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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:
Ponderingwindow · 30/04/2022 04:32

I vomit and then dry heave for hours after a dose. It doesn’t help at all with pain. Just end up in pain with the added fun of vomiting. It’s easier to just be in pain.

AnnieJ1985 · 30/04/2022 04:41

SNWannabe · 29/04/2022 20:29

i used to enjoy codeine and i felt like that feeling you get when the second class of wine hits and you feel a little swishy but pleasant…
But now if i take codeine it makes me feel sick and yucky and i avoid it now.

Exactly the same for me, used to love it, now it makes me feel sick (a full stomach helps) and I get a weird achy/sensation across my back, up near my shoulder blades.

I avoid it now

Shanghai1 · 30/04/2022 05:03

Codeine has an enormous effect on me. I'll feel sick, and want to lie down. Eyes rolling back in my head. I sometimes realise I haven't taken a breath for a while.

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Nat6999 · 30/04/2022 05:04

I'm on it permanently as I have Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS & Osteoarthritis & it doesn't bother me now as I imagine I have a high tolerance. On the other hand Tramadol sends me crazy, I couldn't sleep, couldn't close my eyes & felt like I had my head in a jar with the world going on outside.

Billandben444 · 30/04/2022 05:51

2 Co-codamol make me sleep like a log and wake up with a headache and chronic constipation. Oramorph on the other hand - now you're talking!

Fuuuuuckit · 30/04/2022 06:13

Crikey. I was taking a shit load of codeine (plus loads of other nasties) last year for frozen shoulder, and not only did it not actually help with the pain at all, it left me with such horrific constipation I'm now needing further investigations in/on my bowel. No other side effects.

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/04/2022 06:26

I take two 30mg tablets 4 times a day and have done for the last 5 years.

It never gets rid of the pain (severe Rheumatoid Arthritis), but can take the edge off it. Combined with Naproxen (500mg), it's a bit better.

Even after this length of time taking it, I do feel stoned each time I take them. Include a glass of wine or two and it gets "interesting".

alittlefickle · 30/04/2022 06:32

I had to take co-codamol for 3 months while TRYING to get my dentist to take me back to remove a wisdom tooth (I was blacklisted after being such a nightmare when they wanted to sedate me)...

I was prescribed 500/8 2 tablets, 4 times a day.... I could take only one without throwing up... Also, me being a complete moron didn't realise codine was addictive, so when I no longer needed it, I just stopped taking it and went into full 'cold turkey' symptoms.. it was terrible. Without realising I'd become addicted to it.

In 2017 after femoral hernia surgery I was given 500/16 strength. ((Didn't realise the strength in my anaesthesia haze.)) Got home from the op, took ONE because I knew my limit, but omg.... within 20 mins I was struggling to get to the bathroom to be sick, but passed out before I got there!!!!

I was recently given it for back pain at A&E but ripped up the prescription! Never touching it again.

x

Stodge · 30/04/2022 06:35

I can't take it

Makes me feel like I'm on a really bad trip - really spacey and out of it

LunaTheCat · 30/04/2022 07:01

MrOlivander
I do not sleep after a GA either. It’s very peculiar.
I always thing a GA is the best sleep ever.

AlwaysLatte · 30/04/2022 07:17

It makes my blood pressure drop and I get nauseous on it. But I'm ok with the synthetic version, I think it's called dihydrocodeine or something, so you could ask your GP about that?

KenAdams · 30/04/2022 07:44

I'm used to it now, I also take it for endo. However, due to the constipation my consultant has prescribed Nefopam (moved from the NHS red list to green list recently so is prescribable) but that I'd horrendous. I wake up the next day feeling like I've been hit by a bus and I'm incapable of basic thought. I've gone back to codeine.

chickyellowcute · 30/04/2022 07:52

I find it helpful pain wise and it doesn't make me feel high or weird or ill, apart from when I had a pretty strong dose once as a teen, can't remember what it was for but I had to lie down and ride out some nausea. The normal over the counter dosage seems fine though

sqirrelfriends · 30/04/2022 08:11

Dizzy and then constipated. Obviously I avoid.

suckingonchillidogs · 30/04/2022 08:46

Used to get the nice fuzzy happy feeling but now it makes me physically sick, then dry heaves like a pp mentioned and seems to sap all the moisture from my mouth.

Stomacharmeleon · 30/04/2022 10:18

I used to take huge doses of it. Prescribed due to severe Crohn's disease and was to try and slow my bowel down. Had major problems with malabsorption so could tolerate massive doses.... I hate to admit how much.

It was killing me. I kept falling over. Had to sleep downstairs. Was asleep all the time. Cut it right down but am still on six 30mg a day. But that's a vast huge improvement.

Ohilovetorave · 30/04/2022 10:23

I love the feeling but wouldn't take it just for the sake of it. Love one at bedtime with a mug of cocoa, helps me drift off, bliss. Humans either love or hate feeling a bit high I think 🤔

Queenelsarules · 30/04/2022 11:28

Honestly? Fucking fantastic, glad I had my gall bladder out when I did as I was enjoying the pain relief far too much.

RoseLunarPink · 30/04/2022 11:50

I quite like it, it makes me feel a bit spacey and detached, but also stops my really bad tension headaches when nothing else will, which also explains why I feel great :o

It's not amazing enough to make me want to take it just for the buzz. But if you're having a very horrible or stressful life I can see why that switched-off, detached feeling could be attractive, likewise in the case of chronic pain.

Gas and air however - woo hoo! They had to pull it out of my clutches.

timestheyarechanging · 30/04/2022 15:30

I've never taken it but my friend became addicted after being prescribed it for a back injury. Took her years to get off it. She was spending a fortune on Nurofen Plus.
Please be careful.

Crinkle77 · 30/04/2022 16:27

MuchTooTired · 29/04/2022 20:25

It doesn’t make me feel anything different, just stops the pain and that’s it.

Yeah this. I had to take dihydrocodeine for toothache and was most disappointed that I didn't get the nice floaty feeling that others said they got from it.

Crunchymum · 30/04/2022 16:43

I've taken it a few times over the years for various issues (toothache / arthritis flare) and it does nothing at all for me. Doesn't have any side effects but doesn't work as pain relief!!

(I've had it in a few different forms - on its own / co-codamol / Solpadeine / prescribed / OTC and its never worked for me)

Tecksupport · 30/04/2022 16:53

I was prescribed it a few years ago when I broke my foot. It made me feel really sick, constipated and a bit spaced out. After a few doses I decided I would just stick with alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen!

napody · 30/04/2022 16:56

I’ve taken it once and it made me feel absolutely blissed out in a cartoon-floating-on-a-cloud way. Even in that moment I thought ‘yikes, better not take this again or I’ll get addicted’!

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/04/2022 17:07

Crikey. Some of these comments about codeine. Apart from being suicidally depressed when on straight codeine tablets, I’ve been fine to take full strength 30/500 for a protracted period pre and post surgery then come off it when I choose. No side effects or addiction. I still take it as and when. No wonder it is so controlled. When I buy the otc strength at the chemist I inwardly eye roll about the 3 days and think about all the prescribed drugs in my cupboards.