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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[teri]

This is a very hard thing to quit.  I posted a message a week or two ago.  The important thing to do is talk to you doctor.  The best way I found is to slowly taper the medication.  They can also give you benyl for stomach cramps.  If you want to talk to someone I am here, I am at the end of the tapering and it still is hard.  I to am a mother to a baby and an older child.

Teri

[Kimberly Reed]

I can so relate to your problem, I hope you get this message because there is help for you.  I have had Kidney stones for the past 8 months and I also have been taking the same pills that you have and when I was cut off 5 days ago I had the same symptoms.  I was aweful, so I did call my doctor (Kaiser) she gave me no advice accept deal with it.  So I called around at Kaise and they have a Chemical Dependantcy center, this is a common problem for chronic pain sufferers.  The center put me on what they call a Taper.  You start of with a liquid that contains a dose of narcotics comperable to what you have been taking and every week they cut you back by 10%.  It is too much to go through alone, it is the same as herion withdrawal.  It's not your fault and you don't deserve it.  Don't feel guilty, even if you took them sometimes for mood enhancement ( I did ) don't feel guilty, anyone would.  I wish I could say I knew the Taper worked, but I am just starting on it myself.  Your not alone, I also have a concerned husband and 2 school age children.  I am 33 and to be honest with you I would rather just keep taking the pills, they make me happy.  But I can't my doctor won't let me so this is my only answer.  I would love it if you would email me so I can have someone to talk to and relate to (Zeldagirl_***@****)  I hope this helps some.  Thanks   Kim

[tc]

You should definately tell your doctor and go through withdrawal treatment and counseling.  John sounded a little harsh.
Good Luck

[Neena]

This is for Kimberly Reed.  Please e-mail me.  ***@****
Hang in there...you are not alone.  I cannot find your address in these postings.

[Jim]

i have just found this site....and i am very happy to know that i am not alone with this problem..I am a 50 year old male that has been taking atasol/8 with codiene for more than 20 years..what a nightmare i am living.i suffer from migrain headachs since i was in my teens.T he problem is that i take these pills not because they make me feel high but to avoid a headach.And i have tryed so hard so many times to stop cold turkey and was advised not to because of the danger of going into shock.i'm at the end of my rope now.I have spent a fortune on these pills over the years,and being from Canada codiene is bought over the counter.can someone really help me get off this merry go round....or do i just die with this?

***@****

[three]

Hi Jim. I'm also in my fifties and am trying desperately to ween
myself of T3's. What I understand is that the atasol has a very
limited amount of codeine in it. You're probably suffering more
from mental and emotional withdrawel than physical but that doesn't lessen the problem, does it? I'm searching myself for a detox centre in my area but we have very limited resourses. Have you tried cutting the amount you use down on a daily basis and keeping a record? This is the route I'm taking. I've cut all the pills in half. I use them for headache also but would rather put up with the pain than the 'panic' I feel when I'm out. My heart goes out to you and to all on this list. It's a double-edged sword, isn't it? Pain...or addiction, if you're an addictive personality. If we can get through those 'five' days doctors and others keep talking about, then it's one day at a time. Good luck to you and hang in there.

[Peter]

what i want to learn is that i am taking 19 pills, that is 10mg codeine/300mg paracetamol per a pill,every day. As

[three]

Hi  Peter. I don't know about the paracetamol but I'm sure you
can look that ingredient up on the net. As for the codeine, ten
miligrams x 19 pills are equal to 190 mg. of codeine a day.
I am on 120 of codeine and 1200 mg. of acetomenophene. [Did I spell that right?] In time the acetomenophene toxifies the liver.
If taken in high doses [somewhere between 4000 and 7000] I have heard that it can do this instantly. I have tried to cut down
the four T'3's a day but find myself almost impossible to live with. My blood pressure goes very high from stress. You are twenty and have a very good chance of beating this before you become a lifelong user. I have also tried to get help from a detox center and because of my headaches they won't take me.
If there is ANY chance you can get into a detox, do so. Believe me, you don't want to live in my shoes, thirty years from now and still be fretting on how to get clean. I wish there were more I could say to help you. After you admit that you have a problem, its' uphill from there. I have to go it alone. I'm trying. It's not easy. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Well here I am taking a chance.I have been addicted to
acetaminophen with codine since I was about 23 and today
is my 38th birthday.Living in canada you can get them over the counter and thats what I do.I travel around to different pharmacies so nobody thinks I might have a problem with
them,yeah right.I have been in detox 3 times the last time about 6 years ago.I cant go into detox again it isnt possible for me right now.I go through about 400 pills a week with each pill 8mg of codiene and 325mg of acetaminophen.I take anywhere
from 30 to 60 pills per day.Why am I not dead probably because my sysytem got use to them.I am sick and tired of being
sick and tired.Right now I have about 10 pills left and
I know this isnt enough to taper myself off but I dont want to buy anymore.I have been through withdrawl (withdrawal) a couple of times and I am dreading it.The worst part is the headaches and at night
I know my legs are going to ache so bad,the leg aches at night are so intense it drives me nuts.So happy birthday to
me I have to stop now!Please if anyone knows how to withdraw
a little bit easier please pass along some info.No I cant
go to my doctor for help,this time its on my own and my
husband of 4 years has no idea and I cant let him know.
I am so glad I found this site,especially since I saw
the letter from a fellow canadian who knows just how
easy it is to get this stuff here.Sorry I cant put my
real name.thanks again anonymous

