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Painkiller addiction

8 replies

MilkandWine · 14/04/2011 00:37

Hi all
I'm almost too ashamed to admit this but I have a painkiller (codeine) addiction and I seriously need to sort it out but don't know how!

I've been like this for at least 3 years now and it is totally getting out of hand. I have to take 2 tablets when I first get up (either Solpadeines or Boots paracetemol and Codeine) and then I just basically continue throughout the day. I getting through a pack of 32 in 3 days and sometimes more! (God that looks really horrifying written down).

I've tried stopping twice in the past year put the nausea, headaches and totally feeling like crap have gotton the better of me each time. I feel like I can't function without them, taking them chills me out and makes me basically feel better.

I know I am damaging myself and really need to stop but I don't know how! Any suggestions (even of the 'pull yourself together' variety) would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
coansha · 14/04/2011 04:55

Well done for admitting your problem, hard to see it in words but i think if you realise you have an issue, you are half way there.
I would say you need to speak to your GP and tell them what you have said here, but absolutely honest and work out a plan to wean yourself off them, as going from 10 tablets a day to zero is not going to work and you sound like you want this to work long term.
It is very easy to get into this situation so please do not dwell on it as you are in plenty of company!! Codeind addiction in the USA is the biggest drug problem they have currently.
I nearly got hooked on sleeping tablets as 2 years ago could not sleep( lost my best friend to cancer) and its too easy to pop a pill than look at the real underlying cause and try other measures if in pain.
Can i ask how you are getting the prescriptions for this as it does not sound like your GP is watching your drug use? Perhaps going to another GP may be best or looking at the articles below.
Promise me that you will do this as it important for your future health to sort it now!!
The side effects of long term abuse of painkillers is dangerous and can lead to chronic illnesses.
So stay positive and get the help and support you know you need, do you have a partner or husband? Tell them they can support you.
I think you may be trying to block out things if you are taking that many and may need counselling to help you get through this.
The very best of luck sweetheart and keep me posted eh? You made a great start so continue and kick this habit and get your life back!!!

xx

www.painkillerabuse.us/content/treatment-for-painkiller-abuse.html

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070627134537.htm

laptopwieldingharpy · 14/04/2011 05:39

It would probably be best to talk to your GP first.

Gradual withdrawal in conjunction with alternative coping strategies WILL work but you do need someone to hold your hand, or maybe just a sympathetic ear (we are here for that!)

Both my mother and sister have used and abused ADs, painkillers and sleeping tablets (for very valid reasons to start with ie a series of devastating events within a couple of years: late miscarriage, SIDS, accompanying someone dying from cancer, road accident, etc....)
I have seen them come through to the other side.
Life is just so much brighter when you are sober.

Take small steps, reduce dosage in small increments every week and add some exercise and fresh air.
Yoga, hiking, running, dancing, anything that will tire muscles and clear head.

There are some very good healthy supplements to stabilise mood. You can introduce them as you start the weaning process (Magnesium + vitamin B + omegas)
There is also a supplement called L-theanine, which I have tried myself when I was having nightime palpitations and panic attacks first thing in the morning and it does work.
Its sold under the name Suntheanine, ask in a god health shop. Its basically a fermented green tea extract, nothing more.
see [http://www.suntheanine.com/WhatIsSuntheanine.cfm here]
it is FDA approved in the US so I guess available in health shops in UK. well researched and trialed in Japan.

Now of course, you have to deal with the root of the physical pain.
I suffer from crippling sinus/allergy related pain and attacks basically start with tension headache that develops in 3 days of paralysing (litterally) pain from top of skull down neck shoulder arm.
Massage saved me. I live in Asia and have managed in the last 4 years with accupressure (too chicken for needles), foot reflexology, and tiger balm rub.
Not sure you can have access to that near you, but the principle is to accrue blood circulation to the pain area to accelerate healing process. Any heat producing camphor/eucalyptus balm will do. do try it, the smell and heat are very soothing.

chiropractic/cranyo sacral therapy also works wonders if you are in the right hands.

