Anyone Know About Coming Off OTC Codeine Based Painkillers?

[MarmaladeSandwich7]

I’m due to have a colonoscopy & have to stop any codeine a week before. I take Solpadeine Max (paracetamol with codeine) & some form of ibuprofen & codeine daily. Have done for many months. I read that you shouldn’t go “cold turkey” although I reckon that’s with pure codeine phosphate. Certainly don’t want to suffer any nasty withdrawal symptoms. What’s the best thing to do? My procedure is in 2 weeks.

It's very easy to replace alcohol with something like this as it does feel bloody good! You can do this!

Re the scopes - you really need to chat to the team doing it - codeine is constipating but you won’t be the first patient who’s ever presented for endoscopies on opioids - they may very well just agree to stay on it and hope the bowel prep works well enough rather than waiting to taper. Re sedation, it is important that they know how much opioid you’re normally on because sedationist lists are usually pretty protocolised and they may want to think about whether an anaesthetist list would be better because we have a bit more scope to use different sedation techniques (may not be needed but they might want to think about it). The ibuprofen may be involved in causing GI symptoms so if they don’t know about that they should. In your more holistic wellbeing interests it really would be wise to get help to come off the codeine in a controlled way with help either from your GP or whoever helped you with the alcohol. Hope it all goes smoothly.

I don't like the way codeine makes me feel which is why I only take it at night and yet it seems my body had become dependent on it. I was only on it for about 6 weeks. It really must be very addictive or at least create a strong dependency. And it's not even a great painkiller.

Some great advice here. Hope things work out for you and that you get the support you need.

I think you just need to go cold turkey on the codeine, you’ll feel crap for a day or two but it won’t cause you any problems.

I’ve had many colonoscopies and trust me the laxatives they give you will completely blast any constipation caused by any codeine out of the water. 😬🙈

Addiction to over-the-counter pain meds is a significant problem, don't beat yourself up about it, you're not the first person to end up reliant on them.

This is a great opportunity to address the problem, with the help of your doctor. They will support you through this!

As a PP advised, call the surgery on Monday morning for an urgent appointment. It may be that the colonoscopy is deferred, or that once you're off the painkillers, your gastric issues improve.

Congrats on admitting to yourself that you have a problem, now you can address it.

Constipation is not the issue. OP has been taking a high dose of an opiate for a long time. The people doing the procedure really need to know this. It is important.
Also, as pp have pointed out, there is also a possibility of liver damage from paracetamol.

Please call 111 today and talk to a doctor about this - as a doctor reading this, my primary concern is that you've been overdosing on paracetamol for a long time. The normal maximum paracetamol dose is 1g four times daily and by your account you've been taking 2g 4-5 times daily. You also need support weaning your codeine intake, but honestly, the chronic paracetamol overdose would worry me more as an immediate threat to your life and health.

Actually the constipation is the immediate issue here - because op is saying they need to stop the codeine cold turkey immediately because of the colonoscopy. I am saying that isn’t necessary the case. The whole addiction / cutting down aspect is secondary to this because it’s safer and better to do this slowly and in a controlled manner. I’m not denying there’s an issue with this but if op is concerned they cannot have the colonoscopy because of the Cocodamol I am saying that is probably not true.

I take 1g of paracetamol with 400g of ibuprofen 4 times daily ( some days it’s fewer doses)

if you are taking 4x soloadeine 4x daily you are taking 2g paracetamol 4 times a day which is way over the safe guideline

I’m taking 2 x Solpadeine Max per dose, not 4.

Solpadeine max has paracetamol in it, do if you’re taking additional paracetamol as well as the solpadeine max you are overdosing the paracetamol.

I’m taking Solpadeine Max plus ibuprofen so no extra paracetamol

You keep changing the amount you take every time you post - being honest - do you really know what you’re taking or are you just knocking it back?

I don’t keep changing it - for some reason, people think I am taking extra paracetamol. I have stated from the beginning that it’s 2 Solpadeine Max & 2 ibuprofen with codeine for each dose.

Earlier you said you took 4 tablets each time with 12.5mg of codeine per tablet

4 tablets altogether ( 2 with paracetamol, 2 with ibuprofen).

But they all have codeine in them, is that right?

Honestly, you need to speak to your doctor. This is so dangerous. How are you even getting this much codeine?

Each tablet has 12.5mg of codeine

Whatever you are taking it’s way too much and really dangerous, you need to speak to your Dr honestly about what you’re taking.

My advice would be to stop taking them all today 🤷‍♀️