Codeine Withdrawal

Hi All,
I have been addicted to codeine for about 6 years. It all started with them being given to me by the doc for neck pain - i was on them for about 3 months and the doc suddenly stopped them! Then i found the dreaded Nurofen Plus (500g ibprofen/12.9mg codeine) and at one point was on over 35 tablets a day!
I have finally had enough, have been back to a different doc and am finally withdrawing myself from them. Ive had the stomach cramps, the sweats but the thing that is getting to me the most is the lack of sleep and im sure i have restless leg syndrome - i am tossing and turning all night. Does anyone have any home remedies that will help me relax and just get a good nights sleep.

[littlebit667]

1.  keep hydrated..makes it worse if  you are dehydrated.
2.  epson salts in a hot bath
3.  Exercise...I try to tough my toes (funny to see) for about 5 minutes and then walk a bit and then do it again.

4.  Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs and heating pad on top of the pillow.
5.  Potassium pills or bananas
6.  Hyland's restful legs with quinine
7.  Quinine Water (tonic water)
8.  Dr. can give you a non narc script for something.  There are several things out there that help.  I have it normally and take carpidopa.  Really helps.  3-6 a day does the trick for me.  Dr. has to decide.  Mine got worse when I quit c/t from hydro.  Still bothers me, but the med make it go away.

9.  tightly (don;t cut off circulation) affected areas with ace bandage or small blankets like a burrito.  Other say it helps.  

10.  info here:  http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Restless-Leg-Syndrome-and-Opiate-Withdrawal/show/1098?cid=66

Sleep is a problem.  Other say to find a sleep aid so you can get to sleep, but the RLS will still wake you up usually.

Good luck and I hope I helped!!

9.  Some say cold at the achy area helps. Others swear by heating pad.

[littlebit667]

LOL can you tell I am still asleep?  Dogs got me up.  Sorry about the typos, etc.

[Ann2497]

I agree with everything littlebit said.  I would add getting Clonidine.  It is a blood pressure med well known for its effectiveness with opiate withdrawal.  It helped me with sleep and cravings.  It can make you sleepy.  Do you work?  See how it affects you before taking during the day.  I would break in half when I had to take during the day.  It is non-addictive.  Most doctors should prescribe without an issue.

Try melatonin, sleepy time tea and once your RLS calms down or goes away Benadryl can work (it can make RLS worse) for sleep.