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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get myself a codeine addiction?

34 replies

trapclap · 01/01/2013 22:17

Obviously not the nearest idea, but...

I have chronic pain, for which I take only paracetamol/ibuprofen/8mg codeine as needed. Was at my mums tonight and inadvertently took 2x cocodomol 500/30

It was the bestest couple of hours I've had in years and years!

I was on ADs a short while ago but came off them as they weren't helping. I don't think I am depressed. But I feel really stressed all the time, my temper is frayed, hard to explain but its a feeling like chewing tin foil/ an off-air tv high pitched beeeeeeeeeeep in my head, all my waking hours. The high dose codeine got rid of it for 3 or so lovely peaceful hours, and the knot in my stomach wad gone!

How bad would it be to take codeine for this reason?

OP posts:
Jajas · 01/01/2013 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RevoltingPeasant · 01/01/2013 22:21

Oh OP not good :( I don't know if this is right but I am sure I have read that taking painkillers ultimately exacerbates symptoms. Sounds to me like you are ratcheting up the meds/ dosage and it is going to rebound on you.

I would talk to your GP if I were you and see if there is anythng else that can help. Also maybe some alternative therapies? Not a big fan myself but they do work for some people.

I'm sorry you're in this position though, how rotten.

CheCazzo · 01/01/2013 22:33

As long as you're prepared to never shit again I'd say its a top idea!

chandellina · 01/01/2013 22:34

I was popping 30mg codeine recently to cope with a bad cough and I think you would find that initially it's very relaxing but that effect wears off quickly within a few days. It is highly addictive and not harmless.

ilovesooty · 01/01/2013 22:36

A very dangerous idea. There are very good reasons why sales of codeine are restricted and their use is not encouraged long term.

CajaDeLaMemoria · 01/01/2013 22:39

Don't do this.

It won't last, if you do. The effect works for a small period of time, but after that your body will crave it. You'll get that same knot back worrying about taking it, and plenty more pain, too. You'll suffer withdrawal symptoms like shakes and headaches if you are even 20 minutes late taking a dose.

And if you need to take it long term, you risk a huge range of problems like stomach bleeds, too.

I take codeine for a legit condition. It also helped my anxiety. It has now worsened it to the extent that I take a cocktail of other drugs to try and reverse the effects.

StuntGirl · 01/01/2013 22:39

I'm pretty sure this is light hearted, but just in case please do not take codeine long term.

When you say you came off anti depressants did you wean yourself off under doctor's supervision or just abruptly stop yourself?

PoppyWearer · 01/01/2013 22:40

I had to take co-codamol during the last six months of 2012 almost daily to battle a pain that has thankfully now been solved by surgery.

I do know what you mean, there were some days when the pain wasn't there on waking, but I would invent some spurious reason to take it "just in case". One left me comfortably numb. Two made me very woozy and definitely unfit to drive. But happy in both cases.

And very constipated. Which given my other medical condition, was Not Good.

Go and see the GP and get something more appropriate prescribed.

SueFlaysAgainstTheDaleks · 01/01/2013 22:41

I have a chronic pain thing and find that the mega stress/tension is eased by anti-depressants. Did you give them a decent trial before deciding to come off them? They take quite a while to work.

As for the codeine, I have had similar experiences with Tramadol but it's not even remotely a long term fix, and the side effects (unable to think straight, constipation, weird sleep patterns, generally feeling deugged out of my mind) alongside the very real issue of dependancy and withdrawal problems make it not a very good idea at all.

If your pain and associated symptoms are not well enough cpntrolled to give you a manageable quality of life, you need to go back and see your doctor.

Utterlylostandneedtogo · 01/01/2013 22:45

As someone on 60mg codeine a day I would say one thing and one thing only

Your bowels will hate you

ilovesooty · 01/01/2013 22:49

the side effects (unable to think straight, constipation, weird sleep patterns, generally feeling drugged out of my mind) alongside the very real issue of dependency and withdrawal problems make it not a very good idea at all

Exactly: it's an opiate. You wouldn't expect to be considered reasonable if you decided to use heroin to treat your anxiety.

Go back to your doctor.

