Codiene withdrawal

[Leoni2020]

Hi, strugglng to find somebody to talk to regarding codiene addiction, withdrawals.
I have been on them nearly 7 years after I had a spine problem, doc left it on repeat all this time no questions asked, know it's my own fault but I genuinely had no idea how addictive they were for quite a while as they were just some tablets my doc was giving me for my pain.... until I didnt take any for a few days and felt absolutely horrendous... looked into it further then realised I was dependent/addicted.
I dont drink alcohol or take any other drug, just codeine. I am a caring high functioning mum of 2 who gives my children the best childhood.... as mine was awful but that's a different subject.
Long story short, within the last 7 years I have attempted to go cold Turkey twice, got through the unpleasant withdrawals, all was fine after.... then comes the mental struggle.
Anxious, crying, cravings, on edge, feeling hopeless, emotionless etc, so unfortunately I started taking them again, taking more and more as time went on.
I made another attempt latt week, today is my 7th day without and it wasnt as bad but for some reason, i have woken up today with the usual withdrawal feelings.... it's usually subsided by day 7, not starting.
I feel absolutely horrendous and can barely move my limbs.

I dont have anybody to talk to who has/is going through this and dont want to bore the couple of friends/ family about it again, not as it's my 3rd attempt.
Can somebody please tell me when all of it subsides, know it varies from person to person but if this mental struggle is for a long time, I dont think I can do it.
I dont want to take them but ild be able to function better on them if this is how it feels for months/years on end.

Iv been thinking of everyone on heres advice and encouragement today and it really has helped me, I know none of you but every single one, I'm real grateful, just hearing your own stories too makes me feel it's not just me, iv never ever met a codeine dependent person in my life so iv always thought I was odd. ( 7 years ago I thought painkillers was a 50p box of paracetamol you brought from the shop)
Being clear headed I can see it's my childhood issues that's kept me on them, I'll work on it.
Thanks everyone. Xxxx

I wonder if kalms would help you through they are herbal and are helping me through the menopause but check with the pharmacist first. X
Good Luck X

Great to hear your update. I honestly think the mental cravings don’t ever go away. Long after the physical cravings have passed. But you need to dig deep if you possibly can. This thread will be here to support you if you need it!! And you are always welcome to PM. My road to recovery hasn’t always been an easy one but I’m most definitely in a better position than I was a year ago and you are well on the up too.

Yes that's what worries me. I'm determined not to take any ever again though, it helps this time that iv realised I still got depression and mood swings whilst on them, they only covered it up for a couple of hours so I may as well just be like that codeine free!!
Am feeling different and better in myself. They're entering my head only on certain occasions, triggers are when my boys argu, school run, evenings and when I look at my kitchen window where they always were.
Slept fantastic last night, no restless legs thank God, that is horrendous.

Really impressed with how well you have done you should be proud, especially still having mental cravings. Will try kalms thanks.
I will keep posting ad this really helps me.
Thankyou.

Oh dear..... just got home from the school run and feeling very agitated and cravings.
Feel like I need something I dont feel right, heart palpitations and nervousness.
Will this last long, lasted 7 weeks last time I did it and it didnt go away within that time until I started again, how bloody depressing is this.

Hi op. I’m an alcoholic so have a different addiction to you but I also used to tags coedine with the drinking, I’ve been clean and sober almost 6 months now. For me that uneasy feeling has anxiety is still there now on some days but I am in AA which helps me enormously and I also recognise that it took me years to become an addict, it didn’t happen overnight and I won’t get better overnight either. It’s going to take time. The crushing anxiety is awful, not to mention the dodgy tummy and sweats shakes. It took about 3 weeks for my physical symptoms to go. I have to say though buying drugs off you’d neighbour isn’t going to help you, Valium and diazepam are both addictive and I think some of the effects you’re feeling today could be related to having “used” again last night. I think you may need to just ride this out without buying drugs from a neighbour. Good luck, I really do feel for you.

leoni2020 could you give your GP another go? Maybe ask to see a different doctor? I know a friend of mine was prescribed beta blockers as she was having anxiety attacks after getting clean.

If not, try a camomile tea/ going for a long walk if possible/ anything to take your mind off it but still feel like you’re physically doing something about it.

