Codeine addiction

[Cissyandflora]

Can I ask has anyone got over codeine addiction? I have a ten year addiction and use more than prescribed. My life revolves around the drug. I am full of shame and only my sister knows about this irl. And she doesn’t know the extent. I’ve struggled with various addictions since my teens. I am now in my 50s. My gp called me and suggested I come off the drug. He said in my own time. And suggested coming in to start reducing in a few weeks. In typical addict fashion I am in a spiral of anxiety and can think of nothing else. Given the choice I would probably never stop. I take whatever I can get my hands on. Please do not pile in with criticism. I know I’m not doing the right thing. I feel a craving for mood altering drugs. I’ve used this to cope with everything in my life for the past 10 years. I am ashamed. I am mostly afraid of stopping and live in fear of my prescription being stopped. If I had to say the one problem with my addiction it is this- it’s the fear of not getting the drug.

I know there will be people who are impatient or angry with this type of person- me. But I really thank you for reading and please addicts help me if possible. Can I get off the drug? Please don’t berate me I don’t need that. If you don’t understand please don’t comment. I don’t mean that rudely. I’m just reaching out to strangers because I’m at a low ebb and I can’t discuss this with anyone irl.

And please can I add that posting this here is a massive step for me. Although it’s anonymous I have never admitted this to anyone before.

Is it just codeine or mixed with other prescription drugs like paracetamol?

I currently take codeine daily and have done since 2017. How much do you take per day?

I take the max amount most days at the moment for the pain I have (100 in a 2 week period) and have often thought this is a lot to take.

It’s mixed. I take paracetamol too. I am prescribed 8 per day. A good day is if I take 8. Today probably double that. I try to keep to 12 but it’s a struggle.

I got over an addiction to cocodamol in August 2019. I had a thread on here in addiction support (under a different name). I went cold turkey and the support I had was amazing from the people on here. I never relapsed at all but it was hard. It was like the flu I was wiped out for a week, it also took around 6 months for the longing to go. Then one week I realised it had been over a week since I thought about the drug. You can do this it won't be easy but you won't feel like this forever. I'm happy to chat and good luck.

I suspect your GP may know . Please talk to him/her. They will be able to support you and to help you to withdraw in a way that's kinder to you and your body.

What are you using it to help you cope with and what support or strategies do you need to manage those things instead?

For instance, daily life stresses or trauma or something else?

You've been taking them for a reason, so it is important to address that if you want to be able to stop taking them.

You don't have to share the details here obviously but it needs thinking about and potentially discussing with your GP if you need referrals for support or therapy etc.

@OohKittens thank you so much. I’ve been on a lower dose due to not getting enough- a couple of times for a day. It’s been awful. I just don’t want to be without the codeine comfort. I’m actually an alcoholic in recovery. I have not relapsed for 20 years. But the drinking was killing me and the effects were so dreadful that I’m grateful for every day I have now. The codeine has mostly been pleasurable and enhanced my life. Sorry to admit and say this.
Also nobody in real life knows I’m an alcoholic- all new people. Apart from my poor child who suffered through it. My younger children do not know. My sister knows. We would never mention it.

Don't feel ashamed. You've taken a huge step realising your have a problem and asking for help. Codeine is an insidious, seemingly innocent drug that can hook people quickly.

Do take up your GP's offer of going in to see them to work out a wean down programme. It's more likely to work than sudden cold turkey (though I do understand it works for some people like the PP). No judgement here. Good luck

No judgement here - I'm a recovering alcoholic. I know how it feels to know that you have to stop, but to be terrified of losing your crutch. It's scary and overwhelming.

Have you spoken to your GP about accessing support from an addiction recovery agency? Addiction is rarely the problem per se, it's almost always a symptom of something deeper.

Please feel free to PM me if you need a friendly ear x

@Cissyandflora

It’s mixed. I take paracetamol too. I am prescribed 8 per day. A good day is if I take 8. Today probably double that. I try to keep to 12 but it’s a struggle.

8 is what I'm prescribed too although when the pain is hideous (Rheumatoid Arthritis), I've taken more than this, but only 1 or 2 more. I'm on Zapain 30/500s.