I know a lot of the above is mumbo jumbo to a lot of people, but it has worked for me. I think I was also just very determined not to go down the medication route because of the spiraling addictive effect.

But I think you are ripe too, so do talk to you GP and try alternative remedies. Its just basically a new hygiene of life.

Red wine works very well too!

pilladict · 15/04/2011 16:44

name change here; i have been adicted to solpediene for twenty years, i did a thread on this in chat, will see if i can do link.

at the moment i am reducing by one pill every two weeks, i was on ten a day. Down to nine now.

these pills are a nightmare

coansha · 16/04/2011 07:33

Will agree absolutely with the advice form laptopwieldingtherapy, i joined a gym and walked and walked and walked some more and then saw a fab chiro.
Weirdly enough I suffer terrible sinus issues too and all of these things really helped.
I sleep well now, and can smile at the memory of my lovely BF (she incidently gave used acupuncture all the way through her cancer ordeal and swore by it, sadly it was too aggressive from the start but it gave her better quality of life for a while)
The husband of my BF who passed away did the same with exercise and it saved his sanity too, so combined all the other remedies I think you will get through this and come out of so much better.
Well done you too pilladdict, small steps will always win the battle.
Let us know how things go?
x

FoofffyShmoofffer · 16/04/2011 07:59

Don't be ashamed. There are so many people in the same position, they just haven't acknowledged/admitted it.
My own experience was to be admitted to hospital and weaned off under observation.(The reason it came to this is a long and guilt filled thread of it's own)
If you can try it the way Laptopwieldingharpy mentions then please try it. Also have a full and frank conversation with your GP. That's a starting point.

MilkandWine · 16/04/2011 11:17

Hi all

Thank you for all your kind replies, they are much appreciated.

I have made an appointment with my GP for week after next (only have one gp who I really feel comfortable talking with and the waiting list for an appointment with him is ridiculous)

Coansha- I don't use precriptions, it is over the counter tablets I use. It's getting to the point where I have to rotate between chemists to buy them as I worry they will all start getting suspicious. I am really sorry to hear about your BF, it must have been a dreadful thing to go though. I find everyone stories of how they managed to overcome their addictions inspiring though.

I originally started taking them because I get bad headaches and also suffer back pain and it just spiralled out of control. I have quite a few isues in my life at the moment causing my emotional distress and I think I definately use them to try and block things out.

I do exercise a lot (kickboxing, horseriding etc) but nothing seems to distract me enough. When I don't take the tablets I just feel like utter and total s**te.

Going to look into supplements as well. At the moment I only take calcium tablets as I have reduced bone density in my spine. I worry about the tablets affecting that as well a lot of the time

Again thank you for all your replies, you are very kind and it is hugely appreciated.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 16/04/2011 11:30

This is a serious addiction and your GP will treat it as such.Good luck although the nausea and general withdrawal are hard for the first few weeks it is nothing compared to how ill you will feel if you damage any organs permanently. A friend of ours was addicted to solpadeine which is the same I think she hurt her arm and shoulder in a car accident and took them initially for pain but was hooked for several years. IIRC she reduced initially and then went cold turkey as she had a job offer in the US and wanted to be free of them before she went. She was absolutely fine in teh end and has been off them a few years now xx

coansha · 17/04/2011 03:37

I would definitely go and find a good chiro as that helped me immensely, I now take my 2 dd's and my husband goes to as he does Enduro bikes they all love it now, although eldest overly dramatic DD calls it the crack of death!
Thanks for the kind words, losing my BF has made me determined to do the things in life I really want. So ironically losing her has made me realise we need to make the best life we can.
Incidently I also went to an aromatherapist and used some bachs flower remedies( for me sleep but they do all for uplifting or stress) and had massages too.
My poor old hubby!
Very glad you made your appointment, thats a huge step but do tell your partner so they can support you in this.
Perhaps looking into yoga or pilates as they are quite calming exercise, although I love Thai boxing did it for years in my teens.
Keep us all posted, we are all rooting for you x

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