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Codeine Withdrawal

I recently (two weeks ago) had microscopic back surgery. Although the surgical procedure was successful, I believe I am now paying the BIG price for those "wonderful" little pills that "held me over" in the interim for the severe pre-op pain that I experienced as well as the short period of post-op pain that I endured. I was prescribed Tylenol#3, Lortab 7.5, Lortab 10 and Percocet and LOTS of it. I was legitimately in a GREAT deal of pain! The problem was, the more pain medication I took, the more I needed (and the more I TOOK). NOW, I don't HAVE anymore. I also have no legitimate NEED for the pain medication to ask my physician for. It's not that I "want" to take the pills - but my "body" is telling me otherwise. I can't sleep at night. I'm breaking out in sweats and chills simultaneously throughout the day AND night. I'm extremely irritable, depressed and cranky. I am convinced that these are the symptoms of codeine/hydrocodone withdrawal. WHAT do I do about this? I can't STAND it!!! I have three children to take care of (two of them are babies). I can't take care of myself now because I am "sick" so to speak. I have been completely honest with my husband about this. He agrees that this is probably withdrawal, I need to do "cold turkey" (what choice do I have anyway?) and tough it out for the next week or so. IS THIS WHAT I HAVE TO DO or SHOULD I INVOLVE MY PHYSICIAN WHO PRESCRIBED THESE NASTY DRUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE? Like I said, what choice do I have but to do "cold turkey" and SUFFER anyway? You're prescribed all these highly addictive pain medications pre and post operatively. Then you're "cut off." Two days ago, he told me that he was "concerned that I was becoming addicted to pain medication." I think we're way beyond "becoming." I had my husband tell him that we were already concerned about addiction and I had my husband ask him what the symptoms of addiction and withdrawal were. All he told him was "daily, ongoing use." That wasn't the answer I was looking for. I wanted to hear PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS! Should I call my physician back and tell him that I am SUFFERING here??? My husband and I like and respect my doctor SO VERY much. We're not angry nor do we hold him responsible for this. We just want help in getting me "back to normal." I am TERRIFIED that I am going to go back into a "withdrawal" state again today. The last time I had codeine was 5:00 PM yesterday and I have NO more resources to prescriptions. I WANT TO STOP TAKING PAIN MEDICATION NOW! Would you please give me some GOOD SOUND ADVICE RIGHT AWAY SO THAT I MAY GET MY LIFE BACK??????? Thank You SO MUCH and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! Sonya :-)



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Avatar universal
I have been reading the hundreds of post dating all the way back to the 2000 and 7 era I am a 30 year old mother of three boys I have been the perfect mother and perfect co-worker perfect daughter for 30 years my mom always took the pills and the red and blue bottle I remember taking them Wonder toys when I was young and thought they made me feel cool just one when I turned 18 I got a headache and remember buying the same ones my mom did they were Tylenol 1 I started off with one or two a day eventually it was 13 at once about 4 times a day once you couldn't buy them over the counter this past year in Canada it is now Tylenol 3 with codeine I probably take 20 a day I spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying them on the street because where I live it's hard to get a doctor to write you anything so I go to the city and get connections there all I take is Tylenol I won't take anything else because I know if I do I am done for I have read all these and tried to taper myself off the last few days partially because I read that other way to do it partially because I only have some left before I can buy my next Dash and I was panicking inside I have had to wait a few days for them before and I was miserable I wonder if I will ever be able to stop I know my lover is going to give out I have been very healthy and my life considering I'm not asking for help or what to do I just wanted to share my story I know what I need to do what is my secret and mine alone nobody knows I do it it's a big lie in my life is anyone still around how is everyone doing
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Avatar universal
Hey
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Avatar universal
hi i bri i am in the same thing from aus n.s.w
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please help someone. my daughter is 35 years old and she had an addiction to tramadol. she had two fits  one in front of myself and her 13 year old daughter. we couldn't bring her round for about three minutes and at one stage we both thought she was dead. it is two years down the line and I am now helping her to fight a codeine addiction. she is taking 32 tablets somedays. she is at risk of losing her house because of the money she is spending on these tablets. she has said she is going cold turkey from todayas things have just come to a head. what about my beautiful granddaughter if anything happens to her, I pray she has the strength and courage to fight this as I have just recovered from cancer and I have copd. I feel so desperate.any comments would be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
I am so glad I am not alone. I too have my addiction hidden from my husband. I drive an average of 60km per week doing the rounds of pharmacies making sure I use each one only once a month. I not only do this but at the ones I know don't ask for id I use my maiden name and an old address. It's costing me at least $70 a week. I am in a bad way. But after reading your post I am telling him when he comes back from working away in two weeks. I can't keep doing this to my body. My kidneys hurt I am tired of driving and the kids would love to be able to have the money spent on them rather than killing their mother. Thanks
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Avatar universal
With "400" I'm assuming you mean 400mg? Length of withdrawal is different for everyone but generally speaking, its around 7-14 days for the most serious physical symptoms and can be up to 3 months or longer mentally.  Method of coming off codeine also plays a part - tampering or cold turkey?
