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.

Always get a great nights sleep with co codamol. I have arthritis in my spine and I feel this drug relaxes me . However common sense tells me I can only use it now and again so I don't get addicted or constipated .

Sounds like you are going into withdrawals OP. How are you this morning?

OP you poor thing, I really do feel for you. Are you abroad? How long until you get back? How old are you? Thinking of you x

I would say get thru the holiday as you have to and back home, seek help even with the agency you applied to work for in the past, they shouldnt discrimate against you and should be understanding of your insight into your addiction.

Hello im @smurfy and im an MN addict

Im not mincing my words here. I spent time working as a healthcare student in a detox and rehabilitation centre in the area where people spent the first week to 10 days, this area was unofficially known as "Hell" - it was.

I helped ladies and men try and eat drink while the cramps, sweats, pain contorted their bodies and they had severe d&v they were given medications as they were needed depending on what the dr and patient agreed with nurse, there had to be 4 for the agreement so that the patient didnt feel pressured or coerced.

"Hell" was withdrawal central, the persons only task during their time there was to rest, dont fight their bodies on this. Some chatted a bit, some didnt,

There wasnt just straight withdrawal there was stepped down Wd as well where the person stepped down from substance they were abusing to supervised swallow of methadone.

As soon as people graduated from hell to the "life college", these were large dorms for people to sleep in, like a Nightingale ward. This meant many people could be watched at the same time and potential problems spotted and start looking at solutions with the person in their personal counselling session within the following 72 hours.

Longer lasting WD symptoms were easy to see on the dorm which is where the college bit came from and as it was realised over time that a lot of people had no basic life skills and so as support workers we ended up teaching all sort of skills which were useful for life - hence the moniker "life college" which was definitely an upgrade from hell.

There was another tier for longer term / returners / of no fixed abode who after they had spent time in "life college" would be moved to side rooms so they had a bit of privacy but still had to meet certain requirements and so we had 3 different codes 1 for each category, all complimentary.

The only one that wasnt was "hell" because we couldn't sugarcoat that.

Everyone had to attend meeting at 9am in the green room every morning except those in hell, where people were then split off into groups and went off to have their first ........ Anon type meeting of the day.
They had a personal counselling session with allocated person every couple of days as well.When they had a weeks notice they were leaving they got help to sort out their arrangments, jobs, benefits, transport, accommodation, contacts as needed

OP you are thinking why is @smurfy telling me all that, the reason is with support medically, psychologically, socially, emotionally and physically it will be a lot easier to give up the codiene but in the end its down to you making the final push

Best wishes

I finally got off to sleep and a lot better today. Think the change of environment made it difficult to sleep even though I took tablets. Bought a soft pillow this morning so that should help me. Thank you for your support and help, I really appreciate it

OP, just wanted to wish you well with the withdrawal. It sounds like you really want to stop which is half the battle. I hope you feel able to get some real life support too, especially if you find you're not sticking to your withdrawal plan.

I knew you were Welsh... this gave you away:
The bag was open (didn't stick down tidy)

OP, for unknown reasons the same dose of drugs can have completely different impacts in different surroundings. From your description it certainly sounded like you were a bit agitated, uncomfortable, and insomnia is a dead give away.

Have you managed to contact NA yet? That will address the bits smurphy refer to x

It’s great to see how much support there is here. I really hope you can regain some control of this

As others have mentioned, you cannot underestimate the damage that paracetamol overdose can do. The codeine element is causing you no end of trouble, but it’s the paracetamol that will do the damage. You really need to talk to a HCP about this.

Having 5 co-codamol at once is taking 2.5g of paracetamol in one go.This WILL have a long term affect your liver, if taking regularly.
The reason co-codamol is prescribed instead of codejne on its own, is that most seasoned addicts know it’s dangerous to use co-codamol in higher doses, as it fucks your liver. That’s why you can’t buy the equivalent dose of codejne on its own - the paracetamol is there in part to limit abuse.
You’re kidding yourself if you think you can keep doing this and get away with it.

Why are you so afraid of not being able to sleep? Have you always had sleep issues? What’s your job?

You need to stop this ASAP. Certainly don’t take more than 2 at a time.

It’s a slippery slope. If your not getting the same high from 5, how quickly before you’re on 10? 10 cocodamols has 5g in. Deaths have been reported at 7g. That’s IMMEDIATE death, not death from liver failure in the long term. If you’re smaller and lower body weight, you’re more at risk.

Just stop taking them today

*5g of paracetamol

smurfy that's very interesting, especially the bit about adapting to life after drugs.

Thank you frankly I'm in Cornwall (so peaceful setting) and am 23 (turned last week)

Namey that's scared me, partly because in the past I was on 10 a night (not trying anything, 'just' got accostomed to dose) and the thought that I could have died is scary.

New pillows bought so hoping for a peaceful ish night tonight. Might still take 2 tablets but not going to take too many that I'm not well (think that was part of the issue last night)

Just stop taking them today

If it was that easy my role would not be needed...

Paracetamol and codeine are prescribed as a combined tablet because paracetamol forms the basis of all analgesic plans. Even severe pain being treated with opioids will have a painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen used in combination. And you can get codeine on it’s own in the same doses, on prescription of course. I don’t agree about drug users knowing it’s more toxic

Unfortunately though, the toxicity of paracetamol is severely underestimated. Probably because it’s available so widely and easily. A staggered overdose, taking a few too many over a long time, may never give you any symptoms until it’s too late.

At the very least, please see a doctor who can check your bloods and organise some help for you.

