Tapering off Dihydrocodeine

[Anon5382]

Hi everyone,
this is my first time ever posting here. For a few years now I've been taking Dihydrocodeine for chronic back pain and always thought I was managing it find. But 4 months ago a family member passed away and I've been taking way more than I need to to the point I was taking around 12 a day - I think as a coping mechanism. I've told my DH and he's being so supportive and now am tapering off. I'm on day 2 of taking 7 a day for 5 days, then going down to 6 for the next 5 etc. I'm just looking for any support and success stories of anyone who has been through the same. So far the withdrawals have including painful legs, a bit of anxiety especially in the morning and difficult sleeping - will it get worse? I'm hoping not because I'm not going cold turkey. I have no desire to keep taking these tablets and just want them out my system but I also don't want to go cold turkey after hearing so many horror stories. Thanks so much in advance.

I've not done that one, but I have come off codeine before. It's not the worst - the first three days are pretty bad cold turkey but it improves after that. Not too bad to taper down either.

I recommend a lot of water and caffeine tablets for the headaches.

I have tapered off. I got my GP to prescribe smaller dose tablets and I kept decreasing it, as well as increasing the length of time between them to five or six hours instead of four. It was occasionally a bit uncomfortable but it wasn't unbearable and then I was done!

I got hooked on them when I was suffering from arthritis in my hips. After I had them replaced I knew I didn't need it anymore but I was afraid to quit. It went OK and faster than I'd expected.

Thanks to both of you so much for replying. It's such a comfort to hear other people's stories without any judgement. @JustGettingStarted and @MaMaMaMaBaker can I ask how much you were taking and how much did your gp prescribe so that you could taper safely?
I had a terrible night with restless legs last night and this morning felt unbelievably sick but it's passed a bit now. I think I'm maybe trying to taper too quickly as I only took 4 yesterday and it was really too much for my body to handle ☹️

I'm pretty sure I was taking 30/500s. It was a while back now. I remember asking the GP to put me on 15/500s instead. From there, I went onto taking one tablet instead of two at a time and increasing the time in between doses.

At a certain point when I thought I was low enough, I went cold turkey.

I recommend taking some magnesium at night as well as a little bedtime snack of something light and salty for those restless legs.

@MaMaMaMaBaker thanks so much for that info. I'd read about the magnesium for the restless legs - will def give that a go! I was originally put on these as my back suffered terrible damage due to a spinal block that was used during surgery and I was always fine managing them fine until a few months ago when I just had to find a way to get through the difficulties of each day when my family member died. I feel so guilty for taking too many now and just want to be free of them! I hadn't heard about the salty snack before bed so I'll definitely try that! How long had you been taking your 30/500s for before cutting down if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again!!

Have you got your pain under control in your back now? I'm sorry about your family member.

I was taking them for well over a year. They were for my back as well. I'd messed it up during pregnancy and I had to wait until I had started my periods again (a year later!) for physio. Once I'd had proper physio, my back was ok again but I did also keep taking them for a while 'just because'.

Good morning op.
You’ve had plenty of good advice from pp, but if once you’ve tapered off and stopped taking them, you find it hard to stay off, then try a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting.
There will be plenty of people on the same boat as you who will offer help and support.

I still have bad back pain but am on a waiting list for physio - I'd much rather try and sort it that way rather than just keep taking the pills. Thanks @Andante57 for that advice - really kind of you to suggest. I'm not worried about finding it hard to stay away from them once I'm off them because I am literally only taking them now to prevent the awful withdrawal symptoms. Have absolutely no desire to keep taking them I'm just finding the withdrawal quite scary which is why I'm tapering rather than cold turkey. It's the guilt I'm finding the most difficult to contend with - the fact that I've even got myself here in the first place! I really just want to never touch them again but I know I need to keep slowing lowering the dose so that I can still function while I'm trying to come off them! It's just a horrible cycle to get into!

Ive been there OP. I tried cold turkey once but I felt like I had the worse kind of flu for two weeks and was absolutely floored. I don't think you can really do that with dihydrocodeine without being really ill.
I'd definitely go with half a tablet decrease at any one time and just do it slow or you won't be able to function.

@Gettingbysomehow thanks so much for your advice. Did you end up tapering rather than cold turkey? I've started taking half as much as I was taking and I think I'm just going too quickly and my body is in too much of a shock to decrease so much so quickly. If you don't mind me asking, how did you manage it? And have you any tips on how to manage the withdrawal symptoms?

In addition from going from 30's to 15's, I also used the stuff avaliable over the counter, which are even smaller doses. They weren't half doses, but I was able to step down from 15 to 12 (Nurofen Plus) and then down to 8 (regular cocodomol). I would also stay a step up for my nighttime dose so I could fall asleep. So I'd be on 8 during the day but take 12 before bedtime.

Just little decreases in overall daily dose every few days got me there. I actually recorded every dose and made a daily tally. The daily final number gradually decreased.

It may also help to time steps down to coincide with days off work. Like, lowering Friday afternoon then taking the brunt of the decrease over the weekend.

I tried cold turkey first and ended up in a right state that didn't get better after two weeks so I tapered my dose by half a tablet a week, I know they are tiny but you can get tablet cutters, sometimes 2 weeks, I can't have withdrawal symptoms in my job I wouldn't be able to function at all, same if you have kids.
It takes some time but its safer and less painful. I'm off them now. Good luck.

I used to buy those too. Although I then got in a habit of buying them as a treat when I was stressed! Luckily I didn't do that too often and those ones aren't very strong.

Ironically, I don't need to worry about slipping back into it these days because I'm back on the prescription ones and I actually do need them.

At least we're not being given really strong stuff like they have in the US. It's not actually that bad to withdraw from codeine or the like. It's unpleasant but not Trainspotting type unpleasant. It only gives me a headache and aches and pains - that's manageable.

Yeah I just can't manage every day life whilst enduring withdrawal - especially as you say with a family. I think I'm just being impatient and wanting to just get rid of them out my system quickly but I know that realistically it's not possible and just need to content myself with the fact I need to cut down slowly in order to do it properly. I just can't wait for the day I don't need to take any more!! Thanks so much for your advice it's actually helped so much today!!

I'm glad it's helped. Nothing wrong with slow and steady. You'll get there.

Just a little update for all those who were kind enough to give me some sound advice. I just dropped 2 tablets yesterday and took magnesium before bed and slept SO much better. Hardly any restless legs so thanks so much for suggesting the magnesium! The whole thing is obviously going to take longer than I'd initially hoped but I'll just have to accept that and take things slowly. Thanks again to everyone for all your advice and support!

Well done op. Any chance of a link what magnesium you’ve taken ? Don’t know where to start.

https://amzn.eu/d/jgvbFP1

I take these ones

@justneed these are the ones I've been taking https://amzn.eu/d/37aGLCn

Some days the pains in my legs and arms have been worse than others but I've also had plenty of hot baths and used a heat spray on my legs when it gets bad. Im
now down to 5 a day and feeling SO much better for it! Paracetamol or ibuprofen has helped with headaches too. Definitely think I'm through the worst now! 🙏🏼