Yo ask if you have experience of addiction?

[Guruu]

So, I don’t know I am addicted to Cocodamol, I don’t take more than the recommended dose but I love the chilled out feeling that they give me (I think I am leaning on them a bit too much post divorce) I need to nip this in the bud but I am scared if I will get withdrawal symptoms? I have been taking them for around 4 months.

You need to contact your GP and they will be able to offer you a safe titration plan so you can come off them gradually and under medical supervision. Don't suffer in silence as the longer you leave it, the more difficult it will become to stop.

I am worried they will judge me

GPs are there to manage your health. Is being judged really worse than damaging your health with potential addiction to opioids? Not in my books.
Nobody has ever died from someone judging them in the privacy of their own head. Plenty of people died from opioid addiction though...

Please see your GP. Forget judgement. You won't be the first and you won't be the last person they see with this problem.

they'd much rather try to help you than see you die. A good friend's daughter of mine died just shy of her 30th birthday from this 😢

I have experience of addiction (cigarettes) but not of opioids.
However, my experience of addiction is that your addiction hijacks the "reasoning" centre in your brain and you find many excuses to keep consuming.

Yesterday, I had a whole conversation with myself as to why it would have been not only reasonable but even preferable to go out at 9pm to go buy cigarettes, according to my brain, my entire life would have been improved, there was a whole argument, point by point, all seemingly perfectly valid.

Obviously I didn't do anything, but this is how addiction looks like.

I believe your fear of being judged by your GP is one of those arguments.

What dose of codeine in the Cocodamol, is it higher( ie prescribed) or Solpadeine Max ( over the counter)? How many tablets are you taking in any one 24hr period?

The dosage is irrelevant. If you've been taking them for four months because you like the way they make you feel, rather than because you have a chronic pain condition that requires treating, then you have an addiction.

You won't know if you'll get withdrawal symptoms until you actually stop taking them. My guess is that you probably won't, especially if you cut down gradually. But you can definitely get advice from your GP. They won't judge you. And even if they did it wouldn't matter: their opinion of you is irrelevant and they are obliged to provide you with appropriate advice/treatment whether they approve of you or not.

You probably won't have developed a serious dependency at low levels over 4 months. However you are absolutely right in seeing your enjoyment of the warm fuzzies as a red flag for addiction (a different thing to physical dependency). Some people metabolise codeine in a similar way to the heavy duty opiates like heroin and those warm fuzzies are the sign you're one of them. My strong advice is to step away from codeine, now and for good. It's a very slippery slope to dependency and the other drugs that tend to be mixed with it on prescription and OTC, ibuprofen and/or paracetamol can cause very serious health problems at the levels you end up taking to get your codeine fix. If you struggle with physical withdrawal then google codeine tapering plans.

I am not trying to be blunt but honestly, even if a GP did "judge" you when you tell them about this addiction, it's a lot better to get help and get off the painkillers than it is to allow the addiction to grow.

Four months at low-level doses is at the lower end of painkiller addiction. The GP probably won't judge you, most are too professional. But the most important thing is getting help now while you still can.

Addiction usually ends in two ways, the user gets treatment and works themselves off the drug, or their addiction spirals until it kills them. The sooner you get treatment the better chance you have of getting clean.

Nobody starts taking opioids or opiates with the intention of getting addicted. The addiction sneaks up on them. Most are in very deep by the time they realise.

A big positive for you is that if you think you are addicted at this early stage, you quite probably aren't. You might be in the habit of taking the drugs and enjoy the feeling, but that's not the same as being chemically addicted. The big sign of an addiction is you increasing the dosage or taking stronger substances. Sticking at the recommended dose, albeit for longer than the 3 days you're meant to, is actually a good sign for you.

(I know it's not the same but I thought I was addicted to soluble paracetamol. I took 8 tablets a day for 20 years and had headaches if I didn't. My doctor told me to stop, and I was able to stop. I had a headache for a week and since then almost never get a headache. I wasn't properly addicted in a chemical sense, it was just a pattern of behaviour that I didn't see as a problem until a doctor told me it was. Even though it was bloody obvious to a normal person it was a problem to be taking painkillers every day for two decades - I needed to be told!)