I’m on very high doses of morphine, have been for many years. Withdrawal is awful, but can be managed.

You can’t safely take 2500mg of paracetamol at a time regularly and remain well. That’s incredibly dangerous.

You need to reduce gradually. I cut my morphine dose by 90% when I was pregnant with minimal withdrawal, the main difficulty was that I was still in the same amount of pain - you don’t have that problem.

Just stop taking them today

Well if it was that easy my role wouldn’t be needed....

Well obviously it’s not easy, but what else would you suggest? Keep taking 10 cocodamol at a time because it’s hard not to?

Namey - I think some posters have suggested the op goes to NA or similar.
It is possible to get off opiates and stay off them but the addict has to really want to.

It's not a straightforward stop and saying, for example, you will never touch a painkiller again and even getting thru the WD by yourself with no support, leaves you in a very vulnerable place mentally and physically as at the moment you least expect it, it can bite you on the bum literally.

For example you would like to enter the police, lets say you have escaped and you haven't done any damage to your body as it is (bloods, liver, kidneys etc) all well, the stress is building up you gain an injury during training (this can happen), you are given codeine for pain by a dr who doesn't know your past, that one dose can trigger and undo all the work you have done to get yourself there if you aren't careful.

That's just the physical side, the psychological effects can be with you for a lifetime, the cravings will sit in the background and each time you have pain, it will be "the answer", it's not. It's trying to get the high/relaxed feeling. It will come to wanting more and more and possibly going up the analgesic ladder and then right down again as you hit rock bottom.

There is support there, yes it will be hard if you are prepared to stop then things need to change, you need to be the one making the changes because if you arent 100% invested in it, it's pointless.

Support from physical, emotional, psychological, medically, socially and as some of the clients I remember saying to us that we were fantastic, the answer was "its 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration"

In the years since I was there, they have now taken on EbE (Experts by Experience) team of 15 people who have literally been to hell and back, walked the path and maintained sobriety for a number of years with a support system around them who now are able to help and support others as they were themselves.

When it comes to Anon meetings they open them, then throw it to the group but their real expertise in all the different skill sets they bring in and are passing onto the clients to help pass the day and promote new interests outside of the addiction.

Hey op,just checking in to see how you are?

I'm ok thanks bexter. Had an ok night sleep, think it's a new bed throwing me off. I know someone upthread asked if I have sleep issues - I don't (or didn't) - but if I don't have sleep I'm awful the next day. If I take not enough, or too many, tablets, my sleep is affected something terrible and I'm awful the next day. Kind of burying my hand in the sand for the week and planning on dealing with things when I'm home.

namey, fruit, smurphy and everyone else (far too many to name) thank you for your advice and kind words. I'm aware something needs to change - it's not practical for this to carry on indefinitely. I don't want it to either. There are nights when I overestimate my tolerance, and the feeling sick and the nightmares are hell. Likewise, going through withdrawals is horrible, and I hate the side effects like constipation. I've got a week when I get home off holiday before I start my new job and I plan to wean myself off them then. I'm not sure whether to go cold turkey or staggered weaning. The second would be kinder, but the first over quicker. The first would be awful physically, but especially mentally.

I'm not sure but could your sleep be effected because your feeling anxious over the thought of coming off tablets? I know cold turkey isn't advised,but I personally done it,because I felt weaning just wasn't working(I'd just end up back to square 1),but it's not to say that's not What's right for you. Only you truly know what's going to work for you....

Good luck OP, thinking of you x

Well obviously it’s not easy, but what else would you suggest? Keep taking 10 cocodamol at a time because it’s hard not to?
*

I'm pretty sure I didn't suggest that. What I normally suggest to my patients a planned phased reduction, particularly as withdrawal is too quick and opiate tolerence is low opiate overdose could = death, because it surprises your breathing. I would NEVER make anyone go cold turkey unless they want to because a) it sucks b) it's horrible and c) rarely works at achieving long term abstinence. But what would I know? I'm only a detox nurse 🙄

OP I can't advise you on how to detox, but I can tell you how I generally detox my patients...

1. cold turkey. Horrible (as you know), but worst of withdrawals is over in 72 hours for short acting opiates. However if relapse occurs the risk of overdose is high due to rapid reduction in tolerence. I only really offer this to people that have volunteered to go on naltrexone afterwards.

2. rapid reduction. Drop by 10% dose every 48 hours. Still a bit painful, but more tolerable than option 1. I only do this with people that are linked in with NA and have a good support network.

3. slow reduction, drop by 10%, wait for withdrawals to subside, drop by another 10% etc.

The only advise I can give you is it is far better for your kidneys to reduce to 2 cocodamol with 4 hourly intervals between doses as quick as you can. Even if you have to remain on 2 cocodamol 4 times a day that will preserve your current kidney function. Taking 10 paracetamol in one go regularly is going to be hitting your kidneys extremely hard x

fruit number 3 seems the best option for me. I would go for number 1 but it's very hard physically as well as mentally. Mentally I need to be on top of my game on the 30th April (new job start date) so perhaps number 3 would be best as minimal disruption/shit to deal with.

Can you help me though, as someone who is awful at maths? You say drop by 10%, wait a bit, carry on etc. I'm currently taking 6 or 7 tablets a night , so how many at a time would that be cutting out at a time?

10% of 6 tablets is 0.6 but obviously that doesn't work, so I guess it's about rounding it up to 1 tablet or down to half. But I really can't say much more on here as I can't be seen to be giving medical advice. X