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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how long withdrawal lasts?

236 replies

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 11:37

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

OP posts:
Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 21:44

FriendofDorothy · 16/06/2025 21:32

Quite honestly your brain is that most powerful tool you have. If you expect withdrawals you will probably get them. If you are optimistic the worst that you might feel is a bit sniffly and coldy and a few aches. You should be fine.

Keep busy, have a bath, go to bed. Be optimistic that you will sail through and hopefully you will have few withdrawals. You really are not taking a lot.

Love this

OP posts:
solvendie · 16/06/2025 21:48

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 16/06/2025 18:42

She wasn't.
There's 8mg codeine in one solpadeine.
There's 12.8mg codeine in one nurofen plus.

The OP was taking 4 of each daily.

That's nowhere near the safe recommended daily dose of codeine (which is 240mg).

Even if she was taking twice that amount she wouldn't be overdosing.

Edited

This. OP you are not in danger from withdrawal. Most of the withdrawal will be psychological/habit, not physical. Keep busy, use distraction and change your routine.

Best of luck - you can do this, you’ve got this

ButteredRadish · 16/06/2025 22:09

This is addiction and you need medical & drug addiction support

EmeraldShamrock000 · 16/06/2025 22:10

Well done, keep going, you might need some outside support, many people are addicted to over the counter medication.
Best of luck. 💐

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:18

ButteredRadish · 16/06/2025 22:09

This is addiction and you need medical & drug addiction support

I will seek help if I cannot stay off them, I’ve never tried. Isn’t that when people seek help , when they cannot stop regardless

OP posts:
Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:22

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 12:44

Codeine alone would be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Not at all

Your liver is being damaged from the paracetamol and your stomach is being destroyed by the ibuprofen. These need to be removed asap.

It used to be available in prescription doses over the counter in French pharmacies. Easier to just ask doctor for help

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:23

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:22

Not at all

Your liver is being damaged from the paracetamol and your stomach is being destroyed by the ibuprofen. These need to be removed asap.

It used to be available in prescription doses over the counter in French pharmacies. Easier to just ask doctor for help

I’ve removed them. Getting pure codeine would be a big mistake

OP posts:
Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:24

And they need to look at your stomach and run some tests to make sure your liver is ok. It’s important

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:25

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:23

I’ve removed them. Getting pure codeine would be a big mistake

It appears you’re still taking the paracetamol/codeine combo? Sorry if mistaken

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 22:28

Huhuhuhu39272 · 16/06/2025 22:25

It appears you’re still taking the paracetamol/codeine combo? Sorry if mistaken

My
last dose was 8am. It’s been almost 14 hours

OP posts:
FiveBarGate · 16/06/2025 22:35

Given you may have trouble sleeping, it might be an idea to download an audio book. You can usually get an audible free trial if you don't have one.

It will give your mind something to focus on.. slightly too quiet forces you to really listen and helps cut out other thoughts. Set it on a sleep timer (repeat if you wake in the night)

tinytorch · 16/06/2025 22:41

FriendofDorothy · 16/06/2025 17:46

I work in drug treatment and the facts are the opiate withdrawal is not dangerous. Unpleasant yes but you dont die from opiate withdrawals.

Addicts require prescribed treatment because they cannot tolerate the withdrawals. This doesn’t mean they are particularly dangerous. It just means they don’t like them.

Someone alao commented you need to be mindful of the psychological effects of addiction. This is probably more pertinent than people realise in lower doses of codeine.

You don't say. Might be time to brush up on your knowledge.

