the reason why these tablets don,t work anymore is because your body has got used to them and the fact that you are more then likely addicted to them the codeine that you are on are very addictive so be careful i myself is on them and to be honest i would rather suffer the amount of pain am in all day and everyday
You can get 8/500 and 12.8/500 OTC, anything higher is prescription only. Although it is possible to buy a 200ml linctus that has 600mg of codeine in it, OTC for about £3, with chloroform and sorbitol in it to deter overuse.
I have an underlying, as yet undiagnosed knee injury, that causes me constant pain and irritibility, I also have IBS and a plethora of allergies.
Since I started taking low dose co-codamol every day, the pain has gone, but strangely, my mood has lifted, I feel normal, my IBS has pretty much stopped, I can concentrate and listen more than before, basically pay attention to people when they talk to me. I'm more critical, more involved, more productive, my ability to analyse social situations has vastly improved, and I am more sociable. It also makes me less interested in other methods of self treating anxiety, namely, food, booze and fags. In a sense, it has solved everything.
Which is good right?
But also bad, because I know when I get my knee injury seen to, and they ask what I've been doing to treat the pain, and before the injury itself gets treated, I will be prescribed higher strength co-codamol, maybe even pure codeine, probably on repeat prescription, and then I will become totally addicted, like all of you. Not only that, but it's fixing so many other things at such a low dose, which means that it's masking and hiding other health problems that I potentially have.
But I feel so good, so happy, and so rational, for the first time in years.
So much so that I think I should just give in now, deal with the consequences years down the line when I'm in a better position.
The ones I used to take were 30/500 prescription only.
I was addicted to them and it took some doing to get off of them
Please stop extolling America for not selling codeine OTC! Many responsible patients with real chronic pain, (arthritis, degenerative bone disease, migraine headaches) cannot get reliable effective pain relief without resorting to a doctor visit ! Have you any idea how inconvenient that is for many of us.
Sorry, Latchy, YOU are the one with the *misuse* problem dont be clamoring to take effective medication from those who truly need it !
hi latchy.
i could really use some help. im addicted to codine and have been foe over a year now. i take neurofen plus, between 32-44 tablets a day, usually taking upto 20 in one go. i used to be so bad on them i stole them from my boyfriends father, they did find out in the end and have split over somwthing completely different.
knowwhere in my hometown will serve them to me anymore and so find myself traveling upto 10 miles a day on the bus just for my "next fix".
i have been to my gp and admitted this to them. she reffered ti me the drug and alcahol team, but after 3 months i heard nothing from them and so went back to a different doctor who has suggested doing it at home rather than reffering me as theyll not give me anything to help me through it, and so he put me on a depression tablet to help while i gradually cut down and eventually stop. they are also to help me sleep. tbh they dont seem ti be helping as yet. im down to 10 a day.
noone knows apart feom my mum and dad as i feel so ashamed and dissapointed within myself.
im fed up with tablets being the first thing on my mind when i wake and the last thing when i sleep at night. when im unable to get them i just feel so week and lafargic with no energy at all, which is hard being a single mum to two young boys. i do hope u reply and can give some words of wisdom, i also hope u havw managed to knock them on the head with it being 7 month since your last post. . thanks. sarah
I have a bad problem I take 16 to 24 a day for the last 6 or 7 year I'm starting to chest pains now I'd love to kick it now I'm 31 I need to stop
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted you to know you're not alone. I was very addicted to codeine/paracetamol . (In Aust it's called panadeine forte 30/500) I was on it for 8plus years. Never thought about it until I used up my script too quickly and couldnt get anymore. So I decided to quit. I must say I never thought I was so addicted but I was. I told my family and my Dr and decided to go cold turkey. Which was really hard, but I'm getting through it. It's been nearly six weeks now. I can't tell you what's best for you tapering or cold turkey but I will tell you what I did. I looked up the Thomas Recipe and based myself on that.
