - I did a stint earlier this year when I was on them four times a day. But mostly I was on two at night and one twice a day during the day. Stopped taking them two months ago with no noticeable effects.

8 a day, sometimes less if I forget to take them out with me. Tend to have less pain in the middle of the day so will perhaps try dropping those first.

Thanks all!

I usually take them, 8 x a day when I have bad hip pain, but I am taking pregablin and carbamazepine for something else at the moment, so can't combine, which is shit as doesn't help hip pain.....but getting back to codeine withdrawal, I only get diarrhoea for a couple of days when I cut back on them, everyone is different, so just try.