DH codiene addiction

[MakkaPakkas]

DH has ended up with a bit of an addiction to neurogen plus (taking 8-10 a day). He'd had this problem before and has slipped back into old ways. I could see he was doing it, I've been seeing huge packs of them lying slightly hidden (I've not been snooping but they're just rammed up behind his computer, in the bin etc) since at least January and I've been worrying about him. His job is very stressful, he runs a small company and its been on the edge of going bust now for a while.
First I was waiting for him to talk to me about it. Then I was waiting for a 'good' time to mention it & ask how to help. I finally broached the subject a couple of weeks ago and he's decided to come off them. Last time he stopped dead, and told me it was fine. He now says it was awful and so he's tapering. It's been 3 weeks and he's now on his 4th pill free day.
I'm just posting in here as it's not something he'd like to be known amongst our friends and family so my usual support network is unavailable. Anyone else supported a partner though this sort of thing?
I'm sympathetic and I love him and he is a great husband and dad, but also I'm really annoyed that I've been having to pick up the slack all summer as well as listen to him whinging about it and that I've had to spend so much time worrying about him.

Thank you that’s great advice, and your right it might be just too much of a drop. The test will be tomorrow when I have to face people at work…..god don’t know what’s wrong with me. Il let you know how I’m getting on and thank you for the advice and support I do appreciate it

@Sarahc98 how are you getting on. I'm in a similar situation and really struggling and not sure where to start

@5128gap do you have any help or advice for being able to stop? I'm really struggling and don't know where to begin or what to do

Codeine addiction is surprisingly common, unfortunately.

Yes. Taper.
If you Google it you can get tapering plans. But basically it involves very slow reduction possibly over months, so your body adjusts and side effects are minimalised.
It works like this. Say you normally have 24 tablets a day, tomorrow reduce this by one.
For the next 3 days take 23.
Then it's 22 for 3 days
21 for 3 days and so on.
Somewhere along the way you may reach a point where your body tells you that's not enough. Mild aches and pains, some anxiety. When this happens don't increase or decrease. Hold for a week then start again.
When you get down to 6 a day, your reduction should be half a tablet, so 5 and a half for 3 days, then 5, 4 and a half and so on.
When you get to two a day reduce in quarters. Its mainly placebo by now but don't rush to the finish line.
While you're at it, take some supplements as codeine strips you of various things like magnesium and vit D, and eat high potassium foods like bananas.
Its a long road, but in all honesty, not that tough physically on that program. Start tomorrow!
Good luck x

@5128gap thank you that's really helpful. The most I use in a day at the moment is 8 30/500 so would you suggest starting with reducing by halves?

Yes, definitely. Do you take them two at a time through the day?

Some days and some days I go until later on before I feel/want to take any. It's only quite recently it's become a daily habit before it was only using once a week 2/3 tablets for bad headaches/migraines but it's recently spiralled into regular use and more a day

@5128gap

OK, then I'd suggest if you're inconsistent with dosage times you spend a few days establishing a pattern as that makes the taper easier.
So with 8 a day, you're looking at 2 every 4 hours.
When you have this as a pattern then take 1.5 rather than 2 at which ever dose of the day is easiest for you.
Three days later take a half off another dose rather than the same one and keep going until you're at 1.5 every dose.

If its only recently become a habit it will be even easier for you.

@5128gap thank you that's really helpful. I don't have anyone to talk to or go to for advice so I really appreciate it so worried it will get worse as it seems to have so easily become a habit

If you don't stop its almost guaranteed to get worse and there's some horror stories out there of people who've destroyed their health with heavy and prolonged use. You're nowhere near that though and should be able to stop relatively easily with no harm done, so don't worry.
Oh and once you're off NEVER go back, not for anything. See your GP for migraine (or try botox!) or HRT if you're that age and its hormonal.

@5128gap I haven't heard about Botox for migraines how does that work? Once Iv stopped I'm mainly worried if I was to have another child as there aren't many options when pregnant for pain relief but cocodamol is one they prescribe annoyingly

I don't know how the botox works, but it does for me. I have my 11s done and it helps loads. Maybe by freezing the muscles that tense up. There's research on it if you Google, its a recognised thing.

@mummylms You can totally do it if you have a plan. Write it down so you don't need to decide how much to take when you feel like you want to take some. I'm in the same boat and I'm tapering off the 30/500 and while it's been annoying, I haven't felt like death yet. I got DH to dispense my meds because I don't trust myself, and he worked out how much I should reduce by and when to reduce. I'm on about a half of a tablet in the morning and a quarter in the evening at the moment, and I'll stick to this one for a day or two and then see if I can drop the morning one by a half.

I use/d mine for a pain condition, and like yourself I will have to find a way to deal with the pain without codeine now! I have no idea what to do so I'm researching it at the moment. I think maybe a visit to the GP might be an idea so I could discuss it with them, but at the same time I don't want them to know about my problem with the meds. Tricky! I hope your taper goes well. Take it easy and if you fancy a chat I'll be reading these threads here. 🤗

Really good to know someone else going through this. Do you have any tips for how you manage when you feel like taking more than what's on your plan?

I made it easier for myself by telling DH I have a problem so all the tablets are with him and I can't get to them even if I wanted to. He's been slacking a little bit though and keeps leaving the box in the kitchen where I can see it and then I'm just standing there looking at it for ages. I suspect he keeps track of the tablets so if I took more he would know!

Luckily at this stage I'm so fed up of taking these tablets that I'm just happy reducing my dose and not taking more, but when I have tried to quit by myself I found it very easy to talk myself into taking more ("X is hurting so I need it", "I won't have any more today then", "I won't have any tomorrow" etc.) and I would often take meds when they weren't needed. I did find that if you manage to get a couple of good days under your belt you might not want to take more and ruin your streak. Also I found that the less I take the less I want to take, but it's just getting to the point where I'm actually taking less that was/is difficult. If that makes sense.

I managed to quit for a few weeks last year and I actually had less pains than I did with codeine, and feeling almost normal was great. I'm trying to remember that feeling and aim to get there again.

Also there are apps you can use to track your sobriety. I'm half assedly using one that tracks time from when I told my husband and started to seriously taper, and it's nice to see my progress that way. There is a basic message board too and I sometimes read what others are writing and they seem like a supportive bunch.

Hi, sorry hunni I’ve only just seen this …….I did ok for a few days but keep falling back into taking more …..I seem to have a good week then 3 bad weeks, I don’t feel confident without it but I think it’s taking it in the first place that’s made me anxious …..I only take less if I’m taking something else I shouldn’t just to make me feel happy and confident…..it’s horrible and I honestly never ever seen myself being like this…..how much are you taking if u don’t mind me asking xx

Hiya I'm taking around 8 30/500 a day recently last couple of weeks before that it would be 2-4 maybe every other day so I'm slipping more and more. What do you take? When you have a good week are you trying to taper or just stopping completely? Xx

Do you have any apps you recommend? I'm trying to manage on my own as I don't feel I have anyone to confide in. It's nice to talk to others going through the same thing on here as I have no one else for help and advice xx

But what is he taking it for ? Is he in pain? I've been on prescribed codeine for 3 years daily, I have chronic pain. Maybe there's a reason he's taking them? You don't actually say he's abusing them

Excessive codeine use can cause migraine!

@MissMaple82 I have suffered with headaches and migraines since a teenager which is why the GP prescribed cocodamol In the first place. The migraines aren't because of it I had them well before i was ever prescribed any painkillers

I'm consultant led for migraines so I know. Over use of the med can increase migraines!