[brian]

I'm sure you must have your reasons for not wanting your husband to know, but if you really want to recover you MUST confide in him.  You need his support both for the detox and for the hard part, i.e. staying clean.  If he loves you as I am sure he does, he will accept your situation.  With respect to making the detox easier, if you are not willing to involve your doctor, will you involve another doc?  An addiction doctor can use drugs such as buprenorphine to ease the withdrawal.  Other helpful drugs include clonidine and benzodiazepines (xanax, valium, etc.).  If you are unwilling to seek medical help, your only other alternative is to slowly wean yourself off the codeine.  A typical approach would be to reduce your dosage no more than 5% every few days.  This gives the body time to adjust and makes the final withdrawal a bit easier.  However, there is no way around some withdrawal symptoms unless you use buprenorphine.  Finally, your biggest problem may be the amount of aceteminophen you have been ingesting.  You should have a liver test done, and should start taking milk thistle (which helps repair liver damage.)  Best of luck.  Brian

[Anonymous]

thanks for the feedback brian,though going to a doctor for a prescription to help is not for me cause if 2 are good 4 is better,know what I mean? So I am doing this slowly weaning myself off.And I am going to try the milk thistle.Herbs I can handle.Are there any more natural herbs that will help make this a bit easier?

[Brian to anonymous]

Well I understand your reluctance to get prescription meds, but clonidine is simply a blood pressure med that will help with the withdrawal.  It has NO abuse potential.  Benzos do, but if you have a small amount there is no real harm.  As far as herbal meds, Valerian helps calm you during withdrawal as does Kava.  Valerian or melatonin may help you sleep.  No herbal meds will do more than help slightly however.  Good luck with the taper!

[shelly]

I just like the rest of you am addicted to pain pills.  I have been taking at least 15 Lortab 10's a day for the past 5 months.  I am contemplating quiting them all together I am tired of hunting for them after my script has run out and it has begun to really control my life.  I have in the past gone through the withdrawal from them and I know how awful it is. For the next few days it looks like I will go through this again.  There is something else I feel I should say Two weeks ago we buried a friend of mine she was 30 and she died from and overdose of oxycotin and xanax.  This has also made me want to quit all the more.  Feel free to email me back either ***@**** or ***@****       Good Luck and God Bless

[C. Weston]

Hello everyone:

I, too, am a Canadian that has been addicted to Tylenol #1 for about 20 years. I was using about 300 pills a week. I found the only thing to do was stop cold turkey and refuse to keep buying them. I was also "burning down" various drugstores because I was ashamed of the number of these things I was buying. But I finally realized that I was so immune to the things that I really wasn't getting much out of taking them anyway, just ruining my liver and wasting money. I think a large part of the addiction to such small, repetitive doses is psychological. The main symptom I suffered was a very loose bowel, for which I took Imodium (immodium) for a few days, rebound headaches for which I took plain aspirin - that was it other than the fear that I couldn't cope (I had a few panic attacks), but after a few days abstinence, I realized that I was just fine. I actually experienced some elation as my own endorphins began to kick in again. If you have access to a mild tranquilizer, that can prevent you from going too squirrely. Also, drink alot of water, everytime you would normally reach for that pill. Of course I will never touch another narcotic again because I would never want to go through this again. I also put in a call to Narcotics Anon. and spoke to a volunteer when I first decided to make the break. To be honest, smoking is a much harder addiction to break than these things. Take heart - if I can do it, anyone can. I was very afraid to try, believe me. But after a few days you WILL wonder what the fuss was about. And you won't believe how much better you feel. This experience has also given me the guts to stop smoking. For a good treatment of addictive behavior, try Allen Carr's books -some of them are even at the library. Good luck to everyone!

[Geoff H]

I can sympathize with you all. I am from Canada to, and have been taking Tylenol with Codeine for 22 years, I average about 40 - 50 pills a day. I am at the point now where I feel so sick all the time, I get bad headaches. I need to get major help. Can anyone help me out. I am so desperate, and feel that is is ruining my life, my marriage and my family. Whats the best way to kick this stuff once and for all.

[Brian to Sick and Scared]

Please find an addiction medicine specialist.  This way you can be detoxed with a minimal amount of suffering, enhancing your chances for success.  Furthermore, you are taking dangerously high levels of acetaminophen and should have a liver screen done to determine if you have liver damage.  I would begin taking milk thistle, an over the counter supplement which has been documented to protect the liver and even to somewhat reverse damage.  Finally, you are going to need the support of your family and a group like NA to learn to live without the narcotic.  You can do it!  Good luck.

