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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried about Codeine

139 replies

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 13:46

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?

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 16/02/2024 14:43

I take the 30mg ones.

Two, twice a day. And one just before bed.

Been on them since 2017. Never felt in the least twitchy if I miss a dose.

I wouldn't panic about heroin just yet, OP.

Catza · 16/02/2024 14:43

OP, you have had many very measured messages in this thread and you are still spiraling. What do you need us to say to reassure you?
Maybe you can settle your anxiety by stopping codeine and trying another non-opioid substance.

I have mixed feelings about co-codamol. Mostly, it just makes me vomit. But I was also prescribed a week's worth after a surgery and didn't become addicted. I accidentally took it for four nights a week ago because I thought it was paracetamol. I am not currently looking to transition to heroin.

bryceQ · 16/02/2024 14:47

I spent about 9 months taking 8 a day with crippling back pain and a baby. I did have hot and cold flashes when I stopped and a headache but it passed in a couple of days.

The next time I had a flareup and had to come off them, I tapered it down more slowly and I felt okay. For me to have a physical reaction I had to be taking a lot over quite a long period. I still take them occasionally now and no adverse effects.

Everyone is different. If you are concerned then don't take them, it's a tossup between your back pain and the potential risk.

Deathbyfluffy · 16/02/2024 14:49

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 14:15

AmI overthinking this?

Massively, I’m afraid.
It’s an OTC pain medication, not a one way ticket to a crack den.

Ilikebacon · 16/02/2024 14:51

Op I think you’re massively over worrying.
I’ve been on the strong ones for years due to arthritis in my joints.
I do get withdrawal symptoms if I go cold Turkey but you can wean yourself off them by gradually cutting down and leaving it longer between doses. By doing this, you don’t get the sweats and aches.
I’ve had morphine during horrendous back spasms where I’ve been unable to walk and I’m still not a heroin addict or taking methadone 😂

Acolddayinhell · 16/02/2024 14:51

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 13:56

So I wont end up in rehab taking taking Methadone?

I googled it and some people end up on Methadone to come off it!!!

There are many many steps between taking low dose cocodamol and needing methadone. The amount of opioids meds ( way over the recommended dose) for a considerable length of time.
im a long term user for pain and gut comfort and I don’t get withdrawals.
also when I had surgery recently the fentanyl they gave me in recovery for pain really hit the spot at the lowest adult dose which surely shows that the tolerance isn’t even substantial either. Please stop panicking and find a good therapist for your anxiety. I do understand the thought patterns behind this as I’ve suffered OCD and anxiety in the past, the health anxiety period was particularly awful. I’m recovered now and extremely relaxed and happy. I hope you get there too.

Panicmode1 · 16/02/2024 14:54

@TherealKimK huge sympathies. I have just had crippling lower back pain and my GP prescribed me co-codamol and ibuprofen for "8-10 days" until my back was out of spasm. I barely take paracetamol so I discussed the negatives with him, but he said for a week or so, it would be ok. He was happy to prescribe stronger painkillers but we agreed to start with weaker drug. I only needed it for about 7 days, then went onto ibuprofen and finally nothing. I did find I was getting headaches by day 6 or 7 so was glad to stop taking them.

Hope the pain eases soon. It's debilitating and depressing!

Emma2803 · 16/02/2024 15:13

I'm a pharmacist and I have saw patients who were receiving methadone or subutex for treatment of codeine addiction. Often starts out as prescribed or prolonged use and then over use of OTC codeine products. Obviously not everyone is affected but a significant amount of people are.
Tolerance and physical addiction can develop even at lower doses. Yes there are people who might take one or two a day as they get a headache if they don't, but then you also have people who do the rounds of local pharmacies and are taking 60-80 nurofen plus a day or can't access codeine so switch to a different opioid.
Duration of treatment does have an impact and it's why strong opioids are no longer recommended for the treatment of chronic pain, only acute or palliative pain

Op just mention it to your GP and go from there

jesusisafriendofmine · 16/02/2024 15:24

Also have a look online for advice about exercises and stretches. Or if you can afford it, book a session with a private physio. Movement is really really important with back pain and can really help with managing the acute stage plus strengthening your muscles in your back and core to reduce the risk of ongoing pain.

