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Codeine Withdrawal - my story
I hope I don't bore you with my story but reading others stories was one of the major aids for getting me through this. If this helps one person than I will be happy. With the new codeine laws being put into place from the 1st of May, 2010 in Australia I needed to make a decision to stay on the destructive course I was on or admit to myself and my family just what I was doing to myself and get clean. I had been taking Nurofen plus/Panadeine/Mersyndol in large quantaties for the past 5 years and needed to put a stop to it.
The final awakening for me was nearly causing a major car accident because I was so off my head on these tablets. I had been taking sometimes up to 30 tablets a day (sometimes more) of 12.8mg strength and living in a small town was finding it harder and harder to source the tablets. On the day of the near accident I had driven an hour to the nearest large city and gone to 6 chemists in order to stock up.
I am have a wonderful husband am a mother to 2 beautiful children and successful business woman so this was a huge wake up call. My addiction could eventually cost me my life obviously and I couldnt do that to my family. Admitting to the problem was the biggest task. Withdrawing was the second.
On the day of the near accident I had taken 36 tablets in one go and this was my last big dose.
Day 1. - The next day I woke up in the morning and took 12, vowing to not take anymore that day. By the end of the day the hot and cold sweats had started and I had a slight headache. I had some maxalon at home so took this before bed and had a good nights sleep.
Day 2 - This day was slightly worse but still bearable. Took 6 tablets in morning as soon as I got up. Slight headache, hot and cold sweats but also a bit of nausea. Went to work this day and survived just. This was when I stopped eating. Took 6 tabs before bed.
Day 3 - Up at 3am with vomitting and diarhea. Had hot shower and maxalon (this was the lifesaver for me, dont think I would have been able to quit without this so pretend you have vomitting and get a script before you try to quit). Day very long and hard. Took 4 tabs in morning. Unable to hold any food down. Lots of water though to stay undehydrated. Nauseas and diarhea all day. Very teary and emotional. Decided on this day I needed support to do this so told my Mum, Dad and husband. Hardest part of all. But they were so surprised and supportive it made all the difference. Took 4 tablets at night.
Day 4 - Probably the worst day. Took 4 tablets in morning. No food. Lots of water. Bad headache. Vomiting and diarhea. Went to doctors and got shot of maxalon and some lomotil (on the pretext that I had vomiting and diarhea - no questions asked - wasnt ready to tell doc.) . Immodium also helps. Generally felt like I had a really bad flu. Took sick day off work and stayed in bed most of day. Restless Leg Syndrome started today. It is shocking. Hot baths in the middle of the night helped. Not sleeping very well at all. Took 2 tabs at night
Day 5 - Started day with 2 tablets in morning. Still not eating and nausea and diarhea very bad. Have lost 4 kilos so far. Keeping fluids up. Drinking hydralyte and loads of water. Very lethargic and feeling generally crappy. Wanting so badly to take more tablets. Mentally this is draining. To stay strong in my mind was sometimes worse than the physical symtoms. Not sleeping and RLS is bad. Hot baths help and more maxalon. 2 Tablets before bed.
Day 6 - Spent day at Mum and Dads, sleeping on and off. Mentally and physically drained and needed their support to not start taking again. No tablets this morning. No food all day again. Very sick with vomitting and diarhea. RLS very bad. 2 Tablets before bed
Day 7 - woke up feeling clear headed for first time in days. Was able to see future and it was looking good. Very determined not to have any tablets today. Still no food. Lots of water and only 1 maxalon tablet. Slept well - NO Tablets at all.
Day 8 - No tablets today again. Well feeling better but not out of woods. RLS is still around. Again hot baths and going for walks helps. Still cant hold down food. Diarhea easing up. Lost 6 kilos so far. Sleeping heaps better once I get to sleep.
Day 9 - Feeling much more sane and better. No maxalon today . Still not tempting food though. Diarhea stopped. Nausea stopped. Can see the light at end of tunnel.
Well as I said I hope this isn't too boring but reading others stories really helped me get though this. I have been clean for nearly 2 months. So much happier, healthier. Less tired, saving a fortune. Better relationship with family and husband. Clearer head. No more secrets.
If you are addicted to codeine don't try cold turkey, most people wont have the willpower. Taper as slowly as you can and you will do it. Admitting you have a problem to yourself is the biggest hurdle. Good luck.
The final awakening for me was nearly causing a major car accident because I was so off my head on these tablets. I had been taking sometimes up to 30 tablets a day (sometimes more) of 12.8mg strength and living in a small town was finding it harder and harder to source the tablets. On the day of the near accident I had driven an hour to the nearest large city and gone to 6 chemists in order to stock up.
I am have a wonderful husband am a mother to 2 beautiful children and successful business woman so this was a huge wake up call. My addiction could eventually cost me my life obviously and I couldnt do that to my family. Admitting to the problem was the biggest task. Withdrawing was the second.
On the day of the near accident I had taken 36 tablets in one go and this was my last big dose.
Day 1. - The next day I woke up in the morning and took 12, vowing to not take anymore that day. By the end of the day the hot and cold sweats had started and I had a slight headache. I had some maxalon at home so took this before bed and had a good nights sleep.
Day 2 - This day was slightly worse but still bearable. Took 6 tablets in morning as soon as I got up. Slight headache, hot and cold sweats but also a bit of nausea. Went to work this day and survived just. This was when I stopped eating. Took 6 tabs before bed.
