One last thing I need to say and then I'm outta here. I'm reading a lot on here about dihydrocodeine addiction...it's as bad as heroin addiction. Drug addicts...etc etc. Well, here is the truth, absolute. If you take dihydrocodeine at a high therapeutic dose for say 3-4 weeks daily, then you are physically dependent on them. And you will continue to be physically dependent on them until you stop taking them. BUT YOU ARE NOT ADDICTED! Addiction is a chronic condition, framed in an obsessive compulsion to repeat the bahaviour, in this case drug taking, no matter what detrimental effects the behaviour may be having on your life. Addiction means you lie, steal, rob to take ever higher doses of a substance, progressing through the stages of harm with administration (ie. from snorting or smoking heroin to injecting it). Ultimately you spend ALL of your time looking for money or drugs to the exclusivity of everything else. Addiction is defined by a chronic, unstable lifestyle that is out of control. If you are going searching for more and more scripts, or money to buy DHC AND TAKING EVER GREATER DOSAGES then you are addicted to them. Otherwise, you are physically dependent. Nothing more and nothing less. Please, no more of these comments about how being on a DHC script is as bad as being a heroin addict. I was a heroin addict for 20 years and believe me, it is FAR worse than being dependent on a DHC script.
Hi, Couldn't agree more with your comment you've got it to a T. Hope people do read this and think before opinionating on pain medication, that many of us need to take and wish we had a choice not too, but we hav'nt.
Thank you NigelC you have put everything into perspective for me. I am physically dependent on DHC and not addicted as I thought I was. I hope you are well and living a happy life now as you sound like you deserve to be. Good luck.
I dont agree !!! Ive been taking dihydrocodine 30mg for 6 years. At the moment im on 20 a day and am slowly killing myself, If i could stop i would. I know i need to cut down but cant because IM ADDICTED Just because i get it on perscription and dont lie and steel to get it doesnt mean im not. It is as addictive as heroin belive me, im ADDICTED :x
Been reading some of your thoughts, and i would just like to say that addiction is addiction. Whether you rob and steal to get your next hit or whatever.
I was alcoholic for over 20yrs and as a result i now have chronic pancreatitis, one of the most painful conditions there is (ask around it's true).
When in hospital i am put on a morphine PCA, with 5/10mg per shot.
At home i take 10 Dihyhydrocodine at 30mg and 8 tramadol at 50mg every single day whether the pain is really bad or not, because i have had to take that dose for at least 3 yrs due to the pain levels i was experiencing when i take less or god forbid run out i go through a worse cold turkey than when i went to rehab for my alcohol problem.
Unfortunately this is what happens after long term use of any substance, i have a running battle with my doctor about the amount of pain meds i use.As i often now have to increase just to cope with moderate pain.
It's a classic catch 22 situation, Your stereo typed and stigmatized, disbelieved by the very doctors whom first prescribed you the medication, and in my case do to my history accused of substitution from alcohol to prescription drugs. When really you need these medications to function on a day to day basis.
I have taken various kinds of codeine since a back injury. I ended up taking 30 30mg tablets per day and going to other towns to temporary register with GP to get more codeine. I went cold turkey and thought I was dying. I could sh*t through the eye of a needle at fifty paces, my sense of smell went weird and I was as weak as a kitten for a month. After a couple of months, I was back at the GP and the chemist and eventually I decided to be scientific about quitting. The big problem is living with the pain without the meds but it has to be better than running round the UK to get codeine. I got the GP to put me on DHC Continus, the slow release stuff in 60, 90, or 120mg. I abused this at first but eventually, I used the slow release stuff to ramp down the dose and stop. It took five weeks but the withdrawal wasn't as unpleasant. The GP is helping me manage my pain in other ways and for now, I am off the codeine. It has messed with my sense of smell though. I have a permanent bad smell in my nostrils. I see that we're on the semantics issue again. For me, I don't care whether the true definition is addiction or compulsion. What matters is that it messes up lives reduces lives and killed people. Call it what you like...
:cry: How? How did you get off it? I am addicted. I have lost everything I love due to this and it is an addiction. I pray I dont wake up. I hate the way I live and what I have to do to stop the agony of withdrawing. I am serious when I say I have lost everything. I am totally ashamed of my life. I didnt know the bad smell was because of the codiene though-thanks for that tip.
