Day 10 of no codeine after taking 1200mg per day for almost 4 years. Suddenly feel extremely depressed

[Shoot4theMoon]

As the title goes I was on codeine for coming up 4 years the last few months taking large amounts of around 1200mg per day please don’t ask where I get it all as I often get messages asking this and I will not answer them, every single codeine I ever took was from a legit chemist on the high street. Back to where we left off, I went to a rehab clinic and they started me on a substitute called saboxone, I’m on 20mg daily but I started on 8 which didn’t help and over the 10 days we’ve built up but I’m still going into withdrawl early in the morning. The clinic is far away, I have to drop my children at school, take the baby to my moms then get a train ride from my moms to the clinic every single day. So basically it’s taking up half of my day just to be there 5mins and take a tablet. This is really getting to me as they said it would be 4-5 days until I was settled on a dose, I realise iv came so far, the furthest iv ever been, but they keep asking me have I take any codeine and iv said no because truth is I have not taken any and told them if I was taking codeine I’d never be hiking all the way down there each morning still in withdrawl from the early hours I’d have just took some codeine instead and took my time getting there! They decide they believe me which is good but I feel suddenly so deflated and depressed I don’t know why! I seen the dr at the clinic this morning he said it’s huge changes for my body and brain being used to codeine multiple times a day and suddenly it’s gone so my brain will go through a whole range of emotions. Is it normal to suddenly feel this way

This is absolutely normal, and part of the detox process. It is awful, but only lasts about 2 weeks. You can do it.

@CeciNestPasUnPipi I feel iv came so soooo far but I’m fed up of going back and forwards when it’s so far from home now I have to go every day on the weekend and the bank holiday

The only thing I can say is that right now you cannot imagine how grateful and free you'll feel once it's over and you're rid of it. The difference is staggering.

I'm not surprised, it's a strong drug and it suppresses pain and emotions.

I have three prolapsed discs so I'm no stranger to taking naproxen and tramadol but long term use should be avoided.

People who suffer pain know all too well it's easier said than done but what Id say is see your doctor before going cold turkey. I say this because you've been on them for a long time....I honestly don't know how this will impact you.

I now see a private practice which offers me alternatives to traditional pain medication....and it works for me

The OP isn't going cold turkey though.

Naproxen isn't an opiate though is it? Im.prescribed those too.

Keep pushing forward, each day is worth it. Why did you choose to stop taking the codeine? 💐

Oh, OK. Sorry, I'm not familiar with these.

@LuckOfTheDrawer no don't worry i was asking pp that said she was on naproxen and got worried lol.

Yes but Tramadol is, I was taking both. naproxen brings other issues but I completely understand why the poster is having issues. Withdrawal from any opiate or synthetic opiate will have symptoms.

I don't know what the advice is about stopping long term use but if your having symptoms I'd say see your GP because there may be something they can do.

I'm using an osteopath and acupuncture and I take boswela extract and tumeric. It's working better than the opiates. The problem is it all costs money and none of it is available on the NHS. Probably because there's no clinical proof it works. I certainly think Osteopathy and acupuncture should be.

It will take time for you to settle. And 20mg is too much suboxone. I take it you're from America? They do over prescribe subs everywhere though. That morning thing? Bad news is that for me it never went away on subs. It's still an addiction to feed. Wake up, feel sick, take subs. Suboxone can be an excellent tool and drug for opiate addiction. I don't want to give that impression. However, it wasn't for me. I'm now on Buvidal. This is a monthly injection. It's basically long acting Buprenorphine that's injected once a month into the tissue underneath the skin. This changed my life. It's up to you what path and choice to take for recovery. It's very personal. I would say that it's still very early days for you. Keep going.

Taking huge amounts of codiene, Solpadeine.
last week I passed out and started passing blood. Absolutely terrified and the pain is torture. It was getting difficult to get enough of the stuff and really not doing anything anyway. I ate yesterday but still feel terrible and the mind games are awful. Please contact me if you are still suffering and would like a friendly chat with someone who understands this madness.❤️

Each Solpadeine tablet contains 500mg Paracetamol. Multiply that by the number you are taking per day, then please do a quick Google of ‘paracetamol overdose’.

Sending love and strength to all of you trying to give up xx

So after taking 120-180mg of codeine a day for the last 5 years, I decided to go on holiday take none and just stop! Mad to some but didn't want to bring them into the country and I knew it would be the only place with no temptation and no triggers! I have had over a week of no sleep, tickly throat, runny nose, teary eyes but the worse is the horrendous restless legs at night. I will sleep for an hr then awake to the sudden jerk. Please tell me this won't last much longer!!

Hi saw your message.
you haven’t mentioned any withdrawal symptoms like terrible stomach pain. Diarrhoea. Also soaking in sweat and horrendous headaches. Perhaps if you took a couple of codiene every four hours and not in handfuls at a time you may get away with this but the rls, no sleep, agitation could probably last a week or two.
Its different for everyone. Some people are taking a packet a day and the withdrawals are horrendous.
Withdrawels are always going to be hellish but battle through. potassium and magnesium supplements may help restless legs and eating a couple of bananas. Vitamin B6 and B12. But nights when you can’t sleep are the worst with jumpy legs, wondering how long this will last. Try to keep busy or you will just lay about feeling rotten and anxious . Not easy to do I know. Good luck. Sorry you are going through this.

Thanks for the reply, my original post should have said I was actually taking 240-300mg per day so 60mg every 3-4 hrs which may not seem many to some but enough to take over my life. I've been fortunate enough not to have the cramps, did have diarrhea at the beginning but that has resolved now its the rls that's the worse. Thanks for your advice tho will try some supplements.

Part of what you’re dealing with is the pharmacological change from codeine to suboxone. Your feelings will be more ‘there’ and potentially more raw. Lots of patients who make the switch describe it. Takes a while to get used to it. Also - it sounds like it is really difficult for you juggling the kids and treatment. I hope you also feel proud of yourself for taking the steps despite how tricky it is.

Practically, if they have a buprenorphine long acting injection - buvidal is one of the brand names - worth trying it. You can have it monthly - it would save you some hassle. Also seems to hold people better than the tablets.