Need help/Advice regarding withdrawing from Codeine

Treatment and medication
1

Hi All

Ok so 3 and half years ago I was in a car accident and suffered from a bulging disc and whiplash, the Doctors put me straight onto Codeine Phosphate 30mg x 2 four times a day. I had them on repeat prescription and was never questioned when I ordered them. So basically I am addicted to them even though the pain I was in has subsised and now I found myself taking 12 x 30mg every day.  

One day (2 weeks ago) I had had enough of being addicted, I needed to take them to just feel 'normal', so I went to my GP and admitted all.  She was absolutely disgusted with me and was furious and basically called me a "heroin addict".  I wasnt to happy with the way she treated me tbh and she basically said if this doesnt work you need to go to Addaction.

She immediately cancelled them on repeat, fair enough, and gave me a 2 week tapering plan where I had to take 12 one day, then 11 next, and so on and so on.  I attempted this but I felt it was too quick for how long I had been taken them, i got down to 4 a day and then was really really ill with withdrawals, I decided to stick at it but after my last tablet I was so ill i had to have time off work and I went back to the docs for advice and they just upped my dosage of Amytripyline, which did not help whatsoever.

So i ended up replapsing (as I hade a few 30mg left) and I also keep buying Nurofen Plus. So Im back to square one.  I just cant handle the physical and mental effects of withdrawl, I was a mess.

So now Ive self-referred myself to Addaction and they want me to go and see them, etc etc.

Im glad i've done this now as I might get the proper help I need to stop altogether as I cant just do it cold-turkey.

I have to wait 10 days for an appt with Addaction (at my local surgery) but i was wondering if I rang my GP and explained what I have done (it was their idea) they would provide me with some meds until I see the Addaction doctor ??

I cant keep buying Nurofen Plus & Codeine Linctus online, its breaking the bank but I cant handle cold turkey.

I am married with 3 kids and my wife has noo sympathy for me at all, like my doctor, and wont give me any support whatsover

 

2

Omg that doctor needs to have a word with herself how disgusting to treat you like that when they should have reviewed you before it got out of hand, anyway moving on from that you've done the right thing and you will get a lot of support from this sight, in my opinion you definitely have tapered down to quick and hopefull youl get the right support and advice from addiction, please ring your docs back and ask to speak to someone else urgently so they can help you until you get your appointment, stick with it your taking the right steps to getting better, I wish you all the best but keep us informed on how your getting on no matter how difficult it gets someone will be here to help you through it 😊 Good luck x

3

Hi ian68673. I'm sorry to hear about what your going through and hate hearing what is becoming a common story of your GP just cutting you off. That was wrong and so was this "professional" making you feel bad about yourself. The withdrawal will cause a chemical depression as it is. I would possibly go to an emergency room and see what they can do in the meantime because you going to addaction sounds like a good thing to do. The thing about taking neurofen plus is that although you may feel fine, taking large doses of paracetemol can be deadly! The reason they put it in is to stop people abusing the codeine but when you're strung out, you likely take the chance but this is a very, very dangerous thing to do. At least try and spread your doses to every 4 hours no more than 2 because the paracetemol could give you liver failure (even if you feel fine). If you go to the emergency room at the hospital, they may be able to give you a prescription without the paracetemol until you get into this program. I feel for you and this whole addiction thing gets very, very messy with people that are not addicts themselves. I would also look for an NA meeting. There are loads of people in the same boat as you and they can offer you the strength, support and advice that you need. To go through it alone can feel nearly impossible. I went there (to NA)and i did it amidst cold turkey. It was horrible but thanks to those rooms, they saw me through and gave me the love and support i needed to get through it. Best of luck to you and please stop all the paracetemol because it's playing with fire. You can do it Ian. You really can. Spread the doses and find a meeting. All the best to you with loads of healing your direction. Take care.

4

Thank you Carolineq8 for your kind words!

I am positive I will beat this as I dont drink or smoke, have never been addicted to any substance in the past, in good health (apart the codeine) but I just cant Cold Turkey and need help getting over that bit and I will have it beat. I tried it in the past but failed, one time i was so ill I blacked out at the top of the stairs and cut my head open.

Its also nice someone will listen as no-one knows about this (my wife knows I have taken them in the past and has found them on a few occasions and flushed them down the loo, which doesnt help)

I will ring my doctors in the morning, would you suggest speaking to a different doctor ?

5

One small piece of advice I would give is to keep a daily diary of exactly what you have taken and how you are feeling.  If you haven't done so to date then write it in retrospect and then keep up a daily entries.  You should also write down how this all started, how many times you have been reviewed and when these reviews were carried out, by whom and what was said.  I am an ex Benzidiazepine victim and am now disabled both emotionally and physically.  If I had have kept records and photpcopies of all the hand written prescriptions which were given to me which exceded safe doses I wouldn't be an emotionally disabled porper now.  This isn't helping I know and I can.t advise on this drug but I am currently withdrawing from Morphine patches and going through a similat type of hell for the second time, stupid man that I am.  Good luck Ian,  You need to face the world without drug dependance now.  On your own and drug free.  It will be worth it   ~   Clive

PS You could also look to see what NICE says about taking this much Codene for so long?

6

hi pete58156

I undertsand that the paracetamol isnt good for me, i do CWE to try an reduce the risk, thats sounds so bad and desperate I know.