Yes, people can die from opiate withdrawal

Yes, people can die from opiate withdrawal

https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/ndarc/news-events/blogs/2016/08/yes--people-can-die-from-opiate-withdrawal

Vgtasd · 16/06/2025 22:46

Can I join this thread please I've been taking solpadeine max for many years, I'm down to five per day, I need to break this habit x

firsttimemum99x · 16/06/2025 22:52

I was taking dihydrocodeine at the beginning of the year following a miscarriage, I managed to get a repeat prescription twice through A&E then through my GP (I lied to get it because it was the only thing getting me through that time) I ended up taking it for about 6 weeks straight, having up to 8 in one go at some points. Once I ran out I attempted to get another prescription but I was refused (I realised at this point it was starting to become an addiction) so I went cold turkey. For about a week I had awful flu-like symptoms - nausea, very painful aches in legs, bad tummy etc but after a week I felt absolutely fine. I should have tapered off them really but I’ll never go back on them again.

tinytorch · 16/06/2025 23:00

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 15:28

Well yes because at high doses the withdrawal I am guessing would be much much worse which could lead to relapse. It is not a necessity though and many people do come off high strength opiates by themselves. I want to go through this withdrawal to remind myself that I never want to go through it again. It is just like having the flu (obviously depending on the amount you have been taking- strong opiates like morphine heroin etc will be much worse so may need anti sickness/anti diarrhoea/anxiety, that sort of thing.

Well, no, because at high doses there can be a risk of death from dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, and from heart failure. There are many serious and horrible side-effects from opiate withdrawal. Your repeat blanket statements minimising this are wrong.

You, on the other hand, will no doubt be fine - a little uncomfortable - but should have been on a PPI for protection of your stomach and duodenum long before this, and also should really get your LFTs done.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 16/06/2025 23:28

Scunthorpee · 16/06/2025 16:19

And I am taking this really seriously

But not seriously enough to get proper help and guidance. You've risked, and might have achieved, opiate addiction with the codeine. You've risked, and might have achieved, liver damage from the paracetamol. You've risked, and it sounds like you have managed to get, damage to your stomach. All those things need dealing with. Those information leaflets in boxes of pills are there for a reason. Maximum dosage guidelines really shouldn't be ignored.

PharmacyFiend · 17/06/2025 01:29

I have name changed for this. I have experience of codeine withdrawal that may be helpful to the OP.

At my "worst", I was taking 72 Nurofen+ a day, in 'doses' of 8 tablets (so just over 100mg of codeine) at a time. My life revolved around driving to different pharmacies to buy them, cringing with shame each time I asked for them, dreading the odd occasion when the Pharmacist would refuse to sell them to me. It cost me an absolute fortune, got me in serious financial trouble, made me incredibly sly and secretive, and I ended up with a gastric ulcer which burst in the middle of the night and I then had a week long stay in ITU. I was very unwell.

When I was discharged, I contacted my GP and they agreed to prescribe me large quantities of codeine, so I could taper at home. I had been addicted (on and off) since I was 21, and the ulcer burst just before my 42nd birthday.

I initially cut my doses down to 4 times a day, but kept the dose at 100mg a time, and I didn't have any physical withdrawal symptoms to begin with. I cut down by 15mg per dose every 3/4 days, so around 3 weeks in I was taking 30mg 4 times a day. I then cut out one dose per week for 2 weeks until I was taking 30mg twice a day. That was when the physical symptoms kicked in. It wasn't too bad to start with, some nausea, lack of appetite, irritability (which was tricky, as I didn't tell anyone other than my Doctors about my addiction), and the worst of the symptoms; sweating, restless legs and the total inability to sleep. It was horrific. There were a few times when I just couldn't stand it, and ended up taking some extra just to stop my legs from feeling like they were crawling with ants.

The jump down from 30mg twice a day to 15mg twice a day was hard, but more psychologically than physically at that stage. I had relied on codeine to make the world ever so slightly softer and easier for virtually my entire adult life, and it was like coming out of a calm, quiet room into a busy train station. I was totally overwhelmed, and it was at this point I realised I needed to talk to someone about why I'd starting using codeine to ''take the rough edges off my life", rather than for pain relief.

I spoke to an excellent Therapist, and I continued with the 2 doses of 15mg a day for 6 weeks, while I worked through the psychological issues attached to my addiction. I was then able to go down to 7.5mg twice a day (at which point it was having no discernible physical effect, it was only the psychological dependency remaining). Then 7.5mg once a day for a week, then none.