I got myself someL-tysrosine potassium and magnesium tablets, some Imodium (for the runs), small amount of Valium (doctor gave me 15 so I wouldn't over take them)
The first 36 hours are the worst. Cold like symptoms, anxiety and killer restless legs. The magnesium and potassium will help with legs plus lots of hot showers.
Honestly it was hard but each day gets a little bit better.
Keep yourself busy, try and go for walks. Know that it won't last forever and it gets better. Make sure you have support. Write a diary so you can see your progress and to get your thoughts out from your head.
Of course this is what I did but you need to stop the way it works best for you. I knew I had to go cold turkey but a lot of people taper off.
I wish you best of luck and I hope you can get yourself off them.
I honestly think, there is no reason to be ashamed of urself, it is the doctors fault for being so easy going with handing out cocodamol and codiene.
I only just turned 21, and I've been addicted to codiene for 2 years now. I injured myself and although I didn't have a diagnosis at the time, straight away I was given cocodamol && codiene. Later when I got my diagnosis I found that there really wasn't a need for me to take cocodamol, however my doctors still prescripe me cocodamol and codiene regularly, at 100 pills per two weeks! I've never been questioned as to why I've been taking so much! And has caused me to become, addicted to the point I used to have violent mood swings, and sweating, which caused me to wet all my clothes and bed specially at night!!! I wish myself to get help, however the doctors have refused to prescripe me any newer painkillers, due to my young age, and because I will be taking them for the rest of my life.... I agree u should get help, and try not to tempt urself, by sneaking some codiene I honestly think it's such a shame, as I'm quite young they still prescripe me such a huge amount but I do get reviewed every so often, however with older people, they don't really question or evaluate the situation twice before handing out codiene or cocodamols, or the pharmacy sometimes! If the doctor keeps presciping u, then the pharmacy should always question the customer as to what they need it for, so it will help less people become addicted to the codiene/cocodamol, as there such a high risk of overdosing specially with cocodamol, which has 500mg of paracetamol and it's very easy to od on paracetamol
All my life i have suffered with anxiety and panic disorder and since my teens on and off depression. I have been taking mirtazipine pescribed by my doctor mostly to help me sleep at night so I'm not exhuasted the next day but also because its an anti depressant, I've also been taking propanolol when anxiety gets too much
When I had my wisdom teeth removed i was pescribed codeine phosphate 30mg to help deal with the pain which was intense, and i was unaware that this was an opiate or how addictive they were
it really helps deal with depression and anxiety, the warm feeling you get and it relaxes you when you're feeling intense, my guess would be this is a milder version of what heroin users experience
It's especially addictive for people like myself, and potentially dangerous if to much is taken or if mixed with other medications and alcohol but let me tell you it is nice to feel warm and relaxed when you struggle to feel that naturally. The problem is the more you use it the more you have to take to get the same effect and your brain becomes accustomed to it that you no longer feel the effect so for a long term solution to depression and anxiety it's not the answer
I would advice people not to take this at night, when feeling tired or before sleeping as for me, when i was drifting off i was so relaxed and then suddenly i became aware of how slow my breathing was. a feeling like it was coming to a halt which was scary, i think if you sleep on this there could be a risk of that happening
I think maybe it will be fine for me to take it every other month during the day, 3 a day and this is something i want to ask my doctor
All i know is that coedine has helped me a lot besides removing the toothache it was initially pescribed for and i'd like to really continue taking it someway thats safe without over doing it
Hi,
I'm currently on Day 7 of codeine withdrawals, I was taking about 32 neurofen plus daily (roughly 400mg). I'm not going to lie it's been so hard and I'm still not back to the real 'me' but it had to be done. I refuse to let these pills rule my life.
Day 1-2 was the sweating, flu like symptoms, aches, diorhea etc
Day 3-4 were even worse with a constant feeling of nautilus and then throwing up/heaving 9pm -7am. You do not realise how long the nights are until you can't sleep.
Day 4 I went to the Dr and this was the best thing I could have done we talked about his smoking not addiction and how these little pills are the devil and he offered to put me on a programme but I told him I had already done 4 days cold turkey and he gave me some sleeping pills (which I haven't taken, didn't want to swap one drug for another).
