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Original poster

Codeine, how does it make you feel?

128 replies

Absentmindedwoman · 29/04/2022 20:23

I sometimes need to take this on the first day of my period (I have adenomyosis, and possible endometriosis) as I did yesterday.

It makes me feel so yuck though, in a hard to describe way. Don't get me wrong - I'm really grateful it stopped the pain yesterday, but it makes me slightly queasy and off colour, and my muscles feel unnaturally slack and floppy Confused I find it really unpleasant and just all wrong. Better of course that writhing in menstrual agony, but not quite myself.

Obviously, there are people who develop a codeine habit and become addicted. Am curious how they feel if they take it? What kind of pleasant feeling do they get that makes them want more of it - is it a mental buzz?

It must be to do with individual neurochemistry/ brain receptors as to why some people find it enjoyable and others don't.

OP posts:
fluffyducky21 · 29/04/2022 21:21

Codeine makes me sick.

PrincessPaws · 29/04/2022 21:21

I can only take it at night, as I will be asleep within 10 minutes of taking it and will be out for a solid few hours. But that is taking two 30/500 co-codamol tablets (also for horrendous gynae issues and prescribed by the consultant)

AnneLovesGilbert · 29/04/2022 21:22

I find it useless. Doesn’t help with pain at all. I’ve been given it in hospital several times, told them it doesn’t work, they insist, they see I’m still in pain and dish out something decent instead.

DH absolutely loves it. Gets the warm swirly spacey feeling and thinks it’s the nuts. He can’t tolerate gas and air, said that made him feel really sick and he’d rather have the pain. I love it, that’s the good stuff.

Have you tried mefanamic acid for period pain? That works for me. Sorry you’re suffering, it’s awful.

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PlumPearPud · 29/04/2022 21:22

It has no side effects at all on me. Just kills pain. Weird how it affects people so differently.

BonesJones · 29/04/2022 21:23

I feel fucking brilliant on them! A real happy buzz. I have a shockingly hight tolerance for drugs though. A pp mentioned adhd and I have that, didn't realise there wad a correlation. That said, I feel grim the next day which is the only thing that stands in the way of addiction for me, I think. Feels the same as if I've eaten takeaway and shit food for 3 days and my body needs an internal scrub, 8 pints of water and raw salad to restore balance. Plus if I take them for more than a day or two I get horrific migraines so I try to limit use to one or two doses tops. Still enjoy the buzz though 🙈

vipersnest1 · 29/04/2022 21:23

@CatLadyDrinksGin and @MrOllivander, are you hyper mobile by any chance? (Old-fashioned description is double-jointed.)

Jules912 · 29/04/2022 21:24

It makes me really tired and sends me do-Lally ( think happy drunk, I've never done any other drugs so can't compare). I have to be pretty desperate to take it.

MrsLangOnionsMcWeetabix · 29/04/2022 21:28

Bloody lovely so I’m very careful how often I take it.

CatLadyDrinksGin · 29/04/2022 21:28

No but I also get little effect from dental anaesthetic (need a double dose) and do have a connective tissue disease which I’m sure is linked.

CatLadyDrinksGin · 29/04/2022 21:28

That was to vipersnest

Greydogs123 · 29/04/2022 21:30

I took it once after having wisdom teeth out and collapsed in a dead faint about 5 mins later! Wouldn’t touch the stuff again.

Pebblee · 29/04/2022 21:34

Constipated, really badly

vipersnest1 · 29/04/2022 21:37

Oh, and while being un-touched by codeine, so to speak, I remember DC2 coming to see me after a fairly heavy-duty operation where I'd been given morphine.
I thought I sounded perfectly normal. DC2: 'Mum, you sound like you're drunk!'. Oh well... BlushGrin

MrOllivander · 29/04/2022 21:37

vipersnest1 · 29/04/2022 21:23

@CatLadyDrinksGin and @MrOllivander, are you hyper mobile by any chance? (Old-fashioned description is double-jointed.)

Not in the slightest! I am a red head though which I've heard can affect painkillers

gandalf456 · 29/04/2022 21:38

What dose are you taking, op? I find standard otc ones ok but the higher dose ones make me constipated if I have them too often

CeeceeBloomingdale · 29/04/2022 21:40

It makes my stomach roll, it feels like a baby moving. It also makes me feel sick and I don’t find it effective for pain.

doadeer · 29/04/2022 21:42

It used to make me feel a little bit light headed in a nice way, like I'd had a glass of wine but I've taken so much now I don't feel anything.

I have had adverse reactions coming off it 3x. Shakes etc but they pass after a few days

DottyDotAgain · 29/04/2022 21:43

I love it... makes me fuzzy and happy and relaxed - very like a 2nd/3rd glass of wine but without the hangover. I've had a few minor ops over the years so had built up quite a stockpile and was starting to take them just to sleep (when perimenopause was hitting me badly), but realised what was happening and stopped.

Could definitely see how you can get addicted to them - living in a fuzzy, happy world is very appealing....

Aandanotherthingg · 29/04/2022 21:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

vipersnest1 · 29/04/2022 21:44

@MrOllivander, that might explain it then. I know other genes can make you pre-disposed. (Although shouldn't you be Mrs Weasley really? WinkGrin)
I'm hyper mobile and only discovered fairly recently that this is the reason why anaesthetics don't have such a strong effect on me - and may explain why being given a GA hurts like hell as it goes into my vein.

DottyDotAgain · 29/04/2022 21:45

And morphine is the absolute best... Very hard to come off once you've had some - very dangerous stuff for me so I'm glad I haven't had to have any for a number of years!

Foodbanksshouldbeobsolete · 29/04/2022 21:45

It makes me fuzzy headed and a bit depressed. Sometimes it makes me feel quite nauseous or panicky. I only take it when I am in a lot of pain, and it does seem to make it much more bearable though doesn't take it away 100% (endo pain) i won't take it for more than absolutely necessary as mostly I would rather be in pain than feel like that. But equally if I'm in too much pain to function otherwise, then that it more miserable than the yucky feeling codeine gives me IYSWIM?

TulipsGarden · 29/04/2022 21:47

It's lovely for me, makes me pleasantly happy and drifty. I wouldn't take it long-term because I can see how people get addicted.

DottyDotAgain · 29/04/2022 21:49

I had to have a very minor procedure last week - no strong painkillers required - but came home feeling rough and hunted through my tablets stock, only to realise with great sadness that I only have one single codeine tablet left (which must be at least 5 years old!).

So it remains in the drawer, probably never to be taken, but as a just in case...

Am so surprised that other people have no/rubbish reactions to codeine - had always assumed that it made everyone feel brilliant!

Foodbanksshouldbeobsolete · 29/04/2022 21:52

If I was in a position to curl up in a hot water bottle with a couple of ibuprofen and a hot chocolate instead that would be much better! But it enables me to work (just about) and look after my kids (supervise and feed them at least). So a necessary evil at times when I can't use other methods.