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?

@TherealKimK Codeine is very popular amongst “the
“I’m not an addict” types-

Only you will know if you are getting a teeny buzz off the Codeine.

Be honest with yourself.

Codeine IS addictive to some people.

You’ll be fine. You might need to taper off slowly if been taking them a while. I’ve been on fentanyl and oxycodone and am not a raging druggie

I've been prescribed - and have been taking - co-codamol for 8 years now.

I'm prescribed 60mg up to 4x day Totally never become addicted, only take that dose when needed.

I have codeine on prescription (up to 60mg) and I make a conscious decision only to take it if other pain relief isn’t doing enough and only at night. This way I don’t build up a tolerance, don’t get monstrously constipated and don’t have to deal with feeling woozy. I’ve never woken up with a desire to take more but I can see how it could happen.
The simple answer is to stop taking the cocodamol. You may need to taper off a bit before stopping.

Not really. Some people find it harder to stop than others. I was on a moderate dose for several weeks last year post surgery (2 x 30/500 four times a day) and I had no issues weaning off. I just stepped down the dose gradually, until I was taking about 8/500 once a day then I stopped completely. No withdrawal symptoms. Maybe it depends how codeine makes you feel - for me, it is purely a painkiller so once the pain reduces, I can reduce the codeine dose. Other people enjoy the sensation they get on codeine and I imagine makes it harder to stop.

@TherealKimK Methadone to come me off Codeine would be like using a sledgehammer to crack open a peanut.

Codeine WD is mild

Methadone WD is severe.
Notorious for being most protracted withdrawal ever ( longer and more severe than Diamorphine)

Same here. I have now told my GP to put on my medical notes that I should never be prescribed codeine ever again. I was on them for about 2 weeks and it was awful. I was so constipated that I stopped eating. The withdrawal was horrendous.

@WolfFoxHare Wise post.

Some people find Codeine makes them feel good.
Others just feel itchy and nauseated.

A friend detests morphine ( prescription) as it makes him hallucinate. He gets zero euphoria from them.

What about trying naproxen for back pain instead? It's an ibuprofen derivative. Much safer than codeine.

Untrue, you can get 16/500 OTC

I have taken them for 3 weeks daily with no issues at all when stopping taking them. The only time I've ever had issues was when I was taking ones with caffeine in as well and I got terrible caffeine withdrawal headaches when I stopped taking them. I now make sure, if I ever need them, that I buy caffeine free ones.

I think it's basically difficult to know whether someone will get addicted to them, it really depends on the individual. I didn't feel it at all whereas caffeine and chocolate really are issues for me. I can't just have a little bit. I'm all or nothing. Luckily not as life destroying as opioid addiction but frustrating nonetheless.

Codeine addiction is life changing and if I were you I’d stop taking it now. I’ve been taking it for 9 years, and cannot completely stop. I’ve cut down, massively, but I cannot rid myself of it completely. Google codeine addiction… there are whole forums on the internet full of desperate people. The worst thing for me is the inability to sleep. Codeine is a sedative. If you take it for any length of time and then stop, it can leave you with terrible insomnia, night upon night of no rest, itchy skin, restless legs. Three weeks I tried to work my way through it, and in the end took two before bed in desperation to get some sleep. That’s all I take now - none during the day but two at bedtime as I otherwise don’t have a hope in hell of getting sleep. I wish with all my heart I had never started taking codeine.

I think so, my oh has taken these for 20 years for a broken back and I wouldn't say he is addicted, he was on diazepam before and that caused a problem so now uses codeine in the form of nurofen max instead.

I have this in prescription for my back pain, only take it occasionally though, it's more if a muscle relaxant I think

Some people get addicted and some don't.

Have a look on the addiction section on mumsnet, under health and you'll see every other thread is people desperately trying to come off codeine.

Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen. It's not a relaxant.

I don't think it's your personality as much as your reaction to codeine. I remember taking a big pack of solpadeine on holiday which I took for bad period pains. This was when it was less regulated in the 90s, some of my friends kept borrowing it off me and I realised then they got a buzz off it. I've never had that at all.
Later I took 30mg 4x a day for my back pain for weeks, then I had an op that helped with the pain and came off it straight away no issues.

Stop taking them - they're like sticking a plaster onto a broken leg. Find a good osteopath, take ibuprofen regularly and take some gentle daily exercise - and whatever you do, don't sit about.

Most definitely @Ratfan24
I have never enjoyed the effects of alcohol at all - But prescribed DF118 {Dihydrocodeine} as a younger person, I loved the rather energised giddy feeling.

I had morphine injection {patient controlled } and really liked the peaceful feelings it gave. I remember gazing at a melting icicle outside the hospital window..It was rainbow coloured from refraction in places and sparkling in the lowering sun, and I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I'd seen.

When the morphine was taken away....I just felt grey and bleurgh.

A dentist had the same morphine pump for an op and she said ''I used to judge addicts- but after this {Morphine IV} I understand how they feel''

Some other patients who had it were just nauseated and sick.

It does definitely seem to be a biochemical response.

Years ago I took paracetamol plus codeine not having heard of codeine before. I remember saying to my friend that I liked it and it made me feel really nice. Now I know about it I'd rather avoid it.

If you need it for pain relief you shouldn't really get addicted/withdraw as the affect will be therapeutic rather than pleasurable/stoned. It is possible though, but not too difficult to stop if you do it over a few days. Once your pain has subsided, reduce your dose so if you took 4, go down to 3, then 2, 1 each day. Then zero. That way it's extremely unlikely you will suffer withdrawal. If you take lots more than it says on the packet then the withdrawl could be worse. It is the weakest opiate so nowhere near as strong as diamorphine (heroin), Oxycodone, etc. You are very aware of the addiction side so it sounds like you are trying to be sensible which is good.

Naproxen is an non-steroidal anti inflammatory, same as ibuprofen only slightly stronger, not a muscle relaxant.

12.8/500 is the maximum strength Co-Codamol that can be bought from a pharmacy, never heard of any products containing 16mg codeine. Co-Codamol 15/500 are prescription only strength

Yes op you should be concerned on the addiction board here, you will see that most of the posts are codeine addiction. Not to scare you but I think come off of them quickly I would combine paracetamol and ibuprofen very effective pain relief.