I’m on day 3 of no codeine. I feel dreadful cutting down from 30 per day

[Shoot4theMoon]

I’m young fit and healthy and I’ll start by saying I was never told how addictive it hesr tablets are before they were given to me for gallstone attacks while awaiting removal of my gallbladder. This was 3 years ago. 3 years this month since I got addicted. I started on 6-8 per day. Went up to taking 3 at a time 3 times per day. Only this year did I go beyond that and I don’t know how it happened but I went from 3 to 4, to 6, to 8, to 10, to 12, now I usually take 14 at a time at least twice a day. I crave the warm tingly feeling they used to give me but no longer do. I realise people will wonder where do I get them as no doctor would prescribe that many, I don’t buy them illegally, I would never as who knows what’s in them, every pill I take comes from a real pharmacy. I began running out and switching to cocodomol but of course I’d need a lot of those to get 400mg of codeine so I learnt how to remove the paracetamol from the pills so it’s just sheer codeine. It takes 1 hour to do. I’m disgusted with myself that iv done all of this and I know where my nearest 20 community pharmacies are that I drive around too when I run out of pills to buy cocodomol but I need 6 boxes of those a day as I to two at a time, 3 times a day. So that’s 6 pharmacies a day. I decided enough is enough, I had pills left over and I just decided I’m done. Absolutely done. I’m sick of them pills controlling my life. So on Saturday morning I took 14 pills of 30mg each then I haven’t since. I didn’t sleep well on Saturday night then all day yesterday on day 2 I was achy and sweaty. I didn’t sleep much at all last night I woke up in a pool of sweat, I’m had terrible dirheea, I feel sick, my legs ache so badly. I’m so cold then sweating. I’m so scared how much worse it’s going to get and I just need someone to tell me I’m doing good here and not to give up and if someone could share with me when they did this what day they felt better

Offering a handhold. Ive never detoxed off codiene but I was horribly addicted to benzos so I know a bit of what you're going through. Have you had the bloody awful thing where you jolt awake whenever you drop off to sleep? Urgh I hated that. Well done for doing what you're doing. If you're going through hell, keep going.

@HangingOver not yet I haven’t as I have barely slept I’m so tired and achy all over, iv been back and forwards to the bathroom and I’m so cold

DH is currently trying to come off morphine, so I know what you're going through.

Oh and I don't know where you are in the country but my local drugs and alcohol clinic were absolutely brilliant, I had a case worker, a counselor and a psychiatrist...all NHS. You often don't even need to go via the GP, you can self refer. Having a case worker might help you stick to your guns.

It can be dangerous to just go cold turkey withdrawal like that, I would recommend contacting health personnel

Detoxing from opiates is not dangerous and it is fine to go cold turkey. Alcohol and benzodiazepines are the ones you can't just stop.

OP - well done. You can expect to feel rough for about 2 weeks but the first 72 hours are the worst, so you are nearly there. Sleep can take months to settle, but it does. One night you will go to bed and realise you've not thought of drugs all day! Keep going

Well done OP, you are doing brilliantly. Hand hold here when you need it.

Thank you everyone

Well done, well done. Try to imagine your life when you’re not addicted and focus on that. No more rushing around feeling desperate.

Maybe make a list of all the benefits and keep reading it. Create a positive mantra.

You can do this.

You’re doing a great job by trying to withdraw. It will take time, but you’ll get there.

You could try a herbal sleep remedy. I used calms one a night tablets. They are valerian root and really help to calm your nervous system. You can order them online from Amazon for next day delivery so you won't have to go to a pharmacy.
A long soak in the bath will help with the pains and chills.
You're doing great, you are so strong. I know how hard it is!

Well done for being strong and taking control of your life! You can do this.

