Codeine addiction

[madein1995]

Hi

I'm new here so please be gentle. I'm posting here for traffic, and just want to know about others experiences of codeine/co codamol and how they've overcome it.

I never really used it a few years ago. Mum had it (prescribed) and I'd take a tablet or two when in pain (dislocations etc). When I came home from uni I was unemployed and really down/depressed for about 5 months, and I started taking it heavily then.

Since then, I've used in stages and in different levels. I've gone through periods of using it every day, during the day, only using it at night, and of course withdrawing when the prescription ran out. It sounds daft, but the feeling it gives me is incredible. Providing I know my limit and don't take too many tablets that I feel rough the next day, I'm fine. I'm more positive, cheerful, happy, and I sleep better. I honestly feel sometimes there's no downsides. I function perfectly normal and noone in real life would guess. Mother doesn't notice her prescription going missing as she never uses it (ironically as she doesn't want to get addicted).

I'm not stupid though. I know it must be doing me some harm though. When I withdraw my body aches, I have diarrhea, I have restless legs, I have worse sleep and I suspect that physically at least I am dependant on it.

I can't admit it to anyone in real life. I hate withdrawal. I feel so on edge and down all the time, and part of me can't wait til next Wednesday for mum's prescription to come in, to have more. At the same time I'm going through withdrawal and I'm thinking what is the point in going through this only to have to go through it again, in the future. I want to join the police in the future and know that my cocodamol use will need to stop for this.

The fact that I feel so down without it scares me. I feel really depressed, and I don't know if it's a result of withdrawal or just not medicating. It's not right. I was a lot happier three years ago, and I have been through some stuff since then (not dramatic, unemployment, being assaulted, unemployment, bad family relationships). But surely I should be able to move on from that? I can't let on to anyone that I'm hurting inside, and I should be able to move on from that. I can't afford therapy.

Basically, I'm very confused, a bit scared and a lot fed up of going through withdrawal all over again. I would appreciate support if anyone has been through the same thing.

Morning madein1995

Hope you're feeling ok today

Lots of support here but please please please seek some professional help - be kind to yourself x

It may be dangerous for you to go pure cold turkey - with drink they advise you to cut down slowly.

I'd write a routine for today and fill your day. Even - bath at 7, tv or book the bed at 9. Put your head down on the pillow happy in the knowledge you've taken the first step.

Post its with affirming slogans are cheesy but help.

Remember you're doing this because how you're living currently isn't working for you. There's no point in repeating something that's making you unhappy and tuning your futur

fia having a plan about each day might help, at the moment I've got spare time so am finding it quite difficult. I'm having to go cold turkey at the moment because there's no tablets left (believe me, I've looked). It's getting better now - less on edge, still really down and not sleeping though - and I kind of think maybe the best thing is to not take them again when the prescription does come in - that's what I'll find the hardest.

just leaving this here and hoping that it doesn't seem too trite an offering when I was in pain with my back I listened to Thomas Hall and I've also listened to his overnight sessions for many other reasons. Confidence, Motivation. It's not magic but it definitely doesn't hinder.

Actually if you're not sleeping, try a ''fall asleep quickly'' session from Thomas Hall, or Sleep deeply.

Well done for recognising the problem please get some support your gp would really be a good source of help they won't look down on you it's a much more common problem than you would think.
My dh was addicted for about 3-4 years he refused to see he had a problem or it was causing him problems until we ended up blue lighting him to hospital due to a ruptured stomach ulcer as a result of the misuse of neurofen plus. He underwent surgery and spent 2 weeks in intensive care.
Our gp was fantastic as he obviously needed pain meds in the aftermath but the addiction needed handled as well - she put a great plan in place for him and it also means that his medical notes show his difficulties and when he broke his hand last year appropriate pain meds could be prescribed - no one wants him to go back to where he was - and it's for the long term management of the addiction I think professional help is needed for.

I kind of think maybe the best thing is to not take them again when the prescription does come in - that's what I'll find the hard

It would be better that the prescription is cancelled - is that an option?
I would suggest, as another poster has done, that you go to a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting - do you have one near you?
Large doses of paracetamol are not good for your stomach.

Does anyone know if this would damage the OPs dream of joining the police if notes are placed on her medical records? If so, what's the best way for her to avoid this while still getting support? I assume just by not telling the GP?

A risk of the px getting cancelled is that the OP feels so desperate that she ends up buying OTC co-codamol. It's far weaker, so more would need to be taken - so larger and more dangerous doses of paracetamol or ibuprophen. There are no simple or easy answers.

I was prescribed codeine for migraine. I got to a point where I was taking 120 mg a day. I went cold turkey. It took a month for the headaches and other withdrawal issues to subside and then, it felt empty afterwards. And of course whenever I was stressed I had to find a way to cope without the lovely spaced out feeling. It was awful. I still miss codeine now. I was unwell last year and agreed to take it, but Husband literally dispensed it to me, as I didn't want to get into taking it in an uncontrolled way. I'm sorry that you're in this place, but it is possible to get out of it. If you are able to do managed withdrawal, you can cut down by a third of whatever you take for the first week, and then another third and the third week and fourth week, take it alternate days before stopping at the end of the fourth week. Thinking of you as you find a way forward.

Op

You are using this drug as an emotional crutch. Best get yourself to a therapist in order to address your underlying anxieties.

You are very lucky in that you have some sort of control.

I’m not certain but I suspect that declaring an addiction may well affect your ability to get into the police. Some jobs ask you to declare things like this and ask for permission to access your medical records.