I'm not sure if I would crave them if I didn't take them, as I've not been in a position as yet where I haven't needed them, but it is on my mind a lot.

NA?

Comments above are right. I think doctor knows. Also private one that I pay to get extra when desperate. And I use it to deal with so much. Can’t begin to list. Everyday stress I’m hopeless at dealing with and also trauma and guilt and so much.

Thank you so much everyone. I’m in tears now. I will try to face seeing the doctor. I would not be able to admit what’s going on though because it’s linked to my work.

sending love. Are you prescribed it for a chronic illness? Could a referral to the pain clinic help with alternative techniques too? My local pain clinic has group therapy that offers a way of managing pain without the use of pain killers. Could your GP refer you to an addiction management group?

I’ve taken the max amount of cocodamol every day since 2016 and multiple GPs have tried to suggest I come off it but I have refused as I’m in chronic pain. Although if you recognise your own addiction then obviously that’s a good thing so I hope you get through this.

Just wanted to add my voice of support. Battling addictions in every form is incredibly difficult, but as another poster said upthread- one day you’ll realise you haven’t thought about it.

Do you work? Is there an option to access talking therapy through a workplace scheme?

Yes I can access talking therapy through work. I actually have a wonderful lady I speak to. I have never mentioned this issue though because I’m too ashamed.

I had a nasty addiction to Tramadol. I went cold turkey and relapsed a couple of times before I managed to kick it for good.

I would try and taper down, cold turkey is brutal. As PP has said, it's like a bad flu, awful muscle and bone aches, anxiety, depression, vivid dreams, sweating etc.

Perhaps you could get to a point where you could switch to OTC rather than prescription as it's far less potent and continue to taper down from there?

I'd be concerned about the amount of paracetamol you are having each day too.

I know it's such a difficult hole to get out of but believe me it's so worth it. Why do you think you abuse them, is it for the high?

Yes I’m prescribed it for back pain. Although I’ve taken about 16 today and my back is still awful. The doctor mentioned the pain clinic but in my mind all I want is drugs.

Well done for admitting they have become an issue and for thinking about next steps that you're happy to take. 10 years is a long time, and coming off them will take time if that's what you decide to do. One thing that struck me was that you use them to cope with stress, and I wondered if you were on any antidepressants that would also help with that. SSRIs are commonly prescribed, and these do have a mood altering effect, in that serotonin (your naturally produced 'happy chemical') is stopped from being reabsorbed so floats around a bit longer, causing levels to increase and making everything a little bit easier to cope with. These have the benefit of not causing addiction (although dependence can occur) and GPS are far less likely to stop prescribing them than they codeine for you. Can you remember why you were originally prescribed the codeine and has that issue resolved or would you need support from your GP to find an alternative pain relief if you did cut down on your codeine?

No judgement here, just support! Painkiller addiction in incredibly common, so your GP will have seen it all before and is definitely your best port of call. Can you get off the drug - of course you can, you've beaten alcohol addiction which makes you a pretty damn strong person!! Do talk to your GP though as taking too much paracetamol is probably more of a risk than the codeine right now.

Sending a hug, I don’t have any advice but there is great advice on here. Look after yourself.

I second the idea of considering antidepressants - they have pretty good efficacy against chronic pain too, so you'd be killing two birds with one stone with them.

@Throckmorton thank you thank you so kind. Yes I am strong in some ways.
@muddledmidget I do take antidepressants too. I’ve been on them for over 20 years. They really help with my anxiety and mood. But still my stress is awful and I’m so sensitive. Any criticism or difficulty and I fall apart.

Sorry cross posted with your message about the codeine being for back pain. There are many drugs now being prescribed that are a lot better than codeine for back pain. Some of them can be prescribed alongside codeine so might be worth having a chat with your GP about adding something else in, and reducing the codeine a little to bring the pain under control. Being open and honest with your GP and your therapist will help. No one is going to judge you, addiction to prescription painkillers is common, and as a health care professional I am far more likely to judge the prescriber than the patient for allowing the situation.