Giving up codeine and fags

[pheonixyiz]

Hello, I've decided to give up taking codeine for 2023. I've been on it a year. Currently taking around 14 cocodamol 30/500s a day. Today I'm going to take 9 then do that a few days, gradually going down to 8 then 6, 4 then 2 and then stop. Does anyone have any advice for me? I've read the other threads on people giving up. I'm fed up of depending on this and no longer feel the buzz from it.
I'm on day 6 of not smoking too. I didn't smoke alot, maybe 5 a day. The cravings for this is so hard but I keep thinking I'm on day 5 now why go back.
Please no one say its too much at once. I'm determined to do both and be healthier. I don't want to die from paracetamol overdose and the constipation is terrible. I've come off it before when I've ran out and I managed then. Stupidly I went back to it. Should I order more from the gp or not. I have around one weeks worth left at those doses. Any help appreciated. No one in real life knows. Thanks

How's it going op

@Ravageur thanks for asking. It's going good. I had a bit of insomnia last night so work was a struggle today. A 12 hour shift too. I feel OK. The urge for Cigarettes is more than missing any codeine yet. I feel in a good mood just tired so I will sleep tonight. Thanks for taking an interest.

Oh that's excellent well done!! Hope you slept well and are still feeling strong today

@Ravageur thank you. Insomnia has resolved now thankfully.
I know no one else has commented on this but to anyone reading who is going through this or wants to give up codeine can I just tell you how worth it it is. For the first time in over a year I've actually felt proper happiness not the chemical warmth and it feels like my feelings have been blunted before and I'm now starting to feel again. My motivation is higher and life feels good again. I'm not completely off them but nearly and it feels great. So proud.

You should be proud! Well done! Hold on to this feeling and remember it if you get cravings in the future. It is so worth it when you're off the tablets and you don't need to worry about it anymore. You can then truly focus on enjoying life.

Thank you @FACupcake going strong. On 6 a day now. Another week or so and I'll be off. Dreading the morning headache with no codeine though. Its already bad from grinding my teeth overnight.

well done @pheonixyiz you are doing so well

Well done, fantastic progress, keep going the daily effort is worth it. My son gave up smoking about six weeks ago, but he's vaping. I used to be a Marlboro smoker and also vape - but I've just found out it's illegal in Singapore, so I'll have to give up before I go in October. I've not been concerned about it before, and don't spend much on it, but you're not even allowed to have ecigs in hold luggage so have no choice but to stop.

I noticed you grind your teeth, so do I. I've got a gum shield the dentist had made for me, and my earache and jaw pain have completely gone. I stopped wearing it last year when I was moving house, and woke up with a huge bite in my lower lip, which scared me, so I started wearing it again.

Well done. You should be so proud. You’re an inspiration.

@Salome61 thank you. I've heard Marlboro are pretty nicotine heavy? How is your Son coping? When do you plan to give up?
I have a gum shield but it always ends up out. No idea how. My Mum suggested fixodent for that but that stuff freaks me out a bit as I don't know how strong it is! Lol.

@Candymay thank you that was really nice to wake up to ☺️

Sorry, I’ve just noticed your thread for the first time. Just wanted to say well done for making a commitment to stop and following it through- any addiction is usually a millstone around your neck, so you will be so much better off of you can get rid of them. Great to see you’re doing well- it’s a tough journey as I’m sure you know, but the hardest step is actually the first one (because it’s the easiest not to take) and you’ve done that. Every second, minute, day etc. is a day closer to where you want to be.

I’m watching the thread now (as are others) so if you need any support, advice or just want to vent, then don’t hold back and I’m sure somebody will be along sooner rather than later, to do what they can. X

I have came off both codeine and cigarettes and I know what you are going through! But I am a few years on from that and I don't think of either of them on a day to day basis. As for the codeine, are you on the recommended dosejust now? - I think I was on 8 x 30/500 a day? I went to my GP to ask about lowering my dose on prescription but that wasn't an option (?) That might have changed now but what I did (after talking to the doctor) was buy lower dose codeine over the counter (you can get 12mg/8mg) and started off having one 30mg and one 12mg together instead of 60mg (2 x 30mg of codeine). The 12mg are nurofen plus which also has ibuprofen instead of paracetamol so that lowered that as well. Then onto the 8mg. I just went down to 42mg, then 38mg, then 30mg, then 24mg.... It was fairly straightforward although I was ill for a few days when I came off completely! But it was well worth it.

