To think almost everybody is addicted to Codeine

[Rigatoin]

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

Almost everybody? Of course not.

Pain killer addiction is a problem though. Your perception is skewed because of your job.

Dont think I've ever taken it tbh. I take an ibuprofen for period pain but it doesn't actually help. Sometimes I have a lemsip if I feel shit.

Parents have had it before for back pain but made them feel dizzy and shit so they dont take it.

I’ve been prescribed this in the past and hated it so l can’t understand an addiction.

But l think your work place helps you have a distorted view of numbers. It’s a bit like going into a lesbian bar and concluding from that, that almost all women are lesbian.

Wtf op 🤣 no.

I've never taken it so no not everyone is addicted, you absolute muppet.

I'm not! I take it very very occasionally if in severe pain, but it makes me feel sick so I have to be in dire need.

No, none of my family take it. When friends ask me if I have any painkillers, they ask for ibuprofen or paracetamol.

@Rigatoin I can only speak for myself but I worry I am. I only take it for a short time monthly for debilitating period pain, but I feel I RELY on it and it does worry me a bit 😕

Aye. Like the OP who hasn't been back.

Working in substance misuse Codeine isn't one of our commonly misused drugs, or at least not for people who are entering into treatment, several other prescribed drugs are much more problematic.

Personally Codeine did nothing for my pain haven't taken it for years I'm prescribed something much stronger which is effective

I’ve never taken it

I am prescribed a small amount for a torn tendon in my shoulder which hurts all the time, sometimes excruciatingly. Waiting for possible op for it. Codeine does help the pain, along with paracetamol, but it think it gives me nightmares, so I am a bit wary of it.

I took it once not knowing it was addictive. I felt the buzz, found out what it was and never took it again.

Nope. I've been prescribed it at max dose PRN for several years (along with tramadol and sometimes morphine). I'm not even dependent, let alone addicted. If you're noticing the same people buying it repeatedly, then do something about it and stop judging those who may need it.

I had my first ever experience of it after a tonsilectomy recently. I have no desire to take it regularly - it gave me terrible constipation tbh!

I don't know why you're getting such a hard time from people who clearly aren't addicted to it - you're not accusing them, but they're rushing to tell you that they're not like 'those people'...

But I understand there's a genetic element to it, some people just get 'the buzz' and others don't. My GP and a pharmacist friend have both said you'd be surprised how many people ARE on it, whether that's due to addiction, or dependency for pain relief. There's a reason why so many countries have banned it OTC - it can be a drug of addiction. That's not a moral judgement, that's just how it works. The gentle fuzziness and feeling of well-being is like that first glass of wine. I suspect lots of people are using it as an anti-depressant, having come to it via the analgesia route. It was even explored as a potential anti-depressant back in the 50s, I believe.

But for sure, it's nothing like the alcohol problem we have in this country, so there y'are... 😄

I don't know anyone who takes codeine

I take it semi regularly as I have arthritis and cannot take NSAIDs. During a flare I'll usually take it morning and evening. When there's no flare I can go months without it.

I think people like to have it in their medicine cabinets just in case. I have occasions (e.g. severe migraine) when paracetamol or Ibuprofen isn't going to cut it and I am cursing myself if I don't have any medication with codeine in at home. I can go months to a year or so without having a reason to take it though.

Many years ago I had to take it for a few weeks (prescription not OTC) after knee surgery and I am not a fan of its effects at daytime (it made me very sleepy), so I was relieved when could stop taking it daily.

I don’t think so 🫤.

I deeply suspect that more people are buying heavy duty painkillers regularly due to being in pain and not being able to access healthcare that will help in a timely fashion.

E.g - I had a 9 month wait for the dental hospital with an impacted, abscesses wisdom tooth. I needed up taking paracetamol and ibuprofen for 8 entire months and destroying my stomach lining. I then had to switch to codeine and haven’t been able to take NDAIDS since. Any time I have pain now that isn’t helped with paracetamol, heat, massage and breathing excercises (like when I had a ear infection recently that didn’t respond to first line treatment from a pharmacist and was unable to book a GP appointment) I have to take codeine.

There are people in severe pain, stuck on waiting lists for years, people waiting years for operations, people who have to struggle in in pain because they don’t get sick pay/ can’t access PIP. Weed would probably be a better alternative but as it’s illegal, many people wouldn’t know where to get it.

Try having codeine constipation and diarrhoea at the same time. Bloody painful.

What a baseless and ridiculous statement

I haven't taken it even once. Paracetamol usually is fine for me.

Crickey, no. A couple of co-codamol and I don't go to the loo for a week!
I stay well clear, tmi sorry 💩

I don't think I've ever wanted to come off anything quicker. Like ExpressCheckout it causes issues with going toilet. That was so painful with broken ribs