To be worried about Codeine

[TherealKimK]

So I am waiting for an appointment at my GP as my lower back is really playing up at the minute, I dunno if this is part of getting older (im 33). I went to the pharmacy and they gave me some co-codamol which has really helped along with Ibuprofen, I do have quite an addictive personality and the pharmacist did warn me these things could be addictive, I have been taking them for longer than 3 days (only the recommended dosage and would never increase as I am too scared)

Should I worry about this? does anybody else take codeine?

I have been on a MUCH higher prescription for cocodamol for 7 years. They CAN be addictive but its not a given. Honestly @TherealKimK I wouldnt stresses about this, just tell your GP . The important thing is that you never, never , never take more paracetamol whilst on co codamol. And of course only take when needed.

My mother was totally addicted to Solpadeine Max, but then she was also an alcoholic with various painful health issues. She also had a whole bunch of Zopain prescribed to her which we found when she died. Her liver was totally fucked by the end - all that paracetamol isn't good for you either.

I am massively anti drugs but I think I just need somebody to put this into perspective for me as anxiety has got the better of me

Yes, addiction affects everyone so differently, doesn't it. Following a neck and shoulder injury, I took 30/500 prescription co-codamol for four (sometimes five, I was in agony otherwise) a day, alongside 6 to 8 mg of diazapem. For six weeks. Injury healed, pain gone, no more pills - back to normal, no after effects or withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. I was just glad to have been prescribed strong enough medication to cosh the pain, as I said, it was blimmin' agony.

For context , I was taking 240mg ( 8x 30) of codeine for several years following an accident. When my situation improved I reduced that to half immediately and felt ever so slightly sad and fluey for 2 days.
i now use between two a three pills a day to manage my existing pain ( and also off label it completely resolved my ibs)
i honestly don’t care if I’m on these till I die , but I know I could stop taking them tomorrow if I had to and the withdrawal would be minimal. Life’s good with the pain relief and I’m enjoying being comfortable enough to persue my career dreams and run my household.
if you’re taking enough to be getting a lovely fuzzy warm sleepy feeling then you’re at risk of generally seeking opiates cos that’s what they do. If all it’s doing is taking the edge off the pain then it’s working its job at a clinical level and you won’t end up under a bridge ‘with your arm in a torniquet.

Yes it’s addictive, but the over the cpu get dose is very low and unlikely to cause you an addiction. Take it for a few days then stop.

I have chronic pain after being in an accident.

I use co-codamol on top of my normal painkillers when the pain is bad.

I have used them for more than three days.

I never have any problems stopping.

I have also been prescribed codeine 60mg in the past and bloody hate it. I still have most of the packet.

They might be addictive but definitely not for everyone!

I was in prescription strength for both my pregnancies for about 6m each time. Came off them fine just before baby was due both times. No issues with addiction.

If you worried talk to a pharmacist or GP

Also there's (in my eyes) a difference between physical and mental addiction - ie being shaky after you stop taking something but being OK with that vs not being able to think of anything other than when your next dose is due/going to multiple pharmacies.

@tiger2691 I actually take codeine for that reason. I have crohns and short bowel and it's part of my treatment programme to slow everything down!

I just seen Heroin and Codeine in the same sentence and completely freaked!

They are in the same family.

So are kittens and tigers...

I take 60mg of codeine up to eight times a day, for hip pain. I’m not addicted, as I don’t take it when I’m not in pain. I would really have to work hard to get addicted.

I’ve had ongoing back issue for the last 2 1/2 years...

I was on prescription strength cocodomal for a while, but it wasn’t strong enough, I’ve been on tramadol (also very addictive) for nearly 2 years.

I don’t get any other effect from either of them other than pain relief, if my back was fixed I could quite happily not take them again - I don’t take them daily, just as needed, usually ends up being 2 or 3 days of the week.

I’m not saying they’re not addictive, obviously, but at a chronic pain clinic I’ve been told that addiction is pretty rare among people using them appropriately. So I assume the issue is more common among people who they affect differently or longterm regular use without withdrawing them carefully.

AmI overthinking this?

Ok, Another way to look at it, what is the worst that could happen if I got addicted?

They are both opiates. If you are genetically or emotionally predisposed to addiction via one opiate, you are vulnerable to them all. Most opiate deaths in the US are people who were legally prescribed opiates for short term pain, developed dependency, and moved onto illegal opiates when they could no longer get them legally.

Codeine can be taken sensibly and safely and many people do, but it's sensible not to be complacent about any opiate.

I’ve been taking prescription codeine on and off for over 10 years. If my symptoms aren’t bad I may not take them for several weeks or months. Or if I am taking them most nights, sometimes I miss a night if things are manageable without. I never crave it and I haven’t considered taking more than the usual 2 a night. If I stop taking it I don’t suffer withdrawals. I used to feel pleasantly floaty but now it doesn’t really affect me, but does still help with the pain.

Booze and cigs are addictive too. They're sold freely.

You're overthinking. You're not going to end up on methadone ffs.

This is coming from a recovering alcoholic and former substance recovery worker who went through withdrawals that nearly resulted in my death, several times.

The bottom line is it is a drug, it can be highly addictive, and as per the instructions it is not meant to be taken for any kind of extended period of time. If you already have an addictive personality and are aware of that then I would steer completely clear of it.

It’s very easy to end up addicted and once you are and your body becomes physically reliant on it, it’s extremely difficult to get off it. I have a family member who has taken it for years, and every time they try to come off it they have intense cramps/pains and HAVE to take it, they say this pain shows that the need the codeine. No. That discomfort is withdrawal from the codeine, we know that, their GP has told them that and so will no longer prescribe it so they get it elsewhere. I know someone else who got so easily hooked on it after being prescribed it following an injury that when the doctor refused to give anymore, this person went away and GAVE themselves an injury (yes, A&E, required surgery) just to get access to the codeine prescription again. They’d deny they are addicted though🤷🏻‍♀️. I also have a friend who would claim they aren’t addicted to cocodamol, but they can’t buy it from ANY of our local chemists as they are known to them and so now drive further away to purchase or ask someone to get it for them. But she’s not addicted…only takes it when in pain..course!

Codeine addiction is no joke, you’re looking at symptoms like anxiety, depression, mood swings, potentially financial impact of seeking it elsewhere at the point you can’t get your fix through a doctor, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, constipation, skin issues like rashes/itching, breathing issues, psychosis, hallucinations, it damages your liver and kidneys among other things and puts you at risk of seizures… not worth the risk.

I save co-codamol for when I need pain gone (really bad period days, or a headache when I have a lot to get done), and it works for that, but I get nothing else from it - never felt the urge to have another dose (unless pain comes back) etc.

But then I had morphine in labour, and didn't get anything but pain relief from that, so I think that it just affects different people differently - if you're just using it for pain, and you have a GP appointment to sort that out, and you're not getting any pleasure (other than pain relief) I can't see that you have anything to worry about.

I'd be more concerned about the Paracetamol than the codeine tbh. It can really fuck your liver up.

My GP told me that if you take co-codamol for pain you're unlikely to get addicted.
I take them occasionally at bedtime when my daily pain relief needs a boost. I do try never to take more than 3 days in a row though but have taken on more days on occasion.

Wow! I would love to know your story! you sound so strong!

I mean... withdrawal? I’d assume

When I say I don’t take them every day, that’s currently, I was on maximum dosage of cocodomal for a while, then oramorph for a few weeks then maximum dosage of tramadol for a couple of months.

I just took less as the pain level improved. Can’t say I noticed anything tbh.