Thankyou, yes I see what you mean, they're all mood altering I just took the valium to get me through the withdrawals but now they're gone I wont take anymore, I dont particularly even like valium anyway it was just to help.
That's amazing what you've done with both codiene and alcohol that must have been super hard.

I have that anxiety now its driving me mad, minds racing and hearts beating fast, cant breath too easy either.
Iv just tried to have a tidy up in the kitchen and just seen a pack of zapain with 2 tabs in, split second and I was going to take them but I really cant so have just flushed them down the toilet, if I took them then ild feel normal ( well my "normal" at least)
But what would be the point , I know ild regret it after and affect would wear off after an hour.
Good for you for what you've done.
I hear people on here saying theyve done 6 months, a year etc and iv only ever managed 7 weeks last year, and clearly looking like it could be less this time because I cannot mentally handle this crippling nervous, on edge feeling.

I'm tinkering on going cold turkey. I abuse the medication I bet for my health and that medication is oxycodone liquid and pregablin I even get more pills from others such as zomorph so I don't go into withdrawals when I inevitably run out of my meds.

I can't stop taking it tho as I need it and can't walk without it but I bloody need to stop abusing it. I can sometimes take 10times the dose I am should take and I am on a bigger dose than most.

Sorry about the rambling post. But I am addicted to oxycodone and pre-gablin and it's scary.

Hi OP, sorry you're going through this and I completely understand.

A few years back I was addicted to Tramadol. Came off and went back on it several times over a period of a couple yrs. started buying it online when doctor refused to prescribe more (spent a fortune). Absolutely loved the stuff, I had endless amounts of energy, a cheery disposition and I was the slimmest I've ever been and looked amazing. None of it was authentic though.

Finally came off it for good cold turkey and had the most horrendous withdrawals, that lasted a couple of weeks. It's concerning that you still feel this bad weeks down the line but I'd say this is probably more the mental addiction now. Life is hard, stressful, work pressures, kids fighting, relationship issues so it's no wonder that a lot of people look for a crutch in challenging times.

I've found magnesium is good for anxiety. You can buy powdered stuff off amazon, mix it with water. It might help.

I've not touched a Tramadol since. Ironically I am prescribed Zapain for fibromyalgia but I only ever take two per day compared with 10-12 Tramadol I was taking and never waver from that. My prescription lasts me 6-8 weeks so the doctor is satisfied I'm not abusing it. On less painful days I take OTC stuff. The big difference is that I'm no longer taking it to get high, there is no high anymore as such a low dose but it really does control my pain well, so I feel somewhat justified in taking it? But I'm always very aware that it could spiral so I have to be extremely strict with myself.

I really hope you see an improvement soon because it's an awful way to live

Buggereditupagain....
Sorry I didn't even see your post from earlier.

Did she, are beta blockers anti depressants?
I cant really go to a different doc even because I'll have to explain how iv managed to get hold of them since last year, also they will either just tell me to taper down which I cant do or send me to a drugs place again.
Iv been prescribed anti depressants loads of times as they dish them out like sweeties, but they turn me into a zombie.
I actually got diagnosed with EUPD 3 years ago (emotionally unstable personality disorder) it sounds worse than it is but my councillor said it's from my childhood, and that I have extremely unhealthy thinking patterns.
Nothing bad or anything just over think a lot and crippling anxiety.
Funny really because it started when I had my eldest son 5 years ago, something happened to my nerves once I had him, over protective, over compensating, worrying excessively etc.
Trying to do the exact opposite from my own usless mother and exhausted my brain maybe.
I know I use them to help all the worrying, they make me feel content and calm.
If only anti depressants did the same.
Doesnt help that I feel so bloody lonely all the time, family dont bother, never go out because I cant leave the boys with anyone in case something bad happens.
Sorry for the whining I'm just in a sulky mood that I cant have what I want, fed up.
Promised myself at the start of lockdown ild stop when it was over now looking at another one. Great.

You’re doing so well op. Flushing those tablets takes real strength. How would you feel about attending an NA (narcotics anonymous) online? I got sober at the start of lockdown so all the meetings I’ve done have been online but the support has been amazing and got me through those awful first few weeks. It’s just really helpful to speak to others who know what you’re going through xx

Madcow88...
Hi, if your in pain then you kind of need it but I know what you mean to take over the recommended amount.
Do you take too much for the feeling it gives you or because it's not getting to your pain?
I'm not sure what your meds are but sounds hard. Please be careful though, try your hardest to take only the right dosage, I dont need to tell you what COULD happen but it sounds risky.