I am at the end of the end of myself. I dont have any fight left in me and believe me I have always been a fighter. I have been seriously ill I was not expected to survive, on life support for a month. But I did survive and I cant accept it was just for this. I think that is the only reason I am still here. Because somewhere in me is the flicker of truth that just maybe it doesnt have to be this way. But I am utterly without hope at this moment, if I knew the level that would end all this for me I would just do it but my tolerance is so high that I just end up making myself really ill and then having to manage without for a bit which is worse than dying to me. I cant get out. I really cant and I have never been stupid or an idiot but my life has become totally unmanageable, it is outside of my control, at least it feels like that. I have a daughter I dont see her very much but she is the only light in my life and I cant even stop for her...why?!!!! I love her utterly and completely, I have this terrible fear that she will end up like me and when I do see her I advise her as best I can a 7 yr old. But I know ultimately I couldnt ever stop her, my parents couldnt stop me, what if she chooses this? She is totally without guile, an innocent, a shinning light just as I was at her age. How did this ever get so bad and how,please someone just tell me how to stop. And dont say stop putting it in your mouth because that wont cut it. I cant stop. I hate what I have become but I cant stop taking it, or abusing it. I never understood that term because I felt for so long like the drug abused me. But I do understand it now. Someone, anyone please tell me how I stop this? I am going to a church based recovery support group. Its the only thing I actually go out for anymore. Im amazed I go at all but each week my feet keep finding their own way there and I end up there. Every week. Looking and smelling like death itself. I like it there. I am not judged there, or humiliated, or hurt. They actually smile when I walk in, they give me a meal and coffee and a warm clean safe place to run to. One of them actually hugged me once. Me. This is only 2 hours a week. How do I manage the rest? I am absolutely desperate. I dont know where else to run and Im just so tired. I cant mange going out mixing with people. I never used to be like this. Believe me. I would be the person at school voted least likely to end up here. I barely sleep, rarely eat, am in utter poverty and yet still I find something to sell, beg, borrow to keep up with my need for this drug. The only things I do are maintain my prescriptions and sometimes I go out because of her. My daughter. I can find the push to do things for her, like trawling town for sandals and a white sheet for roman day. I dont know how I do this but something in me pushes really hard when its her. I take her out when I see her, try to make sure she eats a hot meal and gets her homework done and goes to french after school each week even though my cheques keep bouncing, I do find the cash to pay for that. Her dad provides everything else its the very least I should do for her. Like I said, I dont know how I do that because when I dont see her I stagnate in my living room on the sofa, its where I live, sleep, drink tea. But even this is getting out of control as I used to beable to make sure the place was clean and the washing up was done before I collected her but Im ashamed to say that I couldnt find a clean cup for her juice last time she came and that is pretty apalling mothering. But I do love her and I thought that would be enough to
Quip. Please can you email me. I'm a mother of 5 going through exactly the same as you, your story really touched me. Please email me hon.
[quote:2714914af8=\"quip\"]:cry: How? How did you get off it? I am addicted. I have lost everything I love due to this and it is an addiction. I pray I dont wake up. I hate the way I live and what I have to do to stop the agony of withdrawing. I am serious when I say I have lost everything. I am totally ashamed of my life. I didnt know the bad smell was because of the codiene though-thanks for that tip.
I am at the end of the end of myself. I dont have any fight left in me and believe me I have always been a fighter. I have been seriously ill I was not expected to survive, on life support for a month. But I did survive and I cant accept it was just for this. I think that is the only reason I am still here. Because somewhere in me is the flicker of truth that just maybe it doesnt have to be this way. But I am utterly without hope at this moment, if I knew the level that would end all this for me I would just do it but my tolerance is so high that I just end up making myself really ill and then having to manage without for a bit which is worse than dying to me. I cant get out. I really cant and I have never been stupid or an idiot but my life has become totally unmanageable, it is outside of my control, at least it feels like that. I have a daughter I dont see her very much but she is the only light in my life and I cant even stop for her...why?!!!! I love her utterly and completely, I have this terrible fear that she will end up like me and when I do see her I advise her as best I can a 7 yr old. But I know ultimately I couldnt ever stop her, my parents couldnt stop me, what if she chooses this? She is totally without guile, an innocent, a shinning light just as I was at her age. How did this ever get so bad and how,please someone just tell me how to stop. And dont say stop putting it in your mouth because that wont cut it. I cant stop. I hate what I have become but I cant stop taking it, or abusing it. I never understood that term because I felt for so long like the drug abused me. But I do understand it now. Someone, anyone please tell me how I stop this? I am going to a church based recovery support group. Its the only thing I actually go out for anymore. Im amazed I go at all but each week my feet keep finding their own way there and I end up there. Every week. Looking and smelling like death itself. I like it there. I am not judged there, or humiliated, or hurt. They actually smile when I walk in, they give me a meal and coffee and a warm clean safe place to run to. One of them actually hugged me once. Me. This is only 2 hours a week. How do I manage the rest? I am absolutely desperate. I dont know where else to run and Im just so tired. I cant mange going out mixing with people. I never used to be like this. Believe me. I would be the person at school voted least likely to end up here. I barely sleep, rarely eat, am in utter poverty and yet still I find something to sell, beg, borrow to keep up with my need for this drug. The only things I do are maintain my prescriptions and sometimes I go out because of her. My daughter. I can find the push to do things for her, like trawling town for sandals and a white sheet for roman day. I dont know how I do this but something in me pushes really hard when its her. I take her out when I see her, try to make sure she eats a hot meal and gets her homework done and goes to french after school each week even though my cheques keep bouncing, I do find the cash to pay for that. Her dad provides everything else its the very least I should do for her. Like I said, I dont know how I do that because when I dont see her I stagnate in my living room on the sofa, its where I live, sleep, drink tea. But even this is getting out of control as I used to beable to make sure the place was clean and the washing up was done before I collected her but Im asham
hi
I m a rehabilitation worker, and my job is to help people overcome their dependency, or addiction. Call it what you like, the effects are the same, its just jargon.