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Avatar universal
advice please iv been on pain relief for over 20yearsthe last 12 mths taking upto 400 a week given by gp how long do you go through the withdrawl ?
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Hi I first started taking over the counter paramol 8/500 about 6 years ago.. I was in a very abusive relationship & they made me feel calm.. But have been on co-cod 30/an.. I can't talk to anyone about it & don't want to go to the doctors.. I'm ashamed as we have been trying for a baby & I have Misscarried 3 times.. I'm sure this is because of the tablets but my GP wasn't concerned at all?? I take 3 tablets at a time & around 15 a day.. Today I have taken 3 but normally would have been 6 by this time of the day.. Trying to just stop.. Is this possible? will it hurt me? Need some advice please.. xx 500 for the last 18 months for a shoulder injury which my abusive ex inflicted.. I get 100 tablets from my GP EVERY week without any questions being asked... I have just had surgery on my shoulder.. so it does feel better BUT Cant stop taking pain killers.. even though I'm now married to a lovely m
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Avatar universal
Hi Devonex16

I too have just started coming off the codeine phosiate have been taking up to 5 - 6 30mg tabs on a daily basis off & on for the last year or two. Just started withdrawring from sunday. Started with flu like symtoms & yesterday I had horrible fever hot then cold every hour. I have been taking strong iburprofen to counter this but i know thats not good. Since last night the diorreah has set in which has not been pleasant. My partner thinks im just ill how much more days do you think I have of this withdrawral process left?? the worst think is I still have 60 tabs of codeine in house too but I have been good so far well since sunday. god bless
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am a 37 year old mum of 2 and have a lovely husband, I have been getting prescribed co-codamol30/500 for over 5 years.  I have tried to stop many times but the withdrawal symptoms has always made me go back, I am normally prescribed around 400 tablets a month.  I first started taking them when I had laser treatment on my face and liked the way they made me feel.  I didn't think my husband knew how bad it was but he found tablets I had hidden from him, we spoke about it and I broke down, he wanted me to go to the doctors but I don't want that I am addicted to codeine in my medical records.  I know its my fault I am in this situation but also the doctor has been prescribing almost twice the recommended dose and never ever questioned what I was doing with them. I have read all these posts and although they are old they have shown me that I am strong enough to beat this addiction.  I am going cold turkey cos I want off these asap, on day 3 without any and I don't feel to bad a bit of a sore stomach and sweats but I can cope with that.  I would like to say most people start to take these to relieve pain and do not know how addictive they are, doctors don't care they are to busy working towards yearly targets so they can get more money in to their practice for the next year. If I can beat this then I know other people can, reading all these posts is certainly a wake up call for me, I hope that you all find the strength to beat this highly addictive drug, even feel a bit better getting all my feelings out as it is really hard to explain it to someone who hasn't been through anything like this and feeling like they are judging you, best of luck to you all xx
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am a 37 year old mum of 2 and have a lovely husband, I have been getting prescribed co-codamol30/500 for over 5 years.  I have tried to stop many times but the withdrawal symptoms has always made me go back, I am normally prescribed around 400 tablets a month.  I first started taking them when I had laser treatment on my face and liked the way they made me feel.  I didn't think my husband knew how bad it was but he found tablets I had hidden from him, we spoke about it and I broke down, he wanted me to go to the doctors but I don't want that I am addicted to codeine in my medical records.  I know its my fault I am in this situation but also the doctor has been prescribing almost twice the recommended dose and never ever questioned what I was doing with them. I have read all these posts and although they are old they have shown me that I am strong enough to beat this addiction.  I am going cold turkey cos I want off these asap, on day 3 without any and I don't feel to bad a bit of a sore stomach and sweats but I can cope with that.  I would like to say most people start to take these to relieve pain and do not know how addictive they are, doctors don't care they are to busy working towards yearly targets so they can get more money in to their practice for the next year. If I can beat this then I know other people can, reading all these posts is certainly a wake up call for me, I hope that you all find the strength to beat this highly addictive drug, even feel a bit better getting all my feelings out as it is really hard to explain it to someone who hasn't been through anything like this and feeling like they are judging you, best of luck to you all xx