Day 3 - Up at 3am with vomitting and diarhea. Had hot shower and maxalon (this was the lifesaver for me, dont think I would have been able to quit without this so pretend you have vomitting and get a script before you try to quit). Day very long and hard. Took 4 tabs in morning. Unable to hold any food down. Lots of water though to stay undehydrated. Nauseas and diarhea all day. Very teary and emotional. Decided on this day I needed support to do this so told my Mum, Dad and husband. Hardest part of all. But they were so surprised and supportive it made all the difference. Took 4 tablets at night.
Day 4 - Probably the worst day. Took 4 tablets in morning. No food. Lots of water. Bad headache. Vomiting and diarhea. Went to doctors and got shot of maxalon and some lomotil (on the pretext that I had vomiting and diarhea - no questions asked - wasnt ready to tell doc.) . Immodium also helps. Generally felt like I had a really bad flu. Took sick day off work and stayed in bed most of day. Restless Leg Syndrome started today. It is shocking. Hot baths in the middle of the night helped. Not sleeping very well at all. Took 2 tabs at night
Day 5 - Started day with 2 tablets in morning. Still not eating and nausea and diarhea very bad. Have lost 4 kilos so far. Keeping fluids up. Drinking hydralyte and loads of water. Very lethargic and feeling generally crappy. Wanting so badly to take more tablets. Mentally this is draining. To stay strong in my mind was sometimes worse than the physical symtoms. Not sleeping and RLS is bad. Hot baths help and more maxalon. 2 Tablets before bed.
Day 6 - Spent day at Mum and Dads, sleeping on and off. Mentally and physically drained and needed their support to not start taking again. No tablets this morning. No food all day again. Very sick with vomitting and diarhea. RLS very bad. 2 Tablets before bed
Day 7 - woke up feeling clear headed for first time in days. Was able to see future and it was looking good. Very determined not to have any tablets today. Still no food. Lots of water and only 1 maxalon tablet. Slept well - NO Tablets at all.
Day 8 - No tablets today again. Well feeling better but not out of woods. RLS is still around. Again hot baths and going for walks helps. Still cant hold down food. Diarhea easing up. Lost 6 kilos so far. Sleeping heaps better once I get to sleep.
Day 9 - Feeling much more sane and better. No maxalon today . Still not tempting food though. Diarhea stopped. Nausea stopped. Can see the light at end of tunnel.
Well as I said I hope this isn't too boring but reading others stories really helped me get though this. I have been clean for nearly 2 months. So much happier, healthier. Less tired, saving a fortune. Better relationship with family and husband. Clearer head. No more secrets.
If you are addicted to codeine don't try cold turkey, most people wont have the willpower. Taper as slowly as you can and you will do it. Admitting you have a problem to yourself is the biggest hurdle. Good luck.
Wow thanks for the responses. Makes me feel good reading them. Havent had any aftercare. Just taking it one day at a time. I suffer from migraines so the temptation is always there but I have been trying any natural products I can get my hands on and if all else fails I just go to bed and try and sleep it off.
The more I read the more I am surprised at how many people suffer at the hands of codeine addiction. I am very glad that the Australian Government has restricted the dosage limit but I wonder if they have thought of the support that people need to stop the addiction. How many people have suffered since the changes came in on 1st of May 2010. I had no support in the way of councelling or doctors and feel that it would have helped immensly. I was very luck to have my husband and Mum and Dad support me but most people arent that lucky.
Thanks again for your responses. Made my day that little bit better. :-)
The more I read the more I am surprised at how many people suffer at the hands of codeine addiction. I am very glad that the Australian Government has restricted the dosage limit but I wonder if they have thought of the support that people need to stop the addiction. How many people have suffered since the changes came in on 1st of May 2010. I had no support in the way of councelling or doctors and feel that it would have helped immensly. I was very luck to have my husband and Mum and Dad support me but most people arent that lucky.
Thanks again for your responses. Made my day that little bit better. :-)
Ya done good kid...2 months is great and there will be many more days.
I have been off codeine for over 9 months and do not miss it at all.
I also live in a country where we can buy it without a prescription,but our laws have not been changed.
We can still buy 8 mg codeine combined with acetaminophen over the counter,but I will not touch it.
Anyways,congrats on 2 months and keep posting even if just to let us know how you are doing.
I have been off codeine for over 9 months and do not miss it at all.
I also live in a country where we can buy it without a prescription,but our laws have not been changed.
We can still buy 8 mg codeine combined with acetaminophen over the counter,but I will not touch it.
Anyways,congrats on 2 months and keep posting even if just to let us know how you are doing.
2 months is great you have come a long way. Isn't life so much more enjoyable clean .Have you found any recovery care it really is important to have a system in place to help when temptation comes and it does .
Keep on track you are doing wonderfully
Keep on track you are doing wonderfully
Good post! Two months is graet! Stay strong and keep focused--seems like you know what you have to do.
The only thing I would like to add is this "if you are going to taper please dont think that you need to wait untill you are clean to start aftercare! Aftercare is important to start as soon as possible--most who go cold just dont have it in them to start any kind of aftercare untill the intail w/ds pass but if you are tapering you will feel alright enough to start aftercare DURING the taper so that you can be learning the whole time
The only thing I would like to add is this "if you are going to taper please dont think that you need to wait untill you are clean to start aftercare! Aftercare is important to start as soon as possible--most who go cold just dont have it in them to start any kind of aftercare untill the intail w/ds pass but if you are tapering you will feel alright enough to start aftercare DURING the taper so that you can be learning the whole time
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