Original poster
trapclap · 01/01/2013 22:55

Grin chezcasso

Thanks chandellina caja and sue...you have put me off my genius plan
I did give the ADs time...I can't remember how long, bit it wad months not weeks. If anything I think I felt slightly worse on them

I hadn't really considered that the stress was as a result of the pain, but it males sense sue...maybe I should try and sort that out. Surgery is am option, but I'm a bit scared of the long recovery period and what I will be left with after

What else could my GP give me? What are anxiety meds? That's an option huh? My GP is very uninterested and just askede what I want!

OP posts:
OTTMummA · 01/01/2013 22:59

I was taking a cocktail of tramadol, codeine and citilopram 2 years ago, there are literally days I can not remember, others I have hazy memories of sitting in a chair all day watching my son play on his own and just about managing to get him dressed and fed and that was it! I now take 500/60mg x 2 of co-codomol at night so I can sleep through the pain and another lot if I wake up in pain, but nothing in the day except paracetomal. It is not a long term solution and I have found that relaxation techniques and regular core excersises help overall. If you have got to this point you need to go to your gp.

sparkleyangel · 01/01/2013 23:01

The majority of GPs have no idea when it comes to pain relief and generally prescribe the same pain killers to everyone for all ailments. If you found the drugs you took helped go back to your GP and ask to be referred to a pain clinic, usually held at your local hospital. They specialise it what type of pain relief you need for different conditions.

OTTMummA · 01/01/2013 23:04

Citilopram is an anti anxiety medication, tramadol used to turn me into a zombie and I started to lack empathy on it, horrible stuff, would never take it again. The pain clinic I attended also said that stress will make you think more about the pain and if it is chronic pain you need to adjust and reduce stress ( physically and mentally ) in your life accordingly, otherwise you end up in a punishing cycle of over exursion then reliant on medication, feel better, do too much, an on and on.

timidviper · 01/01/2013 23:04

Unfortunately I don't think there is such a thing as anxiety meds. AFAIK anxiety is seen as part of the spectrum of depression and is treated, as you are being treated, with antidepressants.

hiddenhome · 01/01/2013 23:11

Try a different antidepressant. They all have slightly different actions. A decent antidepressant effect is worth its weight in gold. Please don't take codeine like this, it's a shite medication and only for very short term use.

EldritchCleavage · 01/01/2013 23:11

You do realise that it's never as good as the first time, don't you? If you did this habitually, it would go from lovely to meh to shit in the blink of an eye.

sparkleyangel · 01/01/2013 23:14

anxiety meds are beta blockers or anti depressants

sparkleyangel · 01/01/2013 23:33

The thing to remember is different drugs affect people in different ways, one persons reaction to a drug will be completely different to another. Go back to your GP tell him how well you felt and see what he says. If he agrees that this dose will be OK for you he will monitor you, as for codeine causing constipation you can eat more fruit and veg or take fybogel.

IAmNotAReindeer · 02/01/2013 00:12

Don't do it. the pain it relives will be revisited upon you ten fold as your arse tears itself apart due to the constipation it causes.
My Dad has to take it and is constantly having to take stool softners which he says just turns them into toxic turds which dissolve their way out instead.

HildaOgden · 02/01/2013 00:17

Please,please do not even consider this.Codeine is a lovely happy drug at the start.It's an evil drug by the time you realise it's wrecking your life.And it's excrutiatingly hard to get off.

I speak from bitter experience.

SirBoobAlot · 02/01/2013 00:20

YABU.

Valium is much nicer. Wink

Though seriously - just like anything else, once you take it for a while, it stops helping.

Would suggest you see a different GP, to discuss ADs, anti anxiety meds, different pain relief options, and a referral to your local pain clinic.

Do feel for you, and understand. Chronic pain is a bitch.

IsawFoofyShmoofingSantaClaus · 02/01/2013 00:28

Speaking as one who has had a codeine dependence, please explore all other avenues. The resultant fuckups, fallout and general effects from that have been long reaching and in parts devastating. (personal experience is all I have to base this on)

It's awful that you have such chronic daily pain and additional symptoms but honestly, other avenues. There must be something.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/01/2013 00:40

I've been taking prescribed codeine phosphate for ten years at least. Never ever had a bowel problem. Is that common, bowel problems? Shock