To think almost everybody is addicted to Codeine

[Rigatoin]

I am a pharmacy dispenser and noticed so many people by this frequently. Any thoughts?

Not everyone. I could give up sugar, bread, booze (not much interest in it). But not codeine. I’ve tried. Or tea.

It's worrying you are pharmacy dispenser but this daft!

Could you perhaps be in quite a unique position to see a lot of people with this issue?

I was. I started taking it for tooth pain when I was around 20 (to afraid to go to the dentist) and I took it for about 4 years, ended up in a and e with the pain and went to dentist and the relief was worth it so I've sorted my teeth out now, I hadn't taken it for about 3 years but I had a miscarriage and had to take it again for the pain but as soon as that was over I stopped taking it. My sister can't even take half of 1 without being sick and I was taking 2 every 4 hours with ibrofen for years 🤣

Seem to be. Somebody starts a thread on here ever day about being addicted to codeine. Or warning of the dangers of it.

What? No, of course not.

Your job is influencing your viewpoint. I work in gyms, I could say ‘everyone goes to the gym regularly ’ based on what I see in my job, but that would be silly because I’d be failing to take into account that all the people who don’t go to the gym aren’t in the gym and therefore I never see them. 😂

For the record, I am not addicted to codeine and nor is anyone I know. (I took some co-codamol for a few days when I had a tooth abscess but have not taken any since).

Yes, was about to say this. The reason low-strength co-codamol can be sold OTC is because the codeine content is so small that it's unlikely to cause addiction. I think it's something like 8mg of codeine per tablet.

For comparison, the codeine tablets I was given on prescription after surgery contained 60mg codeine. Codeine itself is not just prescription-only, but is also a Schedule 2 controlled drug, subject to extra rules.

Journalist perhaps OP?

Maybe next time re-read your post- 'so many people by this frequently' surely you mean BUY! 🤔

I would be if it wasn't addictive ... 😜 I love the stuff, constipation be damned! I'm old enough that I used to be able to buy codeine linctus direct from the pharmacy. I only got it when I had a cough (fairly frequent) but it was just gorgeous. As well as stopping the cough, it filled me with a warm, golden glow. I probably shouldn't have been as surprised as I was when the pharmacist told me it had been restricted due to addiction issues!

OP, I think you may be underestimating the amount of chronic pain in the community.

There are three main types of codeine available. They are not the same at all.

Co-codamol - Paracetamol with a small quantity of codeine, can be bought over the counter. Can also be found mixed with ibuprofen or aspirin though less common in the UK.

Codeine phosphate: Pure codeine usually in 30mg and 60mg doses. Prescription only and usually recommended alongside paracetamol as the two work very well together.

Dihydrocodeine: The good stuff, prescription only, 30mg or 40mg tablets. Again usually prescribed with paracetamol.

Physical addiction issues are usually only present in the latter two. Co-codamol is often as much a psychological dependence as anything else.

Thats hardly "everyone' that's a minute % of the population

I guess in your shop. But no doubt it's a wiser concern. And OTC codeine like soloadeine etc. I could well believe it.
Presumably you don't sell it to them for more than 3 days. I have to take dihydacodeine every day and it does give me the sniffles, sneezes aches etc if I don't take it. That and the pain. Lol.
But if you actually need it then addiction shouldn't be as strong as if you don't Really have pain and are just staving off withdrawal. It is very effective for a lot of pain.

I didn't think it was - I'd just noticed a trend. Maybe we have a codeine troll 😁

I take a fair bit but I’m not addicted. I have a joint problem and the codeine takes the edge off enough for me to work and walk about as needed.

It’s an extremely effective painkiller for moderate pain and not everyone who uses it frequently is addicted.

No - I was given a pack of 30mg codeine by the hospital last year.

It is still unopened.

I had codeine (I think it's an ingredient in Solpadeine) in 2011 and 2017 when I had kidney infections. Other than that, I'm a paracetamol/ibuprofen girl. Even then it has to be really bad before I take a tablet.

Er no? I'm definitely not, have had it occasionally and it makes me feel woozy

I think there are a lot of people addicted to it, yes. Everyone, no. But more people in the average social circle than most people realise, yes.

But I think this goes for lots of things. I stopped drinking. I didn't actually realise how many people had a drinking problem until I realised I had one and quit. I see it everywhere now.

As a pharmacy dispenser, you're probably trained to spot the signs in a way lots of people aren't. In a similar way to how a bartender likely can see an alcoholic coming a mile away. I thought I was crafty at hiding it too. I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

Only special occasions.

Well I'm not, and as far as I know neither is anyone I know.

I used to, before they took the lead out of it.

Bloody killjoys 😜

I think it’s more your line of work. I have taken it ( quite a lot of it after an op.) but it was prescribed. I never had any problems stopping as didn’t make me feel good just a bit teary although I appreciate other people feel it differently. Do you think it should be made prescription only?

Nope..had it prescribed once after an operation. Made me dizzy, sick and constipated. Never again.
And definitely confirmation bias on your part
I only work with children who have autism... it doesn't mean that I think the vast majority have autism!

I take it every few months when amongst other things my wisdom teeth flare up, I won't waste my time taking anything less but to say the gen pop are addicted is reductive & scare mongering, pain killers are available for a reason

I’m not, it makes me sick, neither is any of my family.

Only ever had it once and it made me feel awful and a little drunk like feeling. Never tried using it again. Paracetamol and ibuprofen doesn't do much for me either