Omg that is so so scary! I am going to just stop taking them

They absolutely will not judge. They are fully aware these medicines can cause addiction. There's is no judgement what so ever. These things can happen to any of us. I think its great you have noticed yourself and you want to sort it. Massive respect for this!!

I have really bad anxiety which doesn’t help. Now I am thinking I am going to die from this and I am the worst person in the world

My brother is currently in rehab with opioid and alcohol addiction. He's going through hell withdrawing. Please seek help before it gets worse.

Wow this is so so scary

I was alright stopping co-codamol but I’d definitely suggest weaning yourself off by slowly reducing them down to nothing. If you struggle or need support do not hesitate to ask your GP for help, they will not judge you, it’s more common than you think.

Tramadol was a whole different experience. That shit is evil and I was given it with zero warning. Only took it for a few weeks for a trapped nerve. As soon as I realised what I was feeling was withdrawal I threw the lot in the bin. Scared me and I went cold turkey, was a horrid week.

Op you are not the worst person at all for this. Not even close. Think how much guts it took to even talk about this online. Please please contact your GP, they will want to help you . They will be able to answer all your questions and give you all the support you need. Good luck Op.

What if I can’t stop and I end up dying from this, this has given me a massive wake up call thank you

You can stop, but you dont have to go it alone. Please reach out to your GP, or google your local drug and alcohol service for advice.

I am going to try and stop myself first

I think it's the paracetamol in the cocodamol that is dangerous. And it is very dangerous. People think because 500mg tablets are available in supermarkets that they're miles away from dangerous doses. They aren't. The codeine, the very addictive element actually isn't that dangerous on its own, long term side effects and constipation and tolerance. I agree, they're wonderful, I love the feeling of euphoria. But I also love the painkilling properties and am terrified they'll stop working if I overdo it!

Definitely see your GP. They will be able to help.

OP please relax.

Firstly, a lot of the horror stories you see generally relate to a more severe addiction. These people tend to take much, much more than the prescribed amount trying to chase the buzz (think 3-4 tablets per time instead of 2, over 20 a day etc). You’re sticking within the guidelines of your prescription, you are not harming yourself, you are NOT going to die.

If you’re taking 8 a day then lower it to 6 then 4 then 2. You can also start taking only one cocodamol with one paracetamol to reduce the opioid intake even more. (Suggested to me by a doctor)

You will be fine, you can do it. If you find yourself struggling then reach out.

Yes I do, currently in addiction after a few years of on/off addiction if I’m being entirely honest. I can stop for a while and then just get sucked in again.

Addiction is horrible, the constant noise and battle in your head. There’s so much I can say about it but at the end of the day it is just shit. It can feel so scary and vulnerable.

I honestly have no real advice beyond that I get it. Not addicted to opioids myself but I understand that it makes you feel very fuzzy and content so they sound really quite scary to me. Hope you’re ok etc

My DH was addicted to Solpadeine Max for a couple of years and he suddenly stopped taking them and he was absolutely fine.

Op I'm not a doctor or a trained professional in the sense I don't know the medical implications of this particular medication however based on what you said i think as you've taken the first step , this is a massive sign you will beat this. we are stronger then we know if we put our minds to something, we have to have the confidence that we will succeed. I don't want to talk nonsense to you but I think you're in a stong position to beat this but you must must contact gp immediately to get your appointment booked in. Do you think you can call the gp now at all?

I would definitely agree to seek support in stopping rather than going it alone. They will be able to help through your withdrawal and it is well known that it can be dangerous/life threatening for an addict to just stop. IMO it's not just abstinence needed, it's also the mindset because you can so easily walk into a shop and buy more with no questions asked. That could become a trigger and/or a battle in itself if you are trying to stop with no support.

One of my close relatives was addicted to opioids. It started with cocodamol then codiene, then heroin dabbling, then methadone. He died last August whilst he was 7 weeks into a recovery programme that included an in-house stay. He was drug free by then but the damage had already been done to his body. If the recovery and support path had happened in the earlier stages of the opioid cycle, it's likely he would still be alive.