I still had 10 x 30mg tablets left, and a couple of weeks after stopping completely, I had a really shitty day, and that little addict voice in my head said "Ah, go on, you deserve to take the edge off, you've earned it!" and I took 60mg in one dose. As the familiar feeling flooded through me, I got really scared, and realised how stupid I had been, as I could see that I would immediately be hooked again, and back in the old, familiar, lonely cycle. I crushed the rest of the tablets and washed them down the sink. I felt a flood of relief that they were gone.

Sorry, that was long! My experience was that the worst of the physical withdrawals lasted around 5 days, but the psychological withdrawal was much longer. Even now, years later, I have days when I think "I could just buy one packet..." I'm not sure if the psychological dependency will every be truly "gone" for me, I was addicted to those little bastard tablets for such a long time.

I really feel for anyone else who gets "stuck" on codeine, it really is a total arsehole of a medicine, far too easily available, and far too easy to get addicted to.

Slatterndisgrace · 17/06/2025 01:33

Wow PharmacyFiend, well bloody done. So sorry you went through that.

Scunthorpee · 17/06/2025 07:56

PharmacyFiend · 17/06/2025 01:29

I have name changed for this. I have experience of codeine withdrawal that may be helpful to the OP.

At my "worst", I was taking 72 Nurofen+ a day, in 'doses' of 8 tablets (so just over 100mg of codeine) at a time. My life revolved around driving to different pharmacies to buy them, cringing with shame each time I asked for them, dreading the odd occasion when the Pharmacist would refuse to sell them to me. It cost me an absolute fortune, got me in serious financial trouble, made me incredibly sly and secretive, and I ended up with a gastric ulcer which burst in the middle of the night and I then had a week long stay in ITU. I was very unwell.

When I was discharged, I contacted my GP and they agreed to prescribe me large quantities of codeine, so I could taper at home. I had been addicted (on and off) since I was 21, and the ulcer burst just before my 42nd birthday.

I initially cut my doses down to 4 times a day, but kept the dose at 100mg a time, and I didn't have any physical withdrawal symptoms to begin with. I cut down by 15mg per dose every 3/4 days, so around 3 weeks in I was taking 30mg 4 times a day. I then cut out one dose per week for 2 weeks until I was taking 30mg twice a day. That was when the physical symptoms kicked in. It wasn't too bad to start with, some nausea, lack of appetite, irritability (which was tricky, as I didn't tell anyone other than my Doctors about my addiction), and the worst of the symptoms; sweating, restless legs and the total inability to sleep. It was horrific. There were a few times when I just couldn't stand it, and ended up taking some extra just to stop my legs from feeling like they were crawling with ants.

The jump down from 30mg twice a day to 15mg twice a day was hard, but more psychologically than physically at that stage. I had relied on codeine to make the world ever so slightly softer and easier for virtually my entire adult life, and it was like coming out of a calm, quiet room into a busy train station. I was totally overwhelmed, and it was at this point I realised I needed to talk to someone about why I'd starting using codeine to ''take the rough edges off my life", rather than for pain relief.

I spoke to an excellent Therapist, and I continued with the 2 doses of 15mg a day for 6 weeks, while I worked through the psychological issues attached to my addiction. I was then able to go down to 7.5mg twice a day (at which point it was having no discernible physical effect, it was only the psychological dependency remaining). Then 7.5mg once a day for a week, then none.

I still had 10 x 30mg tablets left, and a couple of weeks after stopping completely, I had a really shitty day, and that little addict voice in my head said "Ah, go on, you deserve to take the edge off, you've earned it!" and I took 60mg in one dose. As the familiar feeling flooded through me, I got really scared, and realised how stupid I had been, as I could see that I would immediately be hooked again, and back in the old, familiar, lonely cycle. I crushed the rest of the tablets and washed them down the sink. I felt a flood of relief that they were gone.

