Iv decided I need to stop and come off codeine. Is it better to cut down or just stop for all the brave people who have been through this?

[Emz2019]

Iv been taking codeine for well over 1 year now. It started off 6-8 a day as perscribed by my GP, but now it’s more like 20 a day, when I run out for my gp I but solphadine max and nurofen plus and mix the two, I’m not proud of myself and I know I need to stop as this cent for on. I usually take 4 codeine at a time which was working fine, they are 30mg each. But Iv since been taking 4 then another 4 just for 1 week now and even taking 8 isn’t giving me an effect so Iv plucked up the courage to stop.

Iv noticed I do get very poorly very quickly without codeine, at first my nose runs, I get shivers and sweats, a head ache, can’t sleep, this is all in the first 12-24 hours; after this I vomit repeatedly, that’s as far as Iv ever got and I then take codeine to make it all go away. But I feel ready this time to just be back to ky normal self and live my life without needing medicine to make me feel normal as that’s what it’s become. I can’t function without them. I do need some support

Do you think you could face talking to your GP? They could probably give you a sensible strategy.

Yes please try and get some professional support as it won’t be easy (I’m sure you know that though)

At that dosage and duration you will absolutely get withdrawal symptoms, physical as well as psychological

Don’t stop completely (it won’t harm you but will be incredibly difficult) instead try to reduce gradually over 10-14 days (maybe longer)

Good luck and well done for making the decision to stop

Speak to your GP.

Your body needs time to re-adjust to not having the medication in your system anymore. A carefully planned tapering allows it to do so.

Stopping any medication suddenly can cause problems as the body will have changed how it functions, hormone levels etc etc in response to the medication. That's why you get cessation symptoms from a variety of prescribed drugs - and why you had to keep upping the dose to get the same affect as your body was adjusting to having the medication.

It is safer and you are more likely to succeed if it is a supported, planned approach rather than just making yourself ill on your own.

Never go cold turkey speak to your gp if you can it needs careful monitoring

Also, I don't think you should feel shame about this. It's not helpful and will just make life harder. Don't beat yourself up.

Sorry if stating the obvious but sounds like you have acquired some tolerance to opiates so you're getting withdrawals when you're reducing your dose. As pp says i don't think they are dangerous but very unpleasant and there is medical help out there for this. Advice here www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/
Your GP will have seen it all before. Good luck.

Thank you all. I had 6 codeine yesterday morning and they were there last ones from my last packet. My new ones are not due until Tuesday from my gp. I bought a packet of sleeping pillls from my pharmacy so I could at least get some sleep last night, Iv slept fairly well, but woken up absolutely soaking with sweat that won’t go away, I’m too scared and embarrassed to tell my gp the extent of my codeine use as I have kids and I worry that she will refer me to social services, even though I only take codeine to make me feel normal and take away unpleasant symptoms.
The hard part is I’m waiting for a procedure done at the hospital which is why my codeine is on repeat anyways, the pains I get are not constant but fairy frequent through out the day. But of course I was taking codeine as a pain killer and nothing more, at the time I was on them 2 weeks solid for a gallbladder infection, when i tried to stop just after 2 weeks things were already too far gone, this was December 2019, ever since my gp hands over 4 packets every 2 weeks. Also my gp is closed over the weekend and won’t reopen until Monday 8:30, and I think perhaps by then I’ll be very far into the withdrawal and possibly heading out the other end ?

Surely youre better to cut down gradually?
Opiates are physically addictive, so going cold turkey is setting yourself up to fail. I think you need support and a strategy to come off.
Is the issue that you were taking them for resolved?

Cut down gradually op. Start by reducing by 1 pill and if you can do that comfortably reduce by one more. When you start to get withdrawal symptoms, stick at that amount for around a week then reduce again.

Expect fatigue, cold/flu symptoms, muscle pain, stomach cramps but if you're reducing gradually they won't be unbearable.

Hi, it sounds like you have developed an opiate dependence and you might need support to manage and overcome this. Can you do quick Google for Substance use/drug addiction services locally? There should be a few options, both NHS and non statutory and they will tell you how to refer. They will help you come up with a plan to reduce, and might arrange a reducing prescription for you. If you have any underlying issues tht you would benefit from support with they can look at these too. For example past trauma is very common in people who become dependent on opiates.
Please don't be ashamed - dependence happens quickly and easily and to lots of people. And it doesn't mean your children are at risk or you're not a good mum.

My gallbladder was removed, so I did initially cut down last year and was taking 4 tablets at bed time, I was so proud of my self ! Then I had what felt like a gallbladder attack, I knew it wasn’t because my gallbladder was gone, I was taken into the hospital in sever pain worse than child birth, they found I still have stones left over that either my body made new stones after my gallbladder removal or they just were missed and hiding in the liver ducts. I don’t get sever pains all of the time it’s rare for that to happen, but I get other pains multiple times a day because of just where the stones are sitting I guess I my ducts, it’s only when the stone moves and becomes trapped but to be honest no pain killer would solve that pain. So I’m still waiting to go to into the hospital to have these stoles removed from my ducts. But I believe I could manage the daily pains with regularly painkillers if I had too.