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Original poster

Dihydrocodeine addiction

10 replies

toptail22 · 01/12/2022 18:30

I'm 48 hours clean of dihydrocodeine and my mood is so low. I was taking 6 per day for about 4 months. Fortunately I've not experienced really bad withdrawals apart from low mood.
I'm trying to eat well & sleep when I can.

When will I feel 'normal' again?

OP posts:
WhatInFreshHell · 01/12/2022 18:32

Well done OP. I've recently recovered from a codeine addiction. I tapered down, as cold Turkey was just too painful for me. It took me a long time to do that though. Keep going, you're doing brilliant and you'll feel so much better in yourself. For me, the first 5 days were always the worst when I lowered my dose. You can do it OP, you're doing so so well.

Original poster
toptail22 · 01/12/2022 19:03

Thank you so much for your words of support. I feel so alone as no one knows about my addiction.
I'm determined to do this. I've lied to those around me and my GP for too long.

I'm glad my GP has stopped my prescription otherwise I'd never stop taking them. I expected to feel much worse physically but I'm actually ok apart from slightly shivery.

It's my mood, the doom & lack of motivation that I'm finding tough.

OP posts:
IWantATwix · 04/12/2022 21:04

@toptail22 You can do it! Sounds like you're smashing it already if you're not doing too bad going cold turkey. Is your mood improving at all? Hopefully you'll feel normal again soon. 😊

mummylms · 04/12/2022 21:24

toptail22 · 01/12/2022 19:03

Thank you so much for your words of support. I feel so alone as no one knows about my addiction.
I'm determined to do this. I've lied to those around me and my GP for too long.

I'm glad my GP has stopped my prescription otherwise I'd never stop taking them. I expected to feel much worse physically but I'm actually ok apart from slightly shivery.

It's my mood, the doom & lack of motivation that I'm finding tough.

Did you taper down or just stop completely? I'm in a similar situation with no one to talk to except on here

mummylms · 04/12/2022 21:25

WhatInFreshHell · 01/12/2022 18:32

Well done OP. I've recently recovered from a codeine addiction. I tapered down, as cold Turkey was just too painful for me. It took me a long time to do that though. Keep going, you're doing brilliant and you'll feel so much better in yourself. For me, the first 5 days were always the worst when I lowered my dose. You can do it OP, you're doing so so well.

How long did it take you by tapering to stop?

user1471453601 · 04/12/2022 21:37

I took these from February to September postoperative. 4/5 a day, along with eight paracetamol. I just stopped because I was going to a country for a month where the drug wasn't allowed.

it seems I was very lucky, no side affects, apart from the on going pain following the operation. When I returned to the UK I tried one once and vomited, so didn't take any after that.

None of this is to say your struggle isn't real, just that I was lucky it didn't happen to me. Good luck, and I hope your struggle is successful

Original poster
toptail22 · 05/12/2022 07:23

I stopped cold turkey and whilst I didn't have bad withdrawals I felt low, very low. Slightly sniffly and cold were my physical symptoms.

I went from 7 a day to none. On reflection it wasn't a good idea. I contacted my GP and explained that I was experiencing withdrawal & requested a small prescription so I could taper. At this point I was 3 days 'clean' but it was too abrupt. My brain clearly wasn't coping, hence the low mood.

I received 30, 30mg tablets on Friday & I'm now tapering - SLOWLY. Today I'll take 4 then gradually reduce until prescription is finished.

I'm determined to do this. Whilst I wasn't using a massive amount I was still relying on them to give me energy & face the day. NOT sustainable. I was starting to lie to friends about pain I had & trying to get prescriptions early from surgery. Addict behaviour.

I've previously worked in addictions so I'm fully aware of the slippery slope I was on. Whilst I never took more than prescribed to me, I was using them to 'feel good' and not to manage pain.

Life was better whilst taking them I agree but again not sustainable and I dread to think the damage I've potentially done to both my physical & mental health.

I currently take an antidepressant which I've increased slightly whilst I taper from the dihydrocodeine.

Hope this helps anyone who is currently experiencing similar. I'm happy to help & support anyone.

OP posts:
mummylms · 05/12/2022 08:19

toptail22 · 05/12/2022 07:23

I stopped cold turkey and whilst I didn't have bad withdrawals I felt low, very low. Slightly sniffly and cold were my physical symptoms.

I went from 7 a day to none. On reflection it wasn't a good idea. I contacted my GP and explained that I was experiencing withdrawal & requested a small prescription so I could taper. At this point I was 3 days 'clean' but it was too abrupt. My brain clearly wasn't coping, hence the low mood.

I received 30, 30mg tablets on Friday & I'm now tapering - SLOWLY. Today I'll take 4 then gradually reduce until prescription is finished.

I'm determined to do this. Whilst I wasn't using a massive amount I was still relying on them to give me energy & face the day. NOT sustainable. I was starting to lie to friends about pain I had & trying to get prescriptions early from surgery. Addict behaviour.

I've previously worked in addictions so I'm fully aware of the slippery slope I was on. Whilst I never took more than prescribed to me, I was using them to 'feel good' and not to manage pain.

Life was better whilst taking them I agree but again not sustainable and I dread to think the damage I've potentially done to both my physical & mental health.

I currently take an antidepressant which I've increased slightly whilst I taper from the dihydrocodeine.

Hope this helps anyone who is currently experiencing similar. I'm happy to help & support anyone.

Sounds very similar feelings to me. Can I ask how many you plan to taper by for how many days on each dose?

Original poster
toptail22 · 06/12/2022 08:30

I've been reducing by 30mg daily. I take 3 today, 2.5 next day so on...I only have 9 tablets left so I'll drag them out.

As I said in my previous post I didn't experience bad withdrawals but I stopped very abruptly. I could reduce much slower but I'd rather just get it over and done with by Xmas.

The turning pint for me was my daughter asking why I take tablets every day. This made me seriously look at my behaviour. I had started lying to friends & to my GP. Horrible, addict type behaviour.

Im a runner so I've tried to increase the amount of times I'm running which I find really helps my mental health.

A dihydrocodeine addiction is not sustainable. I started taking 2 daily and now I've doubled that and more! It's a very slippery slope.

I want & need to enjoy life without them and I'm determined to do so!

OP posts:
mummylms · 17/12/2022 22:04

toptail22 · 06/12/2022 08:30

I've been reducing by 30mg daily. I take 3 today, 2.5 next day so on...I only have 9 tablets left so I'll drag them out.

As I said in my previous post I didn't experience bad withdrawals but I stopped very abruptly. I could reduce much slower but I'd rather just get it over and done with by Xmas.

The turning pint for me was my daughter asking why I take tablets every day. This made me seriously look at my behaviour. I had started lying to friends & to my GP. Horrible, addict type behaviour.

Im a runner so I've tried to increase the amount of times I'm running which I find really helps my mental health.

A dihydrocodeine addiction is not sustainable. I started taking 2 daily and now I've doubled that and more! It's a very slippery slope.

I want & need to enjoy life without them and I'm determined to do so!

How are you getting along? X

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