Sharethegoodtimes....

Tramadol hey, I absolutely love them, more than codeine to be honest.
Well done for kicking it, iv heard tramadol is even harder to kick then codeine.

It's amazing that you can take codeine sensibly after having a tramodel addiction, if that were me ild have another addiction as both opiates.

Yes codeine did t same for me mostly , made me more cheerful, more able to get through this crap life.
I agree most people need a vice.... smoking, drinking, drugs, sex addict, binge eating etc, not the easiest of things to get through living sometimes just a shame that everything that's bad for us is nice!

Prettybubblesintheair....
Thankyou although now I wish I didnt. Had enough.
I tried an online thing the other day, called the number but put the phone down incase the person thought I was boring them.

I only wish talking to someone would help but iv never found it easy to ask anyone for anything, not sure why.
Well done for coming so far, keep it up.

I promise you you won’t have been boring them but I know how you feel, once you get it in your head that you’re not worth people’s time it’s really hard to ask for help. For the first couple of weeks in A.A. I just listened until I felt ok to share, the alcohol had numbed everything so much that living life without that anaesthetic was incredibly painful and raw at first but it does get better. If you could maybe just sit in a zoom NA meeting and listen it might help, you can keep your camera off and stay on mute so all you do is listen and see if it helps. Newcomers are so valued and welcomed and really do help everyone. You’re doing really well x

Thankyou I may give it a go. I'm getting worse by the hour, cant stop crying its hurting my chest, thinking of the future being this clear headed and low, I cant get low because I have children Iv put myself in a no win situation it's my own fault.
Think I'm starting to convince myself I'm better on them, mind playing tricks and it's working.
Like you say its numbing something inside, what exactly I cant work out.
You sound like your doing great, that's really good.
I'm clearly weak because if I found some in the house now ild take them In a heartbeat.
Ridiculous.

Op it’s not your fault.
Nobody knows why some people get addicted to opiates (or alcohol or gambling) and some don’t.
You are obviously having a really rotten time and I’m sorry. It’s even harder when you have to put on a brave face for the children.
I would echo the suggestions of other posters and suggest you go to an NA meeting.

Thankyou southwestern....

YesI do feel worse at the minute when the children are home from school, a bit irritated, not with them though just in general.
Trying to prepare roast beef for dinner but no energy or enthusiasm... I usually love cooking and baking but no pleasure in a thing. Iv just ignored calls from my best friend and brother because I cant face chatting either.
I will try na meetings just feel odd doing it.
Thankyou

You are not weak! You’re addicted, it’s something you’re powerless over so please don’t be so hard on yourself. Just take it hour by hour, every 15 minutes without anything is a victory. If you can get to an NA zoom meeting I promise it’ll help xx

Thankyou.
Been 9 days now and I'm fed up and miserable around my family. Trying to appear upbeat but not doing a good job.
Thanks for your post

Why don't you cut down gradually rather than going cold turkey? I'm sure that would be better.

Iv tried doing that and fail every time, the doses go up and up.
I wish I could do that though as surely the mental side would be more gradual rather than the abrupt change in my brain.... the physical withdrawals are awful but easy in conparisen to the mental affects, last longer too, way way longer.
Really not doing too well and I cant be like this for months on end.
I prob should have tried to taper down again but I thought I could do it this way this time

Hi OP did you say it was Zapain you used to take daily or codeine alone? Sorry for being dim! It's just that if you were taking 16 Zapain a day wouldn't that be 8g of paracetamol? Apologies if it's obvious I'm knackered and might have missed something! Either way you've done brilliant to get so far. I'm a recovering alcoholic and it's hard work at times but the benefits outweigh any short term relief from drugs/alcohol

Hiya yes zapain 30/ 500 paracetamol.... too much paracetamol isnt it.
7 years , God knows what state my insides are, I'm pasty, weak and they took my appetite away so quite thin. Been eating loads since I stopped though so that's good.
How long have you been in recovery from alcohol?
Funny that I drank like a fish socially before I had my children, tried a few illegal drugs in my teens etc but never got addicted to anything apart from codiene.