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Avatar universal
Hi, I know this is a very old thread, but everyone's stories of getting clean and the ones that had been going through the withdrawal of codeine are an inspiration :) I'm on day 2 of cold turkey myself for the second time know, I went CT last year my baby was only 4 months old it was terrible, I did t want to tell anyone because I was so ashamed of myself for getting addicted to codeine 30/500 prescribed to me by my doctor, I went through cold turkey the first time it was awful, and with such a little baby to take care of as well as 3 older children, I had to force myself to get up in the morning to get them to school. But I got through it, and went 3 months with nothing then injanuary I was in terrible pain so took 2 this was the worst thing in the world I could have ever done, because now for the last 5 months I have been hooked :( today though I have spoke to my husband and told him what I'm going through (something I didn't feel I was able to last time) I feel this time with his help I will get through this FOR GOOD! I have gone 2 days now with nothing and as I have done this before I'm sure I will be able to again, only this time after having talked to my husband we have decided I should take 2 tablets a day for the first week, then 1 and a half the second week and 1 the week after and so on.... I hope that this way it will be easier on my body, as I don't have a mental dependency on them it's more like my body needs them I have never taken more than 4 a day so I'm not popping them left, right and centre, nevertheless my body has still built up a dependency on them, I will carry on updating every now and then as this may help someone else going through the same this and as previous posts have helped me. Good luck to anyone reading this thread, and there is light at the end of it all, I have been there! I'm just back on that same track again, but with the help of my husband, this time I shall not be going back I will let you know how I get on with the weaning, rather than full cold turkey for me thus time xxx
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Avatar universal
I have been taking Tylonal 3 for 4 years and want off...my back been hurting and I wont tell my doc...been getting them black market but now I want to ween off,please help for the less withdrawl..
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Avatar universal
first i want to say your a really good guy for trying to help her.i have been on lotab 10/500s for close to 10 years for a spinal desease that they say will make me paralized soner or later.i can give you some insight from her side.when i run out its like i have the flue..tired is an under statement..you start to lose it. the last thing you want to do is work.my wife is more of a tough love type.but all that being said you need to sit down with her and ask her how she feels about the pills.if she is concerned about the withdrawals and by what you said i would say she is.you may want to tell her doctor about it.its allways best to be upfront with your doctor he may swicth her to somthing else.but one thing i know for sure is the longer she takes them the deaper in she will get.good luck myfreind.
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Avatar universal
Hi, wow! I now do not feel like I will be going alone . I made the mistake of going off cold turkey, not doing well. Stomach pains, vomitting, restlesss at night, due to the pain, and the sweats! My joints hurt all over too. I have been taking tylenol # 3 for 15 years. it has only been the past 3 years that I was taking 8 pills a day, 30mg each. Phoned the Dr. Office, and they suggest i break ff slowly, because  the cold way is too much for me to handle. going to start with 4 day for a week, 3 a day for a week, and just gradually break it down to zero. I am scared, because I think for me, it may be too late. Maybe it's just because of the way I feel today. Has anyone else suffered with stomach pain when getting off of Tylenol # 3..? Thank-you!
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Avatar universal
Hi All currently day 2 of cold Turkey your posts are a massive help the lack of sleep and the restless legs are a pain in the butt, If thats as bad as it gets i will think myself lucky.
Been a very avid fan of anything with codine in it for the past 2 years decided enough was enough as was worried about my stomach and kidneys.
