Codeine tapering help.

[Moonpants33]

Hi folks. I've been using Co codamol at max daily dose for many years, prescribed for knee pain. I'm not at my wits end with my dependancy on these pills, just to function each day. I'm wanting to start a taper from tomorrow, going from 8 per day, to 6 for a week, then 4 next, 2 next etc. Does anyone have any experience with tapering that would be happy to pitch in with suggestions on how to cope?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

no nut thank you for putting this post up, I'm currently taking it at night when my broken ankle plays up and i know it cant carry on xx

When I gave up codeine I did it every other day to start with.

So week one would be 8,6,8,6,8,6
Week two - 7,5,7,5,7,5
Week three 6,4,6,4,6,4
Etc.

I did that two years ago and have stayed clean ever since. I didn’t do it through my GP though which is probably recommended. I have a back condition (which is how I managed to get addicted in the first place) but I don’t want to be denied ‘proper’ painkillers if it does ever flare up again. If you do it through your GP it will obviously be noted and they won’t prescribe you anything similar and will often dismiss any pain as you trying to get painkillers. This has happened to a couple of people in my support group so I thought it best to just do it off my own back.

Also for coping mechanisms - drink lots of water to help with the headaches. Try and avoid alcohol just while you’re coming off as it’s very easy to just move your dependency onto something else. As much exercise as you can, warm baths and melatonin (do not take Nytol!!!) to help with restless legs.

I would suggest you speak to your GP to get advice about how to taper safely. Don’t go too fast. Don’t feel you’ve failed if you have to stop or go back up for a bit. Think about your coping strategies for withdrawal symptoms and increased pain during the withdrawal. Don’t try and do it without professional medical help though. I realise you don’t know who I am on here but I do have some professional experience in this area. I don’t agree with the previous poster that your GP won’t ever let you have painkillers again. I hope that wouldn’t be your experience. Patients who are keen to come off long term opiates and displaying a willingness to do so and engage with a withdrawal programmes aren’t the ones we worry about.

I need mine to help with both pain and bowel. There are days I wish I could take more but stick to my max. Occasionally when I have been well and on Sundays I have been able to drop 2 that day.

For me they are the ones that give the least side effects . Not that I am into all that. They work for me and give me a quality of life I would not otherwise have.

Thanks for the responses thus far. I really appreciate them. The main reason for wanting to come off them, is the feeling that they are and have been robbing me of my personality and emotions. My father recently passed away with covid which he contracted whilst in hospital for another reason, and I really feel that the codeine has prevented me from properly grieving. I've basically just felt numb for a long time, and that can't be good. I simply miss 'feeling', whether negative or positive. My drive for life has also dissapated, and my fitness routine has gone well by the wayside. I blame codeine for all of this, truly.

Get help with other issues. Physiotherapist may help. Just do it steady and slow. Good luck

I went from 8 to 6 for 2 weeks, then split the dose so 2 tablets for the 1st dose then 1 tablet for the 2nd dose, then 2 for the 3rd then 1 for the 4th etc. Did this for a couple of weeks. Then 4 tablets a day for a couple of weeks, as single tablets, then down to 3, then 2 then just 1 at night. Eventually then 1 every other day, one every 3 days then stopped completely. Agree with plenty of water. Also used a hot water bottle on my back. And mainly just deep breathing when I felt like I was withdrawing, a bit of distraction sometimes worked wonders too! Had been taking them for around 6 years and tapered off in a couple of months and not had any for a few months now. Good luck!