To think I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from dyhydricodiene after 5 days

[AliceAbsolum]

Opiates are nasty right?!

I had major surgery on Wednesday. Been taking prescribed dyhydricodiene since then. Didn't take it for about 10 hours as it's making me constipated (I am taking lactulose). And I felt like shit! Agitated, heart racing, sick, anxious. Took one and felt immediately lovely and chill... Now I'm feeling agitated again.

Honestly it's slightly terrifying. Have these doses and withdrawal information been researched well on women? I feel like my 100kg 6foot tall husband might not react the same way.

I'm just going to have to push through it. Get it all out my system and live with the pain.

Opiate withdrawal is horrible. Is there any way your GP can step the doses down more gently so it’s not quite so brutal?

Yes it's known to cause dependence in as little as 3 days & recommendation is usually to take for max 3 days.

How are you managing with the pain? Can you go without during the day & take 1 at night if pain is keeping you awake or if you can sleep with the pain then avoid at night & only take in the day if needed.

Are you taking the maximum of paracetamol & ibuprofen & have you discussed with a doctor any alternatives they could prescribe eg naproxen that are non addictive.

They sent me home with 12 days worth! Imagine what it would be like if I took them for that long.

I can't take nsaids. But at this point I would much rather just manage on paracetamol and have this shit out my system.

Why do they give people so many days worth without any mention of the risks?!

TBH I have been on morphine for years and it worries me a lot. We ran out of options because I can’t take NSAIDs, nor tricyclics, nor pregabalin and gabapentin, and there isn’t really much more left if you can’t do those.

I didn’t want to take opiates in the first place, but was essentially told that I didn’t really have any option unless I wanted to have uncontrolled pain. They literally signed off on making me an addict.

I can't take dihydracodeine at all! I was sent home with 2 weeks worth after an op. It brought me out in a cold sweat with racing heart and nausea. I can tolerate paracodol. That's 500mg of paracetamol and just 8g of codeine. Available over the counter at pharmacies. Same rules apply so read the leaflet carefully but it's a much much lower dose.