Like many other was perscribed it after surgery then continued to seek it out after i was better and no longer getting a script i use it to relax and deal with the pressure of running my own business. But no more I've had enough but i am supprised about my mood thought i would be more depressed. maybe later in the week. Thanks again all for your stories they really do help. Good bless and good luck  
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Avatar universal
The blood could be just caused by the trauma of being constipated, as it is very difficult to pass stools. So check your faeces.....and if the blood is bright red and looks fresh, its trauma but if its dark and also inside the stool you must take that seriously, either way see your doctor.
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Avatar universal
Like everyone else on this forum, I too am addicted to codeine. I am a 28 year old college student who works two jobs and goes to school. I used to be very fit and active, but about 8 years ago I started having severe pains in my knees. I went to the doctor, and he suggested a laporscopic surgery on each knee to go in and burn out the bands that had formed that were causing the pain. He put me in codeine, and immediately,  I was hooked. Now I'm taking anywhere from 5 to 20 10mg tablets a day, depending on how many i can get my hands on. I wound up having two surgeries, first my right then my left. Because of my addiction, I actually played up some pain that I was still having in my right knee and convinced my doctor to do surgery again, simply because I wasnt ready to get off the pain meds. Well that was 2 years ago, and I'm still living with this addiction every stinkin day. It's affected my work, school, family, and my morals. I actually wound up breaking into a friends home and taking their meds because I was in withdrawl. I've never experienced anything so captivating in my entire life. It literally controls every move I make. I've spent more money than I can afford, borrowed money I cant pay back, and done things I'm not proud of, just to get my fix. Before this addiction, my moral compass was very strong. I've tried getting clean several times and have succeeded, but I always convince myself that I need them, deserve them, or can handle using them recreationally just one more time. I'm at the end of my rope. I dont want to continue to fight this battle for the rest of my life. I was put on Suboxone a few times to help deal with the withdrawl, but I no longer have insurance and cannot afford the visit, let alone the pills, which are $9 dollars apiece without insurance. I'm currently in the process of trying to taper myself off, with the help of the occasional xanax for anxiety and sleeping pills for rest. The main problem is that I love the medication so much, I wind up taking a dosage that will get me high, simply because I love the feeling so much. The hardest part is that although I know that in order to be successful and the best person that I can be, I have to stop. I just don't want to. I'm starting to think that the only way i'll ever overcome this is with inpatient therapy, but that will cost my both my jobs, my home, i'll have to put my education on hold, and most importantly, they'll be nowhere for my daughter to do. It all just seems so helpless. I'm glad I found this forum because although I've been to NA meetings, it's nice to know that there are so many other people out there who are suffering through this with me. Good luck everyone, and be careful.
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Avatar universal
Well, I've been taking Tylenol 3 for 2 years and didn't realize how addictive it was.  I've kind of had the "shakes" inside, not visible, but I feel like my nerves are hot and racing through my arms and my stomach has been off since I started to taper (cut them in half) 2 weeks ago.  I don't know how long this takes but went to an alternative doctor in Florida and he's giving me glutathione/B-12 IV's a couple of times.  This helps your liver which is toxified from all the acetominophen.  I read that a good B-complex and certain foods give you glutathione.  That's what you need to make.  You can take NAC and glutathione by capsules also, but take more vit. C than NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) to avoid stones.  Asparagus, broccoli, cantalope, wild-caught salmon, organic chicken (if you can get this stuff) and fruits.  There are a lot of foods which let you naturally make glutathione to detox your liver.  Your liver loves this stuff.  Get Suzy Cohen's book on "Drug Muggers" and see which supplements you need to replace the ones certain drugs "mug" or deplete.  OK, that's all I can think of.  Hope this helps.  I'm still on the edge so I'll write more if the IV's are helping.
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Avatar universal
that is fantastic well done you. how did u come off them just altogether or did u reduce day by day? im still in the process of reducing day by day and its so hard. have u got any advice and if you used anything to help you with the withdrawals i must say the restlessness is the worst for me by far. you should be so proud of yourself.
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Avatar universal
Hi guys. Ive read through all the posts and feel for you all. I've been hooked on codeine tablets for around four years. I had noticed over the last couple of years how tired and old i felt & was never really sure if it was the tablets. I tried giving up a few times unsuccessfully. The longest i lasted was eight days. The withdrawals were the same as everyone else's including the sweats, depression and aching legs. This time however i've been clean 5 weeks & feel so much better in every way. I feel fit again, i'm sleeping pretty good, feeling very optimistic & want to get out and about. I started to feel the real benefit after 4 weeks so it may be different for others. I don't crave them and have no wish to return to them as i'd forgotten what it feels like to be alive and care for life (and people). I had four years in a half daze hating my life and it was down to those pesky painkillers, i realize that now. I am now eating healthier, getting out and about more and meditating to binaural beats. Listen guys, give time time (one day,hour or minute at a time)  There is hope. I wish you all well.
