Codeine addiction

[Gratitude77]

Hi
I'm so ashamed to admit this but for 7 months now I've been taking very high doses of otc codeine daily. To cut a very long story short, I've had enough and tomorrow I'm stopping altogether. I'm scared about any side effects and if anyone else has been in this situation I wonder if you could offer any advice. I've previously tried stopping but felt so awful I started taking the tablets again after 3 days. I just need some support I guess as nobody in my life knows about this. I've kept it so well hidden.

I'm sorry you're going through this, it must be really tough, but well done for recognising the problem - that's the first step!! 🙌

Hi op, please seek support via your drug and alcohol support service.
They can help you reduce your usage slowly and safely without the withdrawals which can be horrendous.

There will be no judgement and they will give you counselling support alongside medical support.

The success of your recovery will be far greater if you have support.

I think you need some advice on how to stop this carefully or you might just bounce back.
Can you make a plan to slowly reduce the amount you take?
I had to wean off prescribed morphine and did it with the help of my dr over 6 months. It was a reasonably high dose though.
How much are you taking each day? Say it’s 6 tablets aim to cut down to 5 for a week, then 4 for a week etc. It is the last bit that can be hard.

Have a look at this document. On page 6 it recommends reducing the amount by 10% per week. There are some other resources linked in it too.
www.ouh.nhs.uk/services/referrals/pain/documents/gp-guidance-opioid-reduction.pdf

OP I would echo getting GP support but I do know with this sort of thing it's wise to taper-off gradually.

My ex sister-in-law who I'm still very close to became addicted to an OTC codeine painkiller. It reached extreme levels before she even admitted to anyone. She sought help and had to very gradually reduce the amount, and combined with CBT.

I wish you luck.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It's extremely kind of you all. There are several reasons why I have chosen now to stop and not taper down. The most important one is that last time i tried, I was on my own with my young child and couldn't spend the time in bed getting through the side effects. This time, I currently have my grown up daughter at home for 3 months who is able to help with childcare. Unfortunately I cannot confide in her or my elderly parents as they would be disgusted in me. I have also tried tapering in the past but knowing the tablets were in the house was just too much temptation. Financially, I'm already overdrawn due to buying several packs a week and mentally I just cannot go on with this secret and knowing that one day I may accidentally overdose. I want to be a mum to by child, a proper one not a pill dependant one.From the information I can find, it seems that the worst of the effects last for 4 to 5 days which I can do and will do. I want to be held accountable which I guess is part of the reason I posted here. Many thanks again for your replies, I have read every one and I will carry on posting day by day with how I'm doing.

Good luck OP, what sort of dosage are you on atm?

Let your GP know what you are doing.

If you’re not going to confide in family, then please at least let your GP know that you’re doing this. If you experience any bad side effects and need to be hospitalised for example, nobody will know why you’re so ill.

It really isn’t anything to be ashamed of.

Plenty of people have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or cigarettes and this is a very similar thing - something readily available to buy without prescription that makes you feel better. It’s not uncommon I’m sure.

Good luck with getting off them. You can do this

I understand the temptation thing of they are in the house.

If you are adamant in doing it this way maybe do some research as to how you are going to feel so nothing is a surprise.

Buy some nice things to drink if you feel shitty, get rehydration salts too. May sound daft but download an audiobook to focus on if you’re feeling shit and can’t sleep, get yourself prepared for some rocky days because they are unavoidable if you’re doing it this way. But they will pass and ultimately you will be proud of yourself for doing this.

That said if it’s hard and you cave you pick yourself up and try again. You got this.

I’ve also found this document that drs use to calculate the scale of withdrawal. Might just be a helpful tool for you to monitor your progress day to day? Might also be a motivator to look back on once you’re out the other side.
www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/ClinicalOpiateWithdrawalScale.pdf

I could have wrote this myself. I know myself I’m addicted to this. I buy nurofen plus or codeine and ibuprofen. I go to different chemists to buy. I have been barred from the local boots. I’m very ashamed especially the money I spend. No one knows. I don’t want to go to the doctors in case social services gets involved. I have a decent job, new car, lovely house. So it can happen to anyone. My health is started to suffer, my mouth is full of ulcers, I’m badly anemic. On iron tablets now. I’m desperate to get off them

The dr won’t contact social services, they will take you seriously and will help. It is really hard to start that first conversation.

I had a major op and became dependant after. I know it’s not easy to stop. I hated my dr for pushing me to get off morphine, I didn’t want to at first and it caused me a lot of anxiety, I was really scared of life without pain pills. If she hadn’t been so good and supportive and pushed me I wouldn’t have come off it so successfully. I didn’t tell my family how mentally dependant I was on the meds, they just think it was a physical addiction.