Day 5-7 is the start of recovery I can promise you this. As I said I'm not 100% but I can function and I'm trying to stay positive. One thing I will warn you of which no one seems to discuss is the extra time you have, codeine relaxes us and passes time without us noticing it, now I'm off it I have so much time and I don't know what to do with it, this I suppose is my biggest fear of relapse, boredom but I refuse to let it take me. I haven't gone through a week of hell just to go back to stage one. Anyone looking to go cold turkey (which is what I did, couldn't be arsed to ween off it). I would say get a week off work, stop taking them on the Friday before you finish work and endure it!!!! It's hard but so worth it. You will feel normal again, our bodies are amazing things and so are you.
Sorry to ramble I just needed to share my last 7 days with someone as it's hard for people to understand how you can get addicted to 'just neurofen'.
I start a new job today so hoping the anxiousness stays at bay and let's me make a good impression!
I hope to hear from any of you, especially if more details are required.
Sweats!
P.s. The only meds I used to help me get through were Imodium for my stomach/diorhea. I took dioralyte every morning after throwing up/diorhea to replace valuable nutrition such as body salts/sugars and a multi vitamin a day. I was so motivated not to pick up a 'substitute'. I also forced down boiled vegetables and forced myself to take my dog for a walk. Eating healthy and exercising is imperitave for a quicker withdrawal process I believe.
Hi
Well done!!!!
Just wondering if you felt down/emotional too, sorry if silly question or i missed it in your message.
I'm on day 2-3 & can't seem to stop crying, well aware there are much worse symptoms but with young children at home,
its obviously not nice for them to see me like this but can explain upset tum much easier.
Hoping you're still checking this post.
Hi Gray,
Yes, I'm a 27 year old male and I cried at so much stuff. It was always set off by something, like something in tele etc. It's completely normal to be emotional, I was for about the first 4/5 days. Now I don't mean I was constantly crying just had points during the day where felt I could cry because of the stresses of being very ill for so long and probably self pity abit!
Over 4 weeks for me now and I feel soooo much better than when I was on the pills.
Stay strong!
Sweatz
Thank you for getting back to me.
I've been taking codeine for about 6 months due to back pain, had dr appt 2 weeks ago & said it wasn't
helping with my pain so gave me tramodol which made me feel awful.... so thought I'd just stop
taking all meds as wasn't helping anyway, now unfortunately I've got withdrawal, naively
never even realised this could happen.
You have done so well, really pleased for you that you're feeling so much better.
Hi All,
Just to let you know.
I've been free of cocodamol tablets for over a year.
When I'm in pain, it is hell & I've nearly succumbed to going back on them.
I never went over the maximum dose (8 tablets in 24 hours) but because I took them for years,
I HAVE done damage to my system, which cannot be reversed.
So
Please,
if you are still taking these, especially if you are taking more than you should, please stop, please get help - I had to ask my surgery several times before they took me seriously.
It could save your life !
xXx to all
This posting is very old so I apologise. Please speak to someone about this. It is resolvable.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm Australian and over here you don't need a prescription to buy it. No more than 40 tablets at a time and you Just have to show ID. I first started using it around 6 or 7 years ago to stop smoking weed. Only at night or days though or when I'm at home or alone...but can average any where from 5-15-20 night strength tablets a day depending on the situation. with the occasional and rare day here and there off it. I get it in mercyndol form (drug name, not sure if you're familiar) which is also a muscle relaxer and calmative so three opiate like substances in one. Find I can't sleep or relax at home without it. My husband thinks I use them for period pain....(which they work wonders for) but isn't aware I abuse on a daily basis. When you have an addictive personality it's really hard to quit! Anyone got good pointers? I've even started using it with Valium. And like I'm sure a lot of you are I feel to ashamed and embarrassed to admit it to close family and friends. Even found it's made me a recluse and introvert. But it's the only way I get any relaxing feelings. Advice? And if you've used longer than me has your health decreased at all? ✌🏻
I found I was more irritated and angry than emotional. Anyone else find that?