Growlybear83 · 16/02/2024 15:41

I've been taking prescribed codeine for a slipped disc for almost two years now. I was taking the maximum daily dose for nearly a year, together with the maximum dose of naproxen and paracetamol. As my back pain has improved over time, I've reduced the codeine to a total of 5 x 30 mg tablets per day, and just one naproxen. Each time I've reduced the codeine, I've not had any noticeable withdrawal symptoms. If my back stays stable for a couple more weeks, I'll reduce another codeine tablet. I've had many medication reviews and told the GP thst I don't like taking codeine long term, but I just get offered gabapentin which I'm even more reluctant to take. I use a TENS machine when Im out and have been paying to see my acupuncturist for five months, which has helped. I had a nerve root block injection last March, which didn't work, and am finally due to be seen in the pain clinic in three weeks. If I didn't take the codeine, I wouldn't be able to walk around at all, so there seems to be little alternative.

Superscientist · 16/02/2024 15:44

There's addiction and there is physical dependency.
Lots of drugs you body can get physically dependent on. I have just come off a mood stabiliser and to come off it I have dropped the dose by 25% every month so that my body can adjust to coming off it.

Codeine is addictive and you can become physically dependent over a short time. The crucial thing is to be mindful of the benefits of the pain relief but monitor if your use goes beyond normal. My mum has been on codeine for a fractured back for over a year. For the first few months she was desperately trying to stop taking it because she was so worried about being addicted but she was in absolute agony. Over the course of a year her dose has reduced from 60mg 4 times a day to OTC cocodamol 0-2 times a day depending on what she does. She has eventually learned that it can allow her to live a normal life.
Things to watch out for is taking more in a day than recommended and if you are needing more and more to get the same effect. Are you getting and chasing a "buzz"?

Any concerns speak to your Dr.

I do get your concerns I have an addictive personality and I get a lot of migraines. They are caused by unsettled weather so when it's stormy I get a lot over the course of a week or so. During those times I always know where the nearest box of codamol is and it makes me uneasy but as soon as that passes I don't have a clue where the box is. For me if I am constantly making sure I have it on me when I don't have the need I would be looking at other options for pain relief for my migraines

Redglitter · 16/02/2024 15:51

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 14:15

AmI overthinking this?

MASSIVELY

You're on a really low dosage if its otc ones. More people take cocodamol (at a far higher dosage) and don't get addicted than do. Same as some people drink alcohol & get addicted - most don't. Are you going to stop drinking - just incase?

I've been taking the 30/500 ones several times a day for several years. Purely for pain relief not because I'm addicted

You're not going to end up on heroin because you take a low dosage co codamol for a week

MumblesParty · 16/02/2024 16:01

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 14:16

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

@TherealKimK if you get addicted to opiates (codeine, heroin etc) your body develops a tolerance, so that the dose that used to work becomes ineffective. You then need to take a higher dose to achieve the same level of pain relief, euphoria, whatever you’re taking it for. Then that dose becomes ineffective, so you need to take more. And more. People have posted on here before who take huge quantities of codeine, going from chemist to chemist to buy it.

I think you just need to be wary of how and why you’re taking it. People often start taking it for pain, and find they enjoy the “high” it gives them. They continue to take it, even though the pain has gone, presumably kidding themselves that they’re still in pain. You should only take opiates if you are in genuine pain.

MumblesParty · 16/02/2024 16:02

Redglitter · 16/02/2024 15:51

MASSIVELY

You're on a really low dosage if its otc ones. More people take cocodamol (at a far higher dosage) and don't get addicted than do. Same as some people drink alcohol & get addicted - most don't. Are you going to stop drinking - just incase?

I've been taking the 30/500 ones several times a day for several years. Purely for pain relief not because I'm addicted

You're not going to end up on heroin because you take a low dosage co codamol for a week

@Redglitter you maybe addicted, but as long as you never exceed the prescribed dose, it doesn’t matter.

Ap24 · 16/02/2024 16:03

It depends on your personality OP and how your body reacts to it. 100s of people can tell you how they easily stopped taking them but there are people who struggle, there is a reason you're advised not to take them long term. If you're worried then follow all the guidelines, speak to your doctor and push for some physio.