Shopkinsdoll I don’t want to worry you but after reading your post I must share my experience,
My son had a chronic nurofen plus addiction. His skin turned white, had chronic stomach pains and after a couple of months he collapsed. He was admittted to hospital and was so chronically anemic he needed two blood transfusions. After weeks in hospital, his bowel was so badly damaged he had a small section removed. Ibuprofen rots your gut and if left, will start damaging your intestines. His stomach was also covered in ulcers. In time the stomach and intestines will heal but it can trigger almost an autoimmune response, much like chrohns.
My advice would be to find help asap, if you have stomach ulcers these can rupture at any time. You really can’t afford to wait to seek help.

Hi shopkins
It's ok. I understand. I stopped taking them on tuesday pm. I spent all day yesterday, night, and this morning sleeping. I got up at 2pm and started having hot sweats and was very shaky. I forced myself to have an energy drink and a few handfuls of sweet popcorn to get my sugar levels up. I managed a shaky bath and forced myself to stay awake. Over the past few hours have improved. I'm still a bit sweaty and shaky but have managed to stay awake and to do some light housework. I'm hoping the worst of it's over. My daughter is still having to look after my little one but I'm getting through. Shopkins, that's why I've not been to the doctors. I'm scared. That's why I'm doing this myself . I was on 27 a day. How many are you taking? X

You aren’t alone, op.
I appreciate that there aren’t actual NA meetings at the moment but there are Zoom meetings.
Google NA (narcotics anonymous) and you find. Help, support and identification.
A friend of mine who got addicted to Tramadol which she was prescribe after an operation said that the withdrawals were extremely unpleasant but remembering them made it easier not to start again as she couldn’t face going through that again.
Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you. I'll have a look online. I can't go through this again as I need to be there for my little one . He has quite a few developmental issues and his lack of speech ( he has a very limited vocabulary and his words are very unclear to anyone but me). He has major tantrums and last night threw a cup at my daughter plus scratched her and then locked himself in the bathroom after trying to get out of the front door. I'm the only one who can calm him. I need to remember these withdrawal symptoms and never be unable to care for him again. Shopkins, I don't know how to send you a personal message but when feeling better will do my best to find out. I wont judge or tell you what to do. I can just be there for you if you need it. I think the problems with my little one are how I ended up getting myself addicted. I have no support. But maybe that's just an excuse as to why I took them. I don't know.

Gratitude it’s not your fault, it’s just one of those things.
Lots of people take strong painkillers after say, an operation, for long enough to get addicted and some get addicted and some don’t.
Most people can drink normally but some people become alcoholics.

I don’t think anyone knows why though I think addiction can be hereditary- it certainly seems to run in some families.

Well day 3 and feeling quite shaky and weak but trying to get on with small tasks around the house. Still getting hot sweats but better today. Can't wait for this to be over.

You are doing brilliantly, I’m so impressed. Keep checking in, it’s horrible but you’re probably through the worst now.

Well done you're doing brilliantly!

You are amazing 💐

Well done OP, you are stronger than you think .

How are you doing today? Are things easing up? You are very young and have your whole life ahead of you, well done for getting to grips with this - addiction is a horrible illness and can happen to anyone. Anyone. You deserve great credit for wanting to be fully involved with your son 💐this is such a good goal. But remember that you need to repair your own self esteem, and learn to like yourself again. The only failure is not standing up again after a fall, and you are gritty and desperate to get well. Brilliant. Keep trying and you will get there.

Don’t forget you can also access Cocaine Anonymous, they are very inclusive and wonderfully supportive. My husband (an alcoholic) was addicted to codeine after being prescribed cocodamol for a bowel condition. Like you he was buying it otc and was banned from numerous pharmacies, spending hours driving round to source his supply. He was on three whole packs a day by the end. Obviously the paracetamol would’ve killed him but he’d found a way to remove it. He was taking it to stop the withdrawals at the end. Seven and a half years. Grim. Eventually he did decide to engage with services but that’s a story for another day.
He ended up in intensive care for a week and then four weeks in rehab. He has just had two years clean and sober. The first time since he was 17. He will be 74 next month and has given himself several health problems, including a stroke and brain damage. But he survived and is very humble and tries to help others. And he is, I’m sure just like you, a lovely person who made some mistakes. All the best and please let us know how you are doing. Big hugs xx

Hey OP, I just wrote the same post as you. It’s day 1 for me. Good luck.