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Avatar universal
hi i am also addicted to codeine phosphate im a 28 year old single mum n ive been taking these horrid pills about 3 years. i can take upto 28 tablets per day at 30mg each i need to get off these things so today i have started trying to gently wean myself off ive only took 9x30 mgs so far which is less than half i would normally take. im sitting here now with stomache cramps restless legs sweating like i dont know what and the worst headache ever but i am determined to do this i need to for my son. if anyone has any suggestions on how i could make this easier then please let me know thanks
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2126958 tn?1335311470
Need to know if there is any way to stop these electric shocks through my body with Codein withdrawal . 9.5 years 750 mg Codein Phoshate daily statred on about 300 mg 700 for years now. 2nd nite c/t  I cant do it have no pills have to get script and wean off I feel thats best, thou Iv'e tried so many times, I just cant hack these shocks making me mastibate (excuse) for a little relief, terrible C T not  4 me the flu symtoms i can hack not the shocks and insomnia. If I could stop the shocks I would cary on detox no prob.
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Avatar universal
hi all , i am in the same boat as the rest of you , i am addicted to codeine , i have to stop but the withdrawls after i few days are just so painfull , i don`t want to take anything anymore, its exspensive , takes over your hole life and is causing me exstreme fluid retention , my eyes are merky and i costantly feel uncomfortable but most importantly i am verry verry veryy well aware of the damage it can cause to u and ur body in the long run , i am a 28yr old mother of three from australia and 14mnths ago i accidently overdosed on mersyndol , i was taking it every night as i get chronic restless leg syndrome(rls) , after a long time of taking mersyndol , ( codeine , paracetemol, and anylgesic calmative ) i needed to take more and more just to get the effect of complete relaxation, 1 night when i was unable to sleep and becoming exstremely frustrated i just kept taking them until i felt stoned and all of a sudden verry ill , the next morning my youngr sister came around to visit and i couldnt move , she told me to get my *** in the car and raced me to the hospital , i never see her worried about me in any way but this day she was in tears saying , u look like your dead i`m so scared , i was vomiting blood and my liver had started to fail , i was admitted into the hospital in  my town and woke up 3weeks later in the intensive care unit in the transplant specialist hospital in the city , i had accute liver failure , my kidneys had stopped working and i had been on dialisis for 1 week straight , i had cheated death by a mear what they estimated was no more that 2hrs , because of my failing kidneys and liver the fluid in my body had nowhere to go so it flooded my brain and nearly snapped my spinal stem , i was put into a coma on life support for 17days an my left lung colapsed , i had a shunt put into my skull to drain the fluid away and my liver and kidneys slowly came around , i had to learn how to walk , talk and hold my own spoon again , it was the most horrific exsprience of my life , i could walk no more than 10metres at a time an was in physiotherapy three times a week for 5mnths ,..............................3 months ago i was helping my kids build a tree house out the backyard and i fell hitting my head and back on the concrete kirbing , i was in a lot of pain and went and got mersyndol to help with the pain , i live in a tiny town population bout 800 so we dont have chyropractors or even a dr fulltime at the hospital so , i ended up getting the same painkiller that near killed me just to releive the pain until i could travel over 24hrs to the city to get help , i had no intentions of using them long term and i beleived that i wouldnt get sucked into the trap of addiction .......i was wrong and cry nearly everyday privately as i let this ******* habbit win over me when i swore to myself it wouldnt , i`m frightened and angry with myself as i know what can happen , ive exsperienced the end and wish never to be in that situation again , in the intensive care unit i met 3 other people who had the same addiction and the nurses say its the cause of so many deaths at that hospital ............if anyone has any advice on easing withdrawl pains i`d be so gratefull of any advice , and those who have kicked the addiction , beware of ever using codeine again as it becomes habbit once more before you can bat an eyelid whether you swear ud never get into that trap again or not x
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