To ask how long withdrawal lasts?

[Scunthorpee]

So for some bizarre reason I have gained a bit of a habit buying Cocodamol and Nurofen plus. It got to a point where my stomach was starting to hurt and realised I was upping my dose so I have decided to nip this in the bud. Yesterday I took 2, this morning I have took 2 and had some diarrhoea (sorry tmi) I felt they helped calm me down after my divorce but in reality they didn’t and I will be so glad and proud to be free of this

My DH is a GP so i am sure he can help if anything goes wrong (I haven’t told him)

Good luck OP, I hope it’s quick and as easy as possible (withdrawal is never easy but you know what I mean).

I have to be really strict with myself, any time I buy codiene, diazepam or sleeping tablets I always convince myself I need them and finish the box. I just like how well I sleep. Things came to head when I found myself taking codiene and diazepam together. It gave me a shock!

It is so easily done and never thought I would be in this position myself, don’t beat yourself up we are only human.

I was told to cold turkey an off label antipsychotic that injured me.

I was only on it for a week, and it was literally prescribed off label for severe anxiety and insomnia after a head injury and post concussion syndrome. The withdrawal was horrible, I felt very unwell and wished I'd had better advice.

Unfortunately I then got a permanent neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia from it too 😕 😢

People can underestimate the impact on the body of a cold turkey. I'm a great advocate of safe withdrawal and tapering.

Please take care, OP.💕

Could you afford a private GP appointment? Online? So you wouldn't have to tell your own Dr but you could get some proper advice?

Yes. Maine drugs absolutely need a safe a safe withdrawal/taper process but opioids aren’t one of them. I will probably feel at deaths door for a few days but I will just have to keep remembering why I am doing this and then come out the other side.

Wishing you the very best of luck op. Well done! xx

I can totally understand where you are / were. For various reasons I have been taking prescription strength cocodamol 30/500mg for the last 10+ years, also 5-6 times a day. Every time I think about reducing it, something happens in life that knocks me down. Previously spoken to GP about 2 years ago who advised to reduce but continues to prescribe without question. I've had counselling too about another issue and also mentioned it. No one wants to know.
You've already reduced on your own will power, you can do this now you've got this far. Dont look back. Keep going and I'll think of you for inspiration. I hope your stomach pain gets resolved soon too.

I don't understand why you wouldn't ask him?

Good luck to you too! You will get there when the time is right for you!

Mainly because they don’t really need to know everything about us. I will try on my own first and then reach out for help if I need it. I don’t want to worry him.

I've ended up with codeine addiction through prescribed meds which were needed at points. I would suggest being mindful of the psychological addiction too. I managed to come off these tablets several times, reduced them and managed the withdrawal. And for a long time I just told myself that it was an unfortunate physical side effect to these meds. But there was a reason I always ended up back on them even when they weren't needed for pain relief and that is something I've finally had to address.

I was taking the maximum dose of codeine for over two years when I slipped a disc, and was concerned about possible withdrawal problems when I was finally improved enough to start to reduce the amount I was taking. The consultant at the pain clinic told me that different people metabolise codeine differently and by no means everyone will have withdrawal problems. That has definitely been the case with me, and I’ve had no problems at all in reducing the amount I’m taking as my pain has reduced, including when I made quite a significant drop once the impact of my surgery started to kick in. I know a lot of people can have withdrawal problems but definitely not everyone, so you may be fortunate and be able to stop quite quickly like I was, especially with the amount of codeine you will be having in over the counter pills.

I just stopped the prescription ones cold turkey after a year. I hated myself for not being able to deal with physical pain.Felt like hell for 5 days with sickness, but I saw it as my punishment and as a cautionary tale that however bad pain is you just have to power through it.
Ultimately, opiate withdrawal is very unpleasant but harmless.

Well done you. I will update on how I get on, this is my safe space for the next week!

I guess I'm lucky that my stomach hates codeine and it seems to do nothing whatsoever for me.

Hi op. I was addicted to codeine for 7 years. I did stop abruptly and I didn't have any noticeable side effects. I'll caveat that by saying I stopped drinking alcohol at the exact same time so it was quite hard to disagregate the impact of stopping both at the same time. I certainly didn't feel great but nothing "dangerous" happened.

I think you're right in that withdrawal is unpleasant but not dangerous. If you've managed to cut it down to 2 a day, just do that for a few days, then 1 for a few days and then you could just drop the last one (or do a half for a bit). That should be quick enough but also keep you comfortable enough so you can still function and you'll be less likely to take more if you're not feeling like crap. Sounds like you're very determined. Well done and good luck!

DH found it harder to stop smoking tbh

The thing now is it is on his records and I cannot even get pain relief, is it because I live with him? do they think that I will give it to him? I have not had any problems myself but after a major operation and then developing other health problems, I have had to beg and beg for pain relief and then was just told to take paracetamol.🙄

Maine drugs absolutely need a safe a safe withdrawal/taper process but opioids aren’t one of them.

Well, that's absolute bullshit! I think, however, at this level, you will be okay to just come off them, and feel wretched for four days or so particularly, then improving after about a week. I would be more concerned about peptic ulcers from what you've subjected your stomach to.

If I were you, I’d reduce the codeine slowly - reduce the dose and then a couple of days later reduce it again so your body gets used to the smaller amount gradually. You should get away with the smallest amount of “withdrawal” symptoms that way. The hard part is the mental challenge of not taking them. I speak from experience as a former heroin addict. I have done many withdrawals and it’s not pleasant. I’m pleased to say I have been “clean” for many, many years and that part of my life is well behind me. Good luck, stay strong and focus on getting yourself better x

OP asks for information/advice.

Ignores and rebuffs all information and advice. 'Knows better'.

Peak Mumsnet.

Not at all I just know for a fact that opiate withdrawal isn’t dangerous. Some drugs are really difficult to come off and cause seizures like benzo’s, alcohol. I know that codeine isn’t one of them.

Oh my, I bet codeine is a walk in the park compared to heroin. Well done you must be so proud of yourself.

Yes I found smoking so so hard, I’d never go back now though.