I'm not a doctor though - so I would really recommend talking it through with your GP. Good luck!

Is there any reason for the codeine

Hope you have a good day today.

My son is starting to enjoy his food more now his taste is returning - and he can smell the smokers that get in his taxi. When you get your sense of smell back it does smell like a bonfire. I'm not sure how I'm going to give up really as I've been really lazy and am still on 16 mg, but I've got nine months to do it. I hate January and never feel very motivated to do anything.

I've nearly bitten through my gum shield as it's old now - I started grinding my teeth when my Mum died in 2000. The dentist said I can have a top one made instead, could you try that? My lip bite was so serious I thought I had mouth cancer, I'm scared not to use mine. Fixodent would work, my husband had false teeth and used it every day, but I wouldn't recommend it on top of your teeth.

@DomesticShortHair thank you for your kind words and encouragement it means a lot to have this support. I will re read this thread next week when I will be coming off the codeine completely.
@User5655 that's good you don't think about them now. Well done you, an amazing achievement. Did you notice your personality coming back after coming off them?
@Salome61 16mg is a low enough dose to come off gradually? Again it's all about motivation to change isn't it. Yes I'm the same with the smoke smell!! I must have stank before and I was a bit of a secret smoker too but I bet people knew despite the body spray!
It is a top set that I have. I've no idea why I grind my teeth.
@Theos it was for an injury I sustained at work.

Hello, I'm just off to bed as it's freezing now the heating has gone off and thought I'd pop in to say I hope you have a good day tomorrow.

I would see your dentist and ask for a bottom guard, it might be better for you.

I didn't go for help in the early days then started having excruciating ear ache, then my face swelled, apparently because I'd been clenching my teeth together so hard in the night. The jaw bone nerve goes into spasm and sends the pain signals to your ear. I couldn't eat for months as chewing food really hurt - I also bit the inside of my cheek. I think I was 50 when I had to go to the dental hospital because the grinding affects how your teeth meet - they had to grind some of them down. Not pretty teeth now as I was diagnosed so late with 'bruxism', I know it's a horrible feeling having a shield made but a good one is worth it's weight. Good luck!

@pheonixyiz - well done with your progress.

I am a dreadful teeth grinder which has got particularly bad during lockdown.

What has really worked (if you can afford it) is botox in your masseters (chewing muscles) to weaken them. Doesn't stop you eating but prevents grinding/jaw ache/headaches. Also has nice side effect of slimming down jaw.

Can I ask how you are doing??? I’m starting to taper today. On my own. I have done it once before but cold turkey and it took 5 weeks to feel a bit better and I just went back to it straight away and now it’s worse than ever. I didn’t realise there were other people in this situation. Because it took as long as it did last time and how awful it was I’m terrified of it this time!

I hope you are doing well. I've just found out I can't board Singapore Airlines with my trusty vape, so will have to give up before October. I felt so smug I didn't make any new year resolutions!

How is it going? I'm in a similar situation I manage to do a couple of days then drop back into taking them again. Just don't know how to break the cycle

Reduced slightly what I’m taking. But still taking over what I should be. Just trying to find a way for reducing to nothing without the withdrawals. I have no one I can speak to so it’s so difficult. Hope you manage to do it!

How much are you taking? How long have you been taking it for? I'm also struggling alone so have been on here looking for any kind of support

about 14 a day sometimes more sometimes less. I’m currently trying to stick to 10. I’ve been taking it for 3 years this time. I stopped for 2 months cold turkey and it was the worst time of my life! Altogether it’s about 8 years but the first 2 years was 1 or 2 at night then weeks without. The last 6 have been the worst. I felt like it helped me deal with trauma at first. Now it doesn’t help with anything! How much do you take? And how long? I feel like I should tell someone but there really is no one. Hubby would use it against me and I feel like if I tell the docs they’ll stop my prescription and I can’t go cold turkey again!

@Midlife4 I haven't gone over the 8 a day so far varies between 2 and 8 so no fixed amount each amount each day been like that for the last 4 months previously was probably only once a week which was what I was prescribed it for migraines but it's spiralled out of control again I feel probably to deal with emotional stress and anxiety etc. I don't have anyone to talk to either so always happy to talk on here