I have tried to cold turkey about 6 times now and failed miserably...

7

hi clive-onpatches

i hvae a full record of what I ordered and when as its all online, I am going to speak with a different doctor tomorrow and also wait for my addaction appt

thanks!

8

Good man, You'll get there Ian. Let's see what actual help you get tomorrow. I hope you get to see someone who knows what they are talking about ~ Clive

9

thanks!

I also have just browsed the NICE website about opiate addiction and withdrawal

some very interesting information on there, is that what my GP should be following ? or is it down to the individual Doctor about what methods they use ?

10

Hi Ian

I cannot believe the attitude of your GP mate, absolutely pathetic!!!

I cant really add to what everyone else has said to be honest. Just to get a different GP, i would also ask to speak to the practise managet at the surgery & put a complaint in about that GP!! The stupid Cow doesnt have a clue, you're sruggling enough as it is witbout that stupid women adding to your problems!! She should support you for gods sake not kick you when you're down!!!!

Something i can recommend you do is to ring a drug charity that will help you. They were absolutely amazing with me & i dont know where i would be without them.

Google release drug charity for the phone number, if you cant find it message me & i will get it you.

All the best tomorrow mate, i really hope this Dr is better & helps you more than that other poor excuse for a GP did, stupid cow!!!

All the best

Ritchie

11

Ritchie you're a scream but you have given Ian the best advice.  My laughter at your comments took my anxiety a step back for a moment or two also.  It's plain to see that there is hope for us all.  Stick with it mate, forever she will be known as "The Stupid Cow"   ~   Clive

12

Such an interesting question Ian.  When I was on the Benzos the GMC said the no person should be on these drugs for more than a month.  My doc said that that was crap and continued to prescribe the highest doses and more for a year.  I was suicidal for 9 months.  GPs seem to have a will of their own  and I have never seemed to be able to fathom it.  One might think that doctors should follow guidance from the GMC and NICE but it is evident that some don't and feel restricted by the governing bodies.  What we believe is being represented by the GMC is not necessarily what the rule of law says.  I am afraid it is all about cause and effect.  The burden of proof is on the patient to prove that they have been wrongly treated by a doctor.  NICE and the GMC simply sit behind their advice and do nothing.  All this is fraught with difficulty   ~   Clive

13

Hi All

thanks for all your advice, I am going to ring the doctors in the morning and get a telephone consultation (i cant take any more of work, Ill get sacked) with a different doctor and exlpain my situation and also that I have an appt with Addiction and see of they can help me until my appt with Addaction.

I know I have relapsed but surely they could help me for 10 days until my addaction appt ?

Even if they give me something other than Codeine to help with the WDS until then would be a blessing

Has anyone else done this before with their GP ?

Thanks again

Ian

 

14

Cheers Clive!

Its right though mate, she wants striking off for how she spoke to & treated Ian!! He is strugglimg enough, doesnt know how to climb out of this hell hole he is in & she says that!!

Ian

I was put on a deadly amount of Oxycontin by my GP, after years of abusing i had had enough but she too was useless when i said i wanted to come off. All she said was "try to cut down" WHAT!!!! Thats like putting a bottle of Jack Daniels in front of an alcoholic & telling them not to touch a drop!!! Oxycontin is Heroin & she told me to cut down. Yet another stupid cow mate!!

I changed surgeries & was put on a taper program, my new gp was amazing mate, he really was.

I tapered down to 320mgs per day but then hit a brick wall, i am on methadone now to help but that will be another nightmare once the time comes.

Good luck tomorrow & please contact release, they are great, they WILL help you

All the best

15

Ian

The gp should give you a script for codeine to help and set a date for you to start a taper program. Dont take no for an answer mate. If yet another dr dont help you, change surgeries. Make another appointment with another surgery telling them its an emergency!!

16

Hi All

Ok so I have an appt with a different Doctor at 950am this morning so will reply back later when I have been.

I hope they help me

 

17

well that was an absolute joke

i asked for a telephone consultation so they have me 950am

so i was waiting and waiting and no call so i just rang them and they actually booked me a appt at the surgery

so now I have to wait for the duty doctor to ring me which could be anytime today

18

good luck ian. we'll be thinking of you and i hope they treat you fairly.

19

Ok spoke to the Duty Doctor about 30 mins ago who was horrified that my GP gave me a 2 week taper. She said its no wonder you were so ill and relapsed.

She was very nice & kind and agreed to put me back on 8 x 30mg a day for one week then 7 x 30 mg the next week and so on and so on, so i have a script for today and then 7 post-dated ones.

She recommended that I still go to my addaction appt when it comes through but state to them to keep me on my weekly scripts from her, dont let them give you methadone or butran(never heard of that?)

she also said if I need to speak to a doctor during my taper for whatever reason then ring the surgery and leave a message for her directly and she will call me back sometime during the same day. She also said my dosage should have been better managed from the start and clearly it hasnt.

I feel so glad I got some proper support (thats all it took) and now happy and confient i can beat this mess

thank you for all your advice, Pete, Caroline, Clive, Ritchie (you made me smile) I will keep you all posted on my progression and hopefully beat this demon once and for all

 

20

Fantastic news Ian! I'm so glad you're getting things sorted!