Hi all I've been taking codeine based products for 3 years now starting 8 a day now upto 15 a day maybe more.
No one knows about my addiction.
I did go to the doctors a year ago who put me on a taper plan it worked to start then I went back to square one so now it's time to cold turkey.
I have constipation, tummy ache, and mood swings all the time also have gained weight.
I really need people's help with this any advice from people who have done cold turkey.
I don't want to do suboxone or other things on just want to get back to the fun mum I was before I started taking these horrible things.
I started taking them for back pain which as gone I'm pain free it's just an addiction.
Thanks guys
Hi Hun, I'm in the same boat 😖😫 I started taking them about 4-5 years ago after severe ear infection and having wisdom teeth out. I found that not only did they help with the pain they helped with my mental pain of a bad relationship..... I never fully understood they were addictive and what the withdrawals would be like! I have tried many times to stop but I can not cope with the sweats I get and always end up going back to them! The longest I did was 3 days..... I can't taper I've tried that too! I need to go cold turkey, I have ran out of tablets and have an appointment with doctor later to renew my prescription but I'm thinking I will tell him I don't want them and try to stop again?! It's so hard! I'm the same they cause mood swings and depression with me too and also I have gained weight.😫 Sorry I couldn't really give any advice. It's just a matter of doing it and getting through about 5 days of hell I think and then there's the mental side of it which probably continues for a lot longer 😔 Xx
If there is one peace of advise I'd give it would be stop now before you lose your life . Seriously. I wish you both all the best at this. I almost died in my addiction I am lucky to have escaped with all my facilities in one percent. If I can do it you can to. If you have Any questions I'll be happy to answer .
All my facilities in one piece ! ☺
Hi sandy would you mind telling why you nearly died? And how did you come off in the end did you go cold turkey? How long were your withdrawels and how was the mental side of it and time with that?? I know everyone is different. Are you ok now? And happy? I'm really thinking of not getting my prescription later! But I also need to work I can't take any time off and worried how I will cope xx
Hi hope your not feeling too bad today I've been on co codamol for years now and it's so hard to go cold turkey . Today is my 6th day and the worst is now over . So my advise to you is if you don't stop it's the 4,000 mg of paracetomal a day that will eventually cause you harm . Your liver just can't take the punishment and will definatley go horribly wrong . We all know the buzz co codamol gives but it only lasts for five minutes, so is it really worth it. 28,000 mg of paracetamol a week will kill you please stop before it's too late . If I can stop anyone can good luck
Hi lb,
Hope you are succeeding in stopping taking codeine base drugs.I had been taking co-codamol for about 5-6 years,initially for pain but then for the short term buzz from the codeine.I had tried to stop several times and failed.I think this contributed to the depression I also suffered from and was treated for with sertraline and mirazipane.That lifted and I decided to quit the codeine first and then the anti-depressants.Three weeks ago I stopped taking co-codamol.The first week was horrible with a strong craving for them,upset stomach,night sweats,shaking and anxiety attacks.You need willpower to get through this but into the second week the cold turkey subsides considerably.Now three weeks in I am feeling a lot better and realize these tablets were causing me problems that are far outweighed by not taking them.It has given me the confidence to stop taking the anti-depressants which I have done so now for a week with thankfully no ill effects. Hopefully for me it is onwards and upwards and get back to the things I enjoy doing.Incidently I had virtually no help from my doctor to come off this crap only how to get on it.I think these codeine products should be more difficult to obtain and more closely monitored as I had no problem in getting as many as I wanted(not needed) even though my medical prescription record was clear for the doctor to see every time I over ordered them.I never considered myself an addict until the last 6 months when I started going on these forums .Please let me know how you are faring. Best Wishes.Tony.
Hi Dash sorry I took so long to get back to you. Regarding the codeine withdrawals ...to do it cold turkey is possible but a very hard way to do it, I tried that time and time again , over and over in the end (2015) I asked my husband to ween me of them so I had 2 in morn and 2 in afternoon for a couple of days then down and so on over a week it made the physical withdrawals so much easier.Then came the hard part, the psychological part ...you see I took those wretched pills as I thought they increased my energy and made me more motivated in the end the longer I took them the more I had to take to get any affect, they just made me so sick..my organs were shutting down and I almost died (I shouldn't b here) even after hospital I went and took more as cold turkey gave me bad bad cravings and the hospital didn't put me on any discharge plan hence why in the end I couldn't do it on my own and asked my husband for help. I am out of that cycle now it took alot of perseverance on my part but I really really wanted off them..I knew I would die other wise as my tolerance level was way up there and I had to take a lot of codeine pills in the end I just needed help.I am happy now but I am an addict, I don't drink because one is too many and more is Never enough, same with codeine. It is a battle but you can win it anybody can who really wants to. I hope Iv answered your questions ..if there is anything else you would like to know I am here.x
ask for help from someone close to you...it helps stop the lieing we do to ourselves.
Thank you sandy I am currently weening off but using tramadol to do so. The doc agreed to use this method as I would not be tempted then to take more and the tramadol keeps the withdrawels at bay. I know I'm just throwing something else in but like I say I am using it for withdrawel and will taper each day so will be off completely in ten days I'm hoping?! 😬 X
Tramadol is also an opiate.It does not make sense that it is being used tio wean off codeine which of course is also an opiate.
Hear, hear.
Paracetamol damages the liver.
Hi hun thanku for replying it helps knowing I'm not alone with these devil pills. How did u get on with gp? X
Hi 1tbtbtb I am still them I don't get the buzz or the energy from these anymore I take them just to feel normal. Well I've forgot what normal is to be honest I feel like a zombie I have no interest in anything anymore. I was a fun mum loved spending time with my kids now the last few mths they have been spending time on there own weather that's cos I'm a moody cow at moment I don't know all I know is I want off these so bad I'm just scared of the wirhdrawels. I did upto day 3 and the rls kicks in so bad the tummy ache then I felt helpless with the kids.
But I'm helpless now.
Anyway I have plucked up the courage to tell my parents who were so understanding and I have the chance to spend some time at there's in a few weeks so I could go there get help with kids my partner wrking away so he will never know the difference.
At what day wuthdrawel did u think yes I can do this did u feel the zombie state go if u know what I mean.
Thanku for replying x
I think you need to get off codeine for the sake of your kids as well as for your own health's sake.
The timeline varies but don't give up getting off this poison.
dash I do nt wish to interfere but tramadol will not help you to get off codeine because tramadol is an opiate just like codeine is. Good luck xxx
Thanks Jane I'm just going off docs advice and I delayed a bit because of people saying it was still an opiate and I do myself believe it is ........ it's just so hard to go cold turkey😫 I went docs again yesterday and I do have the tramodol but no more codeine. I am going to try and use the tramadol as a taper because if I have codeine I can and will take more. But I really do think that the tramadol will allow me to taper as I won't take more of them because it's the unknown to me?? I know it sounds crazy but it's worth a try? 😖 Thankyou for taking the time to message me xxx I will keep you updated! I'm hoping to try and taper quite quickly and from today I have realised that the tramadol does not give me that buzz feeling so that's got to be a positive I think?!?! Xxx
Hi I understand .
You sound determined to get off the codeine so I am sre that you will succeed. It sounds a mammouth task at the time but trust me however impossible it all seems it is possible. I am living proof of that.
Take care xxx
Thanks Jane xxx I just worry that I won't know who to be without them if that makes sense?? Like I'll be depressed etc but I am anyway and spend all my time googling how to quit etc?! 🙈 Xxx well done you!! Do you find your mood and energy has increased now Jane then when you were on them? Xx