Boost yourself with vitamins, exercise and meditation.

Op you say in an earlier post that there is no way you can cancel the prescription.
Presumably you mean you cannot bring yourself to rather than because your dm needs it - you say your dm never takes it.
So if you can't bring yourself to cancel it obviously you are going to take it.
I'm sorry to sound harsh as I know opiate addiction is a horrible thing to be going through, but please try and get some help. Your problem won't go away until you do.

I got addicted to codiene after a # rib. Had the same symptoms as you when I just stopped. I reduced a tablet a day every few days until I stopped. I read that was the easiest way on the Internet and it worked for me.
Also codiene can cause codiene induced kidney disease. Know as CKD stage 1 ,2 or 3. The kidneys do not repair themselves when the cause is stopped like the liver so keep telling yourself you don't want scarred kidneys either.

What strength is the cocodamol I'm on 8/500?

Hi

The strength of the Co codamol is 30/500 so quite strong. I'm torn. I know i do need to stop but I am worried about things being put on my medical record - as pp have said, I worry it will affect my chances of joining police as I know your gp has to say you're fit to do the job, and addiction will harm that. If I go to a local service, would they have to put it on my medical records?. Embarrassment is a smaller factor, but I think it's going to be difficult to overcome.

I know it can't be doing much good for my insides, but there's a small devil on my shoulder saying I've been OK up to now which I know is daft, I'm just lucky enough not to have hurt myself.

You might not even be aware that your kidneys are damaged though!

As with all addictions you can get support etc but the onus really truly is on you to stop.

If you believe you have some control left then wise up and realise if you carry on you are on the road to hell. If you haven’t got your health you ain’t got nothing

Your mother must be aware - if she rarely takes them, then why would she be getting a monthly prescription of them, and where do you think she thinks they are disappearing to??

How many are you taking per day? If you're taking pairs of tablets more often than four hourly, or more than four doses (of 2 tablets) in 24 hours, then you are overdosing on paracetamol, and this will fuck up your liver. The codeine is not the problem here in terms of organ damage, the paracetamol is the problem, and people don't seem to realise how dangerous paracetamol is when taken above the recommended dosage.

You need help with your codeine dependency, too, for which you need to seek confidential advice. If you want to join the police force, you need to get a handle on this addiction first, and have much better coping strategies in place - policing is a very high stress job!

I don't mean to sound harsh about this, I'm just trying to give you a wake up call. You'll be fucking up your body by overdosing on paracetamol, and fucking up your mind by allowing an opiate addiction to get a hold of you.

If I go to a local service, would they have to put it on my medical records?

If you go to NA it won't go on any records as they don't keep records.

I would tell your gp.

They won't judge you and can help you get off it safely

Well done for reaching out. It's tough but so worth it. Whatever you do don't buy any over the net. You can beat this

I do need to get a handle on this. This week I'm working, and next week I'm on holiday (I'm aware this sounds like an excuse) but am off for a week when I get back before starting new jobs, and I'll start coming off it then.

Had a bit of a scare today. Prescription came in early, I took a few to have a nap, they didn't work so I took a few more. I know from experience I'm not in danger, just felt awful. Very spaced out, bad stomach, feeling sick etc. I feel a lot better now but not taking any tonight as I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Feeling v. sorry for myself, even though I know I've got myself to blame

You really do. My fiancé was taking 45 nurofen plus a day for 15+ years , and nearly caused himself kidney failure. It needs to stop now.

Hi OP, I'm a detox nurse and thought I may be able to give you some useful info (though I can't give any advice).

Codeine is very addictive, both physically and psychologically. It turns into morphine in the body hence giving you that nice warm fuzzy feeling.

Unfortunately any opioid/opiate addiction is hard to break because of physical withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings.

Physical withdrawal symptoms include things like:

• stomach cramps
• runny eyes/nose
• yawning
• joint aches
• sweating
• goosebumps
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• muscle jerking

This can be very subtle and difficult to distinguish from other things initially eg runny nose, sneezing, joint ache could also be a cold coming on.

Psychological withdrawals tend to be the following:
Low mood
Anxiety
Agitation
Insomnia
Intense cravings

How much codeine are you taking a day? And what happens when you don't take it for more than 8 hours?

fruit I take them before bed, and am generally ok during the day. My body expects it though I think. For eg, if I took some at midnight tonight, I would be ok tomorrow day time but by around 11pm ish I'd be looking for it. By the next morning I would be in full withdrawal mode. Physical symptoms are usually headache, restless legs, feeling sick, extremely tired. The hardest effect for me is the psychological - the physical isn't pleasant, but it's the feeling low that hits me the most.

I know that the amount I take is wrong. I never go over the 8 tablets in 24 hour rule - but usually take 5 tablets at a time, which I know isn't ideal.

To be honest it's more the paracetamol that's the issue in terms of renal function. This is why most GPS tend to prescribe codeine seperately - it's known to be a highly addicted and abused drug.

240mg codeine a day isn't a massive amount of opioids and I suspect that's why your physical withdrawal symptoms are delayed. However I'm sure you're aware that your tolerance is increasing over time and you will end up needing more and more?

In terms of treatment options that are completely confidential, have you been to see NA or SMART recovery?

Really really well done on recognising this isnt good for you. As your main problem is the psychological side - are there any local sessions for stress/anxiety/depression?

These can help you understand more about low mood, if you google five ways to well being they have some great ideas. Even something like a daily walk somewhere open and green can help get a sense of balance.