I’ve been prescribed cocodamol for about a year now. I’ve been taking between 8-15 a day for months. I get them on repeat prescription and obviously always run out early. I tried to reorder and the doctors phoned to say I have to go in if I want to ask for them because I’ve been on them so long. I think they want to review me. I really just want to stop taking them. I’m away to start trying for a baby and I know they can effect fertility and I also just want off them. I don’t know how I got here.
I’m going to stop cold turkey now and just wondered if anyone had any advice on how to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. I’ve done it before when they ran out early but always reordered. I’m too scared to go in as I don’t want my doctor to know the truth, so I can’t reorder this time. I just want this to be in my past. Can anyone give me any advice on the withdrawal symptoms?
Thanks
Hi Louise , I have just done cold turkey coming off it and I wasn't on any near the amount you were on and cold turkey was not pleasant, I don't advise you doing it unless you come off slowly , its something I had to do because it was causing migraines and other things,
Hi Louise, I was in the same boat as you. Doc said I had to go in for a review, so I told him I wanted to come off them. He started reducing me by 1tablet a day per week, i was given a prescription every fortnight and it was reduced by 14 every time. I'd tried so many times to come off them and ended up reordering them every time. I didn't have any symptoms when I took my last one really, apart from feeling sad I was missing something.
So I'd say Def speak to your doc, it's so much easier than CT. 😀
Hi louise.. I did cold turkey... I couldn't do the come off them bit by bit... x its lasted a week... my friend is a drug nurse so she helped... I had hit baths which helped ... x
Can I ask how many you were taking? I can’t trust myself to do it but by bit. I was taking 4-5 3 times a day. I know if I have them I’ll take more than I’m meant to. I just want this over as quickly as possible. Thanks for your advice. X
Hi Louise, please be patient with it , I was on a low dose of 4 a day , you are taking a lot , bit by bit is your answer , you can do it , you will surprise yourself how strong you are, if you want something that bad that grab it, you won't know till you start,go to your gp and get them behind you, what you have to remember is the dose you are taking is high.
Thanks, Mary. I’ve decided to take the 8/500 over the counter coco sample to take the edge off. Just 2 every 4 hours. I’m also on gabapentin and they help with the withdrawal as well. I’ve been through it before and I know it’s tough but I’m sure this is the best way for me. I’m also going to my boyfriends parents for the weekend and I wont be able toget a doctors appointment until Tuesday at the earliest so I’ll be through the worst of it by then. I’m tired and having some stomach issues now but I’m determined. Thank you everyone for your support and advice. I can’t explain how much it means to me. I’ve felt so alone in this and it took a lot for me to start this discussion. Just knowing others have been here helps me. X
Hi louise . I was taking about the same as you. I just thought right this is the day..... I'd got a week off work and my friend... also the people on this qroup was fantastic. ... when I had aches I got in the bath... also I took inburpafen to take the edge off.
Hi Louise I wish you all the best , it was the right way for me but I wouldn't want to see anyone go through it but you sound strong you got support , I am glad I did it , I have fibromyalgia and a convective tissue disorder with aneurysm but most important I want to see my grandchildren grow up , love and hugs x
Well done!! This group is keeping me going right now. I’m at work at the moment and have to keep running to the toilet. I’ve told my friends at work and manager that I’m coming off them but they don’t know I was taking more than I should. So I have support from them. I have a headache and bad tummy but I’m away to get tablets for the cramps which will help. Thank you so so much for sharing. I know I can do this. Right now I don’t even want cocodamol but I know at some point I will. I want a baby and I want my life back. I can do this. X
I understand. I just want my life back. I got to a point where I was starving myself because the cocodamol has more effect on an empty stomach but it also gave me bad stomach pains. You’re amazing for managing to come off it. I hope you really are proud of yourself. I honestly never thought I’d be an addict. I just keep telling myself I can do this. Thank you for sharing and for your support. I honestly can’t explain how much it means and how much it helps. Xx
You definitely can do it.... your strong... x just stick with it.... xxx