Well done op you are doing amazingly, baby steps and you will do it . I hope you are feeling incredibly proud of yourself

Its not safe to simply stop taking them - you need to get professional help

(this is an american site, but you need to speak with healthcare professionals, not randoms on mumsnet)
Is it safe to go ‘cold-turkey’ with a codeine addiction or should someone attend medical detox?
It isn’t safe to go ‘cold-turkey.’ With a cold turkey detox, the body gets quite a shock when a substance it’s needed to function is suddenly withdrawn. Withdrawal symptoms are intense during a cold turkey detox. And if someone attempts to do this at home without supervision, they can experience serious medical problems. Medical detox facilities can give patients tapering off schedule or replace codeine with drugs like Buprenorphine/Naltrexone to lessen withdrawal symptom.
Also, depression is a typical experience with codeine withdrawal. Without help and supervision, people can become severely depressed, and self-harm or attempt suicide. They may even reach for other drugs or alcohol to deal with these withdrawal complications. But with a medical detox facility, doctors and therapists can adequately monitor patients for withdrawal complications.

When I was prescribed cocodamol, I was told clearly do not take for more than 3 days in a row, and I'm pretty sure that was 2008 - so before you started - so am suprised you were not told

You definitely should cut down gradually. Going cold turkey can be dangerous as another poster said. Are there any substance misuse support agencies in your area? They can be helpful.

I'm going to ask - are you a doctor or nurse or expert in the field?

Op should not take advice from people on mumsnet, even if they say they are medical (or actually especially if they say they are, as what they should be saying, is 'go to the drs' )

I am so proud of you for doing this. Well done and keep going. It will be over in a few days.

Well done.
I had to go cold turkey from tramadol and high dose Coedine both at same time for medication trial.
it was hell for first 2 days. It was the restless legs, arms, back everything that got me! It felt like my whole body was moving.
my gp and cons said it was fine to just stop taking, so I did.
gp told me to take some sleeping tablets for a few days to get through the nights to make it easier.
I did for those 2 days, then it was all good.
you’ll do this
maybe ring gp and see if this is an option?

I believe the main danger of going cold turkey is potential for heart problems but I was told this is rare (friend in same position but admittedly they weren't taking as much as you).

Cold turkey will definitely make you feel like absolute death, the risk then is you go back on them with a bit of a vengeance, as she did.

Its far better to slowly reduce intake, for the physical as well as mental effects. It can be done on your own but you need a lot willpower. Friend took 6 months just by going to her doc and they gave her prescriptions for just codeine, never on repeat either so they could closely monitor what she was taking, she's been off them now for about 2 years and had been addicted for about 10 years. You'd never have guessed though.

Good luck, you can do this xx

Let me guess — you got this quote from a place that will provide this support for a fee?

Any reputable medical source will tell you that cold Turkey detox from narcotics (codeine, morphine, oxycodone, etc.) is not in itself dangerous. It is physically and mentally grueling definitely, and it can cause dehydration, depression, increased pain and other unpleasantness but it is not medically risky. *Note this applies only to opioid/narcotic drugs. Withdrawal from other types of addiction, such as alcohol or benzos, can be very dangerous and should only be done under the care of a doctor.

In general PP you should always double check any information you read online. When it comes to medical advice in particular make sure you back it up with unbiased reliable sources.

I have done it with codiene op! You are doing the right thing and making a fantastic decision for your future! Keep going, you will get through this and your life will be much better as a result.

You are brilliant. I was prescribed codeine for a painful condition, took 90 mg a day and soon addicted. I too did the cold water thing with co-codamol - what a faff. It took a couple of weeks to withdraw completely, had a lot of cramps and poops. The warm glow you get early on with codeine never comes back no matter how many you take. So never give in to the temptation to start again - you won't get that fuzzy glow.

Thanks everyone iv started vomiting now I feel absolutely dreadful

Well done you. You've made a really tough decision and you're sticking with it. You know that it's going to be hard but keep thinking about how amazing it's going to be no longer taking so many tablets, and no more time driving around, dissecting pills etc. You're going to feel so much better when you get through this!