My friend's son started on codeine for a bad back and then began drinking alongside taking them. He ended up taking anything he could get his hands on.

Haffiana · 16/02/2024 16:10

I am going to go against the grain and say, YES you are at risk of addiction.

Why? Because you were told to take them for 3 days max, but you are still taking them after a week. And hunting through MumsNet in order to justify your decision. The 'freaking out' is because you don't want to stop, and addiction is - not wanting to stop.

I think you need to start looking for the answers inside yourself.

LittleOwl153 · 16/02/2024 16:13

I've been taking straight codiene - not co-codamol as I can't take paracetamol - on and off in bursts of a few weeks to a few months for about 4 years. (For back issues in mid 40s on prescription) sometimes up to 30 times the otc dose a day. I have had no problem stopping each time.

My OH has just been prescribed 16 times otc dose codiene in cocodamol and told to take for 8 weeks plus till he sees the physio. He's had it before and also has had no issues stopping.

I say that to tell you that not everyone has an issue with it.

What I will say is drink plenty of water with it as it is very dehydrating which can play havoc with your bowels!!

Redglitter · 16/02/2024 16:31

MumblesParty · 16/02/2024 16:02

@Redglitter you maybe addicted, but as long as you never exceed the prescribed dose, it doesn’t matter.

I'm certainly not. There are some days I don't take any. I take them as they're all that works for the pain I'm in.

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/02/2024 16:32

Husband’s been taking it on prescription at night for years. No ill-effects that we’re aware off. He can’t take naproxen etc. because of kidney issues. .

Jouleigh · 16/02/2024 16:34

I have prescription ones and tramadol. When the pharmacy messes up then I sometimes don't have them for a few days.
Still pain in my back but I can live without them

Jouleigh · 16/02/2024 16:36

Other things matter as well, I do t earn loads as I work for the government. The pension contributions are good

Keepingongoing · 16/02/2024 16:41

OP, you know that the recommended dose for over the counter Co-codamol is to take for 3 days only. This is presumably because codeine is potentially addictive. You should stop taking them immediately and use other pain relief. If you find that you have unbearable pain or other unbearable symptoms when you stop, discuss this with a pharmacist. When you see your GP, be totally honest about your symptoms AND about how much and how long you’ve taken Co-codamol.

People vary a lot in how drugs affect them. I was prescribed codeine for occasional use, but I noticed I had rebound insomnia after taking, so stopped and the nearly full package has sat in my cupboard ever since. I’m never tempted and will chuck them when I next take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Another person might have a very different experience. A relative was on a high dose for a long time, she came off but it was very hard on her. However she’s never gone near hard drugs ( and neither have I)

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/02/2024 17:03

TherealKimK · 16/02/2024 14:16

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

You cop a hold of yourself and realise it's fine - if you experience uncomfortable symptoms of discontinuation, you can switch out a couple of doses for plain paracetamol, leaving you last thing at night and in the morning to get you moving, take 1 at a time instead of 2, have 6 instead of 8 by stretching out the intervals, that kind of thing.

But with just a week, you're unlikely to notice much at all.

The point is that you need to get moving, as prolonged immobility makes it more likely the back pain will worsen if it's muscular in nature. The painkillers for the most intense part are fine, they give you immediate relief and then it's back to paracetamol and gentle mobilisation.

I resent the shit my mother put me through from her long term addictions to prescription medication where she was utterly taking them past the point of therapeutic use because of the fluffy euphoria, as it put me off having medication I actually needed for certain periods in my life for years.

Now, it's more I'm pissed off if I need to take something again with the main question being 'and how soon can I expect to be stopping them again?'. It's irritating to give it any real thought, as the effects from taking something for 18 months are inconvenient, but it enables me to take advantage of physio, keep working, that kind of thing, as unmedicated pain is even more inconvenient.

xyz111 · 16/02/2024 17:14

I've taken them for the past 3 days for my tonsillitis. Have stopped today and doesn't feel like there's anything addictive. But I suppose everyone is different.

tttigress · 16/02/2024 17:15

I think you used to be able to get Codeine over the counter.

I take it for headaches occasionally, to be honest it does not seem to be a particularly strong pain reliver.

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