Codeine addict, coming off today, day one!

Treatment and medication
1

Day one,

It has been 12 hours since my last dose of codeine, I have been taking 16x15mg tablets 3 times a day. Scared about what is to come is an understatement to say the least, the aches and pains have already started, I can feel them in my legs and my back, I don't want to be a prisoner to this drug anymore, I want to look forward to the rest of my life codeine free. I have heard that there are a few items that can help, Kalms for night time with the restless legs, L-Tyroseine or however it is spelt as its packed with amino acids and helps with endorphine stimulation which my brain has gotten lazy doing because of the codeine, day nurse / night nurse to help with the cold and flu like symptoms, and loperamide for well what can we say the squits.. Metaclopramide for nausea and possible vomiting. I know thats quite a recipe there, I haven't checked with a pharmacist to see if it is safe yet so no one use it without checking first.

I know that the withdrawal is not going to be pretty and difficult days are to come, I need to be off these pills, be able to plan my life for the things I want to do, not plan my life around my next dose of codeine. I even considered counselling as I am sure I may need that to discover why I needed the codeine after the pains of my injury.. 

I can do this, those of us battling this demon we can all do it! I know spirit has my back with this, one thing that will help me through is my faith in spirit, I am not overly religious but I have my faith. I'll be back to this thread throughout the withdrawal time, lets hope its not going to be a long drawn out process, I know it's not going to be quick. I'll be back to log my progress as we go.

Andy

2

Hi, I came off dyhydrocodeine at new year, I was taking 30mg tabs for

nearly two years. I cut down quite quick to just one tab then nothing

i would say the first four days were the worst feeling flu like really bad

upset stomach I just took ibuprofen and paracetamol to help.

i think if your prepared for the first four to five days of feeling really like

bad flu you can cope with that, although of course everyone is different.

sleeping does take awhile longer though I also practise mindfulness and

try meditation that really helped me.

also I think it depends how long you have taken them.

it can be done and every day gets better if you try to focus on that it helps.

good luck your half way there just by deciding to give these up they are so

addictive. Take care feel free to ask any questions you have and I will help

if I can. Ann 

3

Hi Andy, 

Sounds like you have a good plan. Make sure you have plenty of TV to watch, I have fond memories of watching Fringe on Netflix whilst going through the horrors of withdrawal. And get out as much as you can - all forms of exercise are helpful but you probably won't feel like doing much. Keeping a diary can be a good means of getting out all your frustrations, I keep meaning to sign up for counselling but somehow never get around to it.

Keep dreaming of getting to the other side, within a month you should be feeling pretty good again. I'm now 4 months clean of Morphine and its a really good feeling like myself again (even with all the bad bits).

Oly

4

I'll be doing meditation tonight I think, I am nervous but I need to get through this some how. Believe it or not the belly issues have just started, I am at work too as I can't afford the time off, let's hope I can push through.

5

Hi there,

Well I'm trying to live life as normally as I can, currently at work, belly issues have just started along with the aches and pains, good job I maintained my Netflix subscription!! I think that I will be meditating every night before sleep as well as having night nurse and kalms, I may get some sleep!

6

Netflix is an awesome reovery tool :-) I feel for you, the stomach business is horrible and trying to work is tough when feel like crap (but a good distraction). Just keep going hour by hour.

7

At the moment I'm trying to go hour by hour, each few minutes starts a new symptom, now have the runny nose, aches and pains, I know the restless legs is to come later on still I must battle on and get through it one small step at a time.

8

Hi, poor you lets hope you can work through it, at least being at work is a distraction which will help. Take some paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with

aches and if you get shivers as there not nice.

be careful with night nurse as that can also be addictive try to stick with

mindfulnessband meditation they really help.

im eight months now and feel really like my old self now this will be the best thing

youve done. Keep positive. Ann 

9

In the past year I have managed to do so much with weight loss and other health issues, this is just another thing to overcome, I will do it, it won't be easy, I'm going to take a day at a time, I will make it knowing I have done my best!

10

Hi, another side effect I had after a week or so was lots of sneezing lasted

for about four weeks, hope you can manage to stay at work , also try drinking plenty of water regards Ann

11

I guess I'll add that to the list of things to expect in the coming weeks then. I am keeping focussed on getting through this.

12

Hi Andy, I've been hooked on nurofen plus for 16 years and was taking about 72 a day at one time. For the most part I've been on 16 tablets three times a day which is similar to you I think. About two weeks ago I decided to taper down my dose and am down to 10 pills 2-3 times a day. Cold turkey isn't an option as I have to work so I'm hoping this works. This to be honest is the first time I've really wanted to get of these pills and feel mentally strong enough to do it. Good luck and keep posting to let us know how it's going

13

Lets just say I've started again today, I am now 16 hours in, got the jitters now, going to buy some supplements tonight to get to through the next few days, scared is an understatement I just want it gone.