[Diane Goguen]

I too have been dependent of Fioricet with Codeine.  Have been taking them due to having 2 spine/neck surgeries in past 7 years.
When I run out of them, even if its for 1 day....my body goes into severe depression, I become very emotional, and feel crappy all the way around.  Anyone out there have the same problem with Fioricet with Codeine, and if so...what helps when coming off these pills?
***@****

[Ann Marie]

I want to thank everyone that has visited this site.  I finally admitted to myself about 24 hours ago that I have been abusing codeine for probably 1 1/2 years now (200 pills per week).  I have received answers on the symptoms I am feeling and at least don't feel as stupid for having a problem with codeine anymore.
Thank you everyone

[ex junky]

I was a herion junky (no needles) I tried to wean myself of for 2 years It didn't work All my junky "friends" told me to go on  the methodone program. But I didn't want to change habits I wanted to get have no habits. I went to my doctor he give me cloidine YEAH RIGHT that lasted 2days and it was right back to the junk I've never had codiene withdrawal but herion withdrawal is not very nice But any way one way around the worst part off it was methodone but I bought some off of someone and waited till about 24hrs after my last herion fix then drunk 60mg 's off the juice then the next day I drank 40mg's then 30mg's then 20mg's and that was that i was able to get up and function in life for those 4 days i didn't feel the greatest but it was a hell of alot better then going through the major withdrawal I was told about this techniqe be many ex junky's The doctors told me there was no way "you must go on the methodone program" but from what I've seen and heard methodone withdrawl (withdrawal) is worse then herion  which is worse then codeiene I think it is a government conspirecy to get all the junky's names and to get them wired to something that can be taxed But what do I know I'm just a junky or should I say ex junky.

[Chris. b.]

I am currently 6 days into a cold turkey from codiene. I've tried before and failed after about 4 ( I remember why now!!) I have been using approx 1500mg of codiene a day for about 4-6 months with very few days off. The problem with me ids I am addicted to the "fix" and this is the hardest. Last time I ended up going to the docs and they gave me a tapering regime (no good cos I was taking far, far more than they could prescribe using over the counter meds!!) ,so inevitably I started over again. This was about 2 months ago. In the end the "fix" had gone withthis amount and so the stotry goes. I have had limited benzos so's not to get hooked on them and I don't have control over them. The first 2 days weren't too bad, the came the cramps, diahorhoea, sweats,  restlessness and worst of all agonizing depression. I don't cry, but I have had to make an exception for this withdrawl (withdrawal). MY GOD THIS IS HARD. The docs won't give me more now in any case so I would have to pay a fortune off the internet and over the counter, which here in England are mixed with either paracetamol or ibuprofen (a nasty cocktail) if taken in too great amounts! I have another 3 days before I am back at work, so here's hoping!!   Chris, England.

[Chris. b.]

Notice i'm the first to write in 7 years, can't be that long since anybody went through their similar journies. Well I thought I would update from yesterday when I was on day 6 of cold turkey. Day 7 has been far more positive. I have managed to get up and stay up all day. Yers, I had to force myself but it has paid off. A wise man once told me an anecdote about the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, "Bill W" he used to suffer bouts depression in general and after 27 years of sobriety wondered why the 12 step programme was not working for this. It occurred to him that he was being too self indulged and not other centred. He practised by going from lamp post to lamp post at first in an attempt to force himself to do what he didn't want to. He then immersed himself in helping others and he never suffered again. Addiction, is addiction whatever guise it comes in. Anyway I feel far less depressed today and am sure I have turned the corner. I am fortunate in that I am not experiencing cravings, but still getting sweaty and am stilkl a bit low. More about the future without drugs or alcohol, but mainly just withdrawl (withdrawal). I'm pleased i've managed to stick with it cos believe me, it has been one of the toughest things I have done in my life and I have cold turkeyed from a number of drugs and alcohol. Yesterday I had pretty much spent 6 days in bed and cfelt I couldn't come out. Today has been a lot different and my legs have stopped aching too!! My symptoms are all above, but didn't include a runny nose, aching limbs and an inability to know whether I was too hot or too cold, never comfortable. (seem to remember that one with alcohol withdrawl (withdrawal) as well - a long time ago fortunately). So its onwards and upwards from here. I still have mild symptoms, my appetite is moderate, nopt bothered whether I eat or not. I've found bannanas good and multi-vits. Bannanas have a natural "feel good" chemical in them anyway. Not that I noticed that yesterday - way too depressed for that and for the wisdom of Bill W. I think sometimes you just can't function, but with withdrawl (withdrawal) it has ALWAYS been transient 2-5 days max, this time 3 days of horrendous depression and today on the up, but still not there. I have withdrawn from a list of drugs, some together and must admit I have found this to be as or nearly as bad as any opf the others for the depression, but just a nuisance for the physical symptoms.

[cmjmmorgan]

Thanks for your comments.  I too was searching for help and thought, gee wiz I know someone else is going through the same as I am.  Where in the hell are they?  Day six symptoms are much better.  Still very tired. No more runny nose, not depressed, still have mild palpitations.  How long will this last?

[pillgirl]

I am Canadian. I have taken 25 Tylenol #3 a day for the last 4