Sorry, that was long! My experience was that the worst of the physical withdrawals lasted around 5 days, but the psychological withdrawal was much longer. Even now, years later, I have days when I think "I could just buy one packet..." I'm not sure if the psychological dependency will every be truly "gone" for me, I was addicted to those little bastard tablets for such a long time.

I really feel for anyone else who gets "stuck" on codeine, it really is a total arsehole of a medicine, far too easily available, and far too easy to get addicted to.

Wow. Thank you for sharing your story. That’s just over 3 boxes a day and must have been so draining trying to get them everyday, never mind the financial part as it must have costs around £40-£50 a day! So happy for you now and such an inspirational story.

Just an update. I slept ok last night, I am
not 100% but nothing agonising. It’s now been 24 hours since my last dose. I am expecting today to be awful.

OP posts:
Scunthorpee · 17/06/2025 07:58

Vgtasd · 16/06/2025 22:46

Can I join this thread please I've been taking solpadeine max for many years, I'm down to five per day, I need to break this habit x

Hi, yes of course. Are you thinking of stopping?

OP posts:
Scunthorpee · 17/06/2025 08:00

How many years have you been taking them? I don’t know if it depends on that how bad the withdrawal will be. I think it’s really important that you genuinely want to be free of this. I had a good think last night thinking I don’t want to be going on holiday etc making sure I have enough tablets and worrying about obtaining enough. I want my life back.

OP posts:
Slatterndisgrace · 17/06/2025 08:02

Scunthorpee · 17/06/2025 07:56

Wow. Thank you for sharing your story. That’s just over 3 boxes a day and must have been so draining trying to get them everyday, never mind the financial part as it must have costs around £40-£50 a day! So happy for you now and such an inspirational story.

Just an update. I slept ok last night, I am
not 100% but nothing agonising. It’s now been 24 hours since my last dose. I am expecting today to be awful.

Good luck! You’re doing great.

anonforme7 · 17/06/2025 08:32

Changed username for this.

After surgery at 22 I became addicted to prescription co-codamol and Zopiclone.

I’m 32 now with a 2 year old and 30 weeks pregnant and haven’t touched either for 5 years.

I had diarrhoea for about 2 months when I stopped taking the codeine, the complete opposite of the constipation side effect which made sense. Other than the diarrhoea, I didn’t really have any other withdrawal symptoms.

Zopiclone was another matter, I had sweats, shaking, intrusive thoughts and insomnia for about 3.5 months, it was horrific.

I’d be concerned about your stomach lining and the constant use of ibuprofen without anything to counteract the damage which is what the GP would prescribe with things like ibuprofen. Keep an eye on that and get checked out if you have anymore stomach pain.

Slatterndisgrace · 17/06/2025 08:36

anonforme7 · 17/06/2025 08:32

Changed username for this.

After surgery at 22 I became addicted to prescription co-codamol and Zopiclone.

I’m 32 now with a 2 year old and 30 weeks pregnant and haven’t touched either for 5 years.

I had diarrhoea for about 2 months when I stopped taking the codeine, the complete opposite of the constipation side effect which made sense. Other than the diarrhoea, I didn’t really have any other withdrawal symptoms.

Zopiclone was another matter, I had sweats, shaking, intrusive thoughts and insomnia for about 3.5 months, it was horrific.

I’d be concerned about your stomach lining and the constant use of ibuprofen without anything to counteract the damage which is what the GP would prescribe with things like ibuprofen. Keep an eye on that and get checked out if you have anymore stomach pain.

This terrifies me, I’ve been on zopiclone for 30 odd years and the thought of coming off them makes me lose my shit. Do you think it would be possible?

Scunthorpee · 17/06/2025 08:47

Slatterndisgrace · 17/06/2025 08:36

This terrifies me, I’ve been on zopiclone for 30 odd years and the thought of coming off them makes me lose my shit. Do you think it would be possible?

How the hell does somebody end up taking such a strong sleep medication that is supposed to be used for acute sleeping issues end up taking it for 30 years! Sorry, this is not a dig at you at all, who is prescribing this?

OP posts: