Codeine withdrawal

[KazDee9]

Just wondered about people’s experience of the hellish journey that is codeine withdrawal. Took last dose Sunday at 2pm and today is SATURDAY 😩and I still don’t feel right. Literally been in bed since Tuesday. Every time I get up to do something I’m floored again. Still got the headache and my vision not normal, everything is too bright and makes my eyes sore. The low mood and fatigue is STILL here. I’m technically on day 7 since 2pm this afternoon, don’t know how much longer can live like this till I break !! ( take codeine , feel normal and go about my business !). I don’t want to though got this far. Just want to know when the end of the darn tunnel comes !!!

Did you withdraw slowly or just stop taking them.

How long had you been on them, and taking how much? I'd think ringing a pharmacy would be the best option.

Are you doing it by yourself or with your GP and a proper plan?

Would an addiction service helpline be able to support you and give you advice. Were you taking it on prescription which your g.p could help with

I can’t do it slowly I’ve tried. I just get stressed then end up eating more so seems my only way. All or nothing unfortunately. I’ve seen on internet should start easing off at 7 days. Just wondered if anyone has experienced longer , and if it’s MUCH longer !!

Went other year to go. Pretty much told me to get lost not his problem and gave me a number to a drug clinic. Who said they cannot provide any meds ( but they would if it was illegal drugs , cheers !) and just can offer councilling. Not going in a drug clinic just to talk to someone then all the hassle that could potentially come with that it’s not worth my time

I'd ask a pharmacist... perhaps a half tablet now would help? I'm totally ignorant mind, don't think it's advice based on expertise of any kind!

I'm sorry. It is awful. I don't think cold turkey is really any easier as what you're describing is very unpleasant.

Don’t go back onto them if you’ve went cold turkey 6 days. Even if it was onto just a small dose.
The fatigue lasts around a month but after the first week the headaches, shakes and irrational moods start to calm down. I’m not going to lie it’s rough, I was on them about 16 years when I came off cold turkey and it wasn’t pleasant but been off them for 3 years now.

Sorry it was 12 years I was on them for not 16.

I stopped taking nurofen plus 2 months ago, it’s been difficult. All my physical withdrawal symptoms are gone but, today I could have went to the chemist but I didn’t. I think I’m depressed, so I’m going to speak to doctor next week. It’s been a total rollercoaster to tell you the truth. Not been easy. Good luck

You have went a whole week, keep going! You have probably went through the worst of it.

A month 😩😩😩I think In some ways I’ve been quite fortunate. Like leg aches randomly , headache of course , no bad stomach but struggle to eat just don’t want to but have forced myself. It’s the fatigue that’s been unbearable and feeling depressed and can’t go outside. It’s like too bright , too sharp and kills my eyes. Not to mention I feel cold ( random heating up but nothing bad ). So you think I could feel exhausted more weeks then and miserable. Yes your right be stupid to go back I’m sick of feeling rubbish every time run out of pills so have to get more. Sick of it now had enough. Hence I’ve just gone for it but this being out of action when I need to go out everyday is sending me crackers now. This is the longest I have EVER stayed indoors in my entire life !!!

❤️♥️❤️thank you. I’m trying. Got some friends saying same thing and how angry they will be if I break now. Plus how angry I’d be with myself. But addiction is a tough fight !!

Bless you. I know what it’s like. You end up taking it because you feel so bad if you don’t. I have read that depression can be a long term after affect of opiate based meds , hence my fears now because I’m feeling so depressed with it. I know anti depressants don’t do anything for me times I’ve been depressed, but I know they do for some people. I bet your feeling depressed is your brain trying to learn to make it’s own dopamine again as the codeine apparently messes with it. It’s why it makes us feel good when we take it. It’s evil stuff it really is

I’d recommend going for walks no matter the fatigue just pushing yourself a little, it’ll help the moods. The fatigue isn’t anywhere near as strong after the first week or two but it comes and goes in and out.
Your doing great to have lasted this long, first weeks the hardest hurdle to get over!

Definitely keep going, you're doing great. Try a short walk tomorrow however hard to get out ( with sunglasses) will improve your mood too and weirdly helps combat fatigue.

I made an attempt earlier , but had to go straight back inside. The brightness was overwhelming. And felt so weak. Like I’ve gotten up and done bits today , then I’m having to go lie down with exhaustion! Like when I was anemic ! Which is vile. I am defo going to try tomorrow. I am just hoping the fatigue gets less from now on. I’m technically day 7 now ( from last dose ) it’s got to start improving soon !!

I actually feel almost scared to go out now. Like I’m so use to being probably slightly brain clouded on codeine ( well I didn’t think I was I functioned totally well but now how everything is over poweringly bright and crisp ). But yes going to try force it over next day or so

OP I realise it's a very different drug but when I stopped using sertraline I found fish oil tablets helped with the brain fog (let's face it they won't do any harm).

Well done and good luck, sertraline was difficult to stop taking but glad I did (it was a brilliant drug for me but got to point I stopped feeling much emotionally which wasn't ideal)

Thank you. I have some I’ve not taken a while. I’ll get back on them. And iron as I’m easily anemic and this feels the same. Horrible fatigue. Ordered a bottle of metatone as well. Find that helps when you trying to recover. I had sertraline few times in the past. I won’t touch antidepressants again as they don’t work for me.ever. I find getting depressed usually situational /what’s happening at the time related and no pill can alter that , but I know people do get chemical imbalances regardless of circumstances and need the chemicals to lift them up. A psychiatrist I saw when I had ptsd years ago told me no good for that. He said only people clinically depressed who can’t get out of bed

How much codeine were you taking per day, KazDee?

You are really doing well and I'm sure your determination will pull you through.

I’m afraid to say of recent months it snuck up to around a box a day !!! It’s what happens , you become totally intolerant and they become totally useless other than to make you feel “normal” when you have them. The mad increase came on rapid after a painful separation which has also resulted in him totally cutting out his child with me who has been very upset. Think carrying his pain made me just lean on the pills. Tried reduce it to half many times to then wean but just couldn’t. So this is where I am. One of my best mates constantly going nuts at me telling me I need sort this out before it’s too late. This is what I mean about having to live with this fatigue so long that I end up breaking and taking pills just to achieve a productive day as I can’t stand getting nothing done I’m usually always busy. Read last night fatigue is due to the brain having something make it’s dopamine everyday for months and months and it can take months to get to make it’s own properly again. This is the torture side of it. I’d tell anyone given opiate pain killers DONT. as you may be one of those people who end up liking it too much and getting in this mess.

That was a bog drop to go from a box a day to none. You are doing well. Please don't start again.

Keep going, op!!! You're doing great! Maybe keep a diary so that you can track the improvements and will be able to see that it is shifting. From your posts it looks to me that you're worrying too much about the timeline, that this is going to go on for months and months and be never-ending. It will end op! You won't have all of these side effects for months, it will lift. Please keep going. It's frustrating not to get things done, but really it doesn't actually matter. Just tell yourself you have flu. Good luck.