And it is a myth that all 'addicts' are criminals.
I have a great deal of empathy for people why feel that there is no way out from this dependency.
However, you could enter a programme of substitute prescribing.
Now, i have heard so many people ask:' Why should i swap one drug for another?'
the reason for this is that you will be monitored and checked regularly when you are on a substitute prescription. You will have the opportunity for counselling and practical assistance, like relapse prevention and motivation to change, as well as looking at self esteem and confidence issues.
When you feel ready, the substitute prescription will be very gradually reduces, de-toxing you without any physical withdrawals.
Just contact your local addiction services, who should be able to help and support. If you don't know where they are, ask your doctor.
And it is hard work, and a very big decision, because you will have to give up using dihydrocodeine, it can be very scary.
But there's a way out, a difficult way, but a way
all the very very best
and if anyone would like to ask anything (re. drug/alcohol dependency), feel free
Hi I've taken DH for about eighteen months now sometimes taking more than I should.
The past few weeks I've tried to take just a few a day and then last week just one.
I then decided I would stop completely as surely only 30mg can't stay in your system
for too long.
I'm really feeling bad today very shivery and really aching legs,restless. My question is
should I take any meds to help ? Should I just carry on ? Does anyone know how long
this will last.
I've only ever taken ten at most for a few days when in lots of pain, but I decided not to
take anymore because I fear I was becoming dependant on them and they are interfering
with everyday living. Hope someone can answer thanks
Hi Ann03972, I have struggled with dihydrocodeine addiction since 2009, i was taking upward of 24 per day and felt i had no way out, it just became "bigger" than me, everytime i got my hands on a new load of tablets i promised myself i would start weaning off them but it never happened my brain told me i needed more and i was disgusted with myself, it became so bad that i was afraid to fall asleep at night incase i never woke up again, i was put on these tabs after my daughter was born in 2009 for a disc bulge in my back, the pain was horrendous! The tablets worked great and took the pain away completely, it also took my sadness and anxiety away, before long i was taking 3 every 4 fours then 4 every 4 hours untill 6 months ago i found myself taking 8 tablets in one go every 4 hours! I was on my knees desperate for help but was too afraid to go to my GP in case he stopped my prescription, it was a horrendous vicious circle of constantly hunting for tablets in between ,y prescriptions, i know a lot of people who are on these tablets so we used to borrow from each other which is again dangerous!
Any way, 2 weeks ago i was at my friends baby's christening who is a health professional and she asked me how i was doing as she thought i looked tired and ill, we where in the toilet and i broke down completely hitting rock bottom right in front her, i told her everything and she said "I had an idea that your back problem was more a pain killer problem", she told me about a drug called Modanifil by a company called provigil, it was frist designed for people with neurological diseases such as MS but they have found that it helps with Bi Polar depression, Cocaine and opiate addiction, narcolepsy and tiredness due to medication, i went to my doctor and told him that i was tired due to my medication and asked him if i could try this drug, he wasnt happy about giving it to me as they have only done so many trials on this but after i told him i would try them just for a few days and come back to him he said ok (not all doctors are as nice as mine), i started them the next day, they have changed my life completely i would go as far to say that they saved my life!!! I only take 2 dyhydrocodeine at night now to help with the restless legs. Now I know that i am probably going to receive a whole back lash and barage of abuse after posting this but i really feel for you and there is a way out, i never thought i would get off dihydrocodeine, it destroyed the last 4-5 years of my life but my life has changed in a way i never thought possible, please feel to contact me if you want, if you need someone who understands to talk to, its easy for people who have never been in this situation to judge.
Love & Light xxx
Please Please Evefirst how can i get in touch with the right people to help my son overcome his DHC addiction.it has taken ove rhis life and to the point where he cannot think sleep eat or function without it.he doesn't want to come off and i'm seeing my youngest child slowwly killing himself and hes only 21...now he's ending up in prison,he's lost all his supported housing and listens to nothing but when will he get the next script from...he regularly fakes the scripts and the chemists believe him! he has misbehaved with his gp and then another because they wont give him more..he gets through 200 to 300 tabs a week i think but now he is facing homelessness because he couldn't get along with other people in the supported housing...hes appeared in court and the solicitor says there's nothing they can do...now he's becoming increasingly unreal talking about how important and rich and famous he is...how can i help him to the right services...rehab and how do i do that? Im really asking for help please please do drop a line if you can
I am in the same postion i will ask my dr for that drug , thank you for posting ive wasted so much time DHC has turned me from a busy person to lazy and If i let it go on much longer I feel I may push myself of the deep end 
, Thank you
did you end up stopping it if so how please let me know im going crazy
Hi there if I was to go completely cold turkey can you please tell me how long the nasty effects will last? i really need to get off this and i am determined to this time before more of my life is wasted. thank you for your time
Hi mirrinsmum,
my name is Tracy and I have been addicted to pain pills for years probably more than 15 years first I was addicted to co-codamol 30/500 then it was co-codamol 30/500 and Tramadol 50mg then I added dihydrocodeine 30mg to the list and also pregabalin 50mg (lyrica) at this moment I am addicted to all of these meds and take them every day I take 10 dihydrocodeine, 5 Tramadol , 2 pregabalin and 2 co-codamol all at the same time as soon as I get out of bed and the same again around 5pm , I have now ordered the Modanifil tablets from the internet and am planning to take these to get off the other tablets and was just wondering how I go about that ? what did you do ? did you take the dihydrocodeine as usual the first day you took the modanifil ? or did you take only the Modanifil and nothing else ? I am not sure how to do it I was going to take my usual handful of meds and also the modanifil at the same time then the next day start tapering all the usual meds down instead of taking 10 dihydrocodeine try 8 and so on and then uping the modanifil to try and stop any withdrawals I just dont know where to start these meds have been part of my life for so long I actually need them just to be me , the thing is I was depressed before I started taking any meds and I dont want to go back there I am happy taking the meds but know I have to get off them I just would rather get off them without going through the horendous withdrawals that I know cums with it
Thanks for any info x
Hi Gary ,
How did you get on with the Modanifil did it work ? I have bought these tablets from the internet and am planning on using them to get off the meds I am taking at the moment and would love to hear how other people got on when using these tablets
Please reply
Thanks
Hi ,
Can you also tell me if you still take the Modanifil and how many you take I really need help to get off these meds I am on
any info would be great
Thanks
Hi Tracy sorry for the late reply it was my weekend to have my son over and he has had me running here there and everywhere lol. I didnt get the Modanifil in the end my dr refused to entertain the idea, I had a break down in december after realising I had lost everything due to being hooked on DHC after all the emotional explosion I finally realised I had to stop. I went cold Turkey and although the first week was horrific ( Im not gonna lie 
Once that week was over things became bareable and now 3 months after I feel like I have been reborn I still crave sometimes but keeping busy stops a lot of that. My Dr Did prescribe Amitriptyline for a month as a sedative to help me sleep and I am now on venlafaxine an antidepressant which as help a lot. I wish you all the luck in the world in stopping this evil drug I too was taking it more for mood elevation than pain, If there's anything I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask . God bless
Hi,
I know this was posted over a year ago however I am a dihydrocodine addict and have been for several years and I would say it is a disgusting drug. I take 400-500mg in one go and this does not effect me. I am now in recovery and on a detox where I get an amount prescribed to me daly which is reduced over a period of time however my experience...
The drug was at first incredible I felt so good and nothing could touch me however the itch was unbelievable sometimes causing me to scratch to the point the skin was off and I had an open wound. Once I got hooked everything was well however I needed more and more each time to get my fix and even then I was not happy and wanting more before bed. I now suffer from hilusinations regularly, my writing use to be great I have a higher in English however have somehow forgotten perfect grammar and spelling, I can't tell the difference between my dreams and reality, I am in a lot of pain all over everyday, my stomach is in pain and I am getting checked for an ulcer, I have chronic gout (I am adding the word chronic in there because it's painful everyday and sometimes I cannot walk even with my alapuranol), I am sick on a daily basis, I am depressed and I have the shakes permanently. I have spoke to my doctor about this and this is how I am now on detox however he also thinks I may need antidepressants as well as antischycotics due to drug abuse. I was not however taking the diffs as we know them where I am, but I was also taking huge amounts of canibas, cocaine, speed, solpadol, tramadol, diasipam, timazipam and a lot of sleeping pills I forget the name of. I am a married man and work full time therefor I would not say my life is the worst however I am 28 and would easily pass for 40 my wife is older and often passes as my younger sister. The adict part of me I hate, the adict in me treats my family like sh*t he makes me shout at my wife for no reason, me makes me start fight with her, he makes me spend all our money on drugs but he is not me.
Don't be an adict kids it's not present and will kill you however will ruin you and your life first. Getting clean is the only thing that will save not only me but my wife as my problem is changing her.