Hi Louise just wondered how u were getting? I am on day 2 of the 8/500 was taking around same amount as u for last 18months but addiction been there since around 2012 xx
Hi there. I’m doing ok. I had a bad few days with aching pains and the runs. But it was way better than going cold turkey. I ended up taking 3-4 8/500 at a time though. I’ve also had about 5-10 30/500 over the past couple of weeks as the pain I was taking them for has resurfaced and I’m struggling with it. I just had 1-2 a time with 1-2 8/500. Tomorrow will be just 8/500 and 3 four times a day. I’ll do that for a couple of days then down to 2 four times a day, then taper off. I won’t lie, I miss the buzz. My step dad gets cocodamol 30/500 so I’ve been taking his, with his permission. Although he doesn’t know about my addiction. So I can’t enough for a buzz without him knowing. It’s not where I want to be but it’s working for me just now. I’m hoping a month or 2 and I’ll be done with them. But I’m pretty sure I’ll always be an addict. At times I feel ashamed but I’m trying not to be so hard on myself. The drug is awful but it’s got me through some tough times. I sincerely wish you the best of luck. If you want to talk, I’m here. If I don’t reply straight away it’s cause I’m with someone and no one knows about my addiction. We can do this! X
Hey Louise thanks for replying. I really appreciate it . I totally get the feeling that it feels like the co codamol has got u thru rough times I feel exactly the same. But then I often wonder has it got me thru or just helped me bury my head in the sand? Know what I mean. I started my own thread earlier tonight (not sure how to link) if u want to have read. I am missing the buzz also although tonight when reading my daughter her bedtime story I noticed I sounded different which is because for the first night in how long I wasn't slurring my way thru it. It's so tough isint it my gp just signs them off anytime I am in and they on repeat 100 a time and I can get every 10 to 12 days they hand them out like sweets although I have got it down to a fine art go in talk rubbish and then at the end oh I need my tablets (I am on other meds too)and boom so it begins again xxx
I know hat you mean. It just kinda stops you feeling the s**t but it’s not an answer. I’m clinging on to the positives to keep me going. I’m getting worried because I’ve got pain in my lower back where your kidneys are but it’s not side and only hurts when I breathe so I think it’s miscular but it’s given me a fright. I don’t want to go back to the doctors now because I’ll either lie to get more tablets or tell the truth and I don’t want anyone to know. How are you feeling today? Xx
Hey Mrs I am getting bad pain lower back my knees and my neck so it's deffo due to having less codeine in my system and think by body trying to get me to take more. I have had 2 doses of 8/500 today. Stomach ain't as sore but still a bit dodgy. Headache still there feels very very foggy. And so tired have no energy. I know it will get easier it's just the getting there that is the problem ain't it. How u managing with us usage today?xxx
Hey, yeh the aches and pain you get from stopping is pretty sore. It’s such a struggle but you’ve come so far and it will get easier. I’ve had 6 so far. 2 at a time. Not what I planned but I actually didn’t take any till lunchtime and I had the shakes and sweats and I was going out so took 4 at once. 2 cocodamol with ibuprofen and 2 with paracetamol. I thought maybe I could go without having cut down so much but my body had other ideas. Tomorrow is another day though and I know I can’t stop completely so I’ll continue with the tapering plan. I don’t want to beat myself up about it. I’ve cut down so much I need to look at the positives. At least I’m not taking 4-5 30/500 at a time anymore. I used buscopan and Imodium for stomach issues. So if things do get bad you could give them a go. It seems like such a long time but it’s only a few days to feel better off them. You’re doing great! Xx
I've been using buscopan Mrs deffo helps with the cramps. I managed to go out for col hours earlier so that's good and although I couldn't be bothered I am glad I did. I am back to work tm tho so that will be the real test as so used to doing it with plenty codeine in me. Ur doing great Mrs and at least we aren't taking the 30/500s now and we r trying which is better than say a month a go. Think it needs to be baby steps to help get over it mentally xxx
Yeh I think it’s good to get out try and take your mind off things. Need to try and keep some sort of normality. I hear you. My first day on 8/500 was at work. It was really tough but I have a desk job so at least it wasn’t physically demanding. Definitely. A month ago I was living for the next time I could take them and get the buzz. We’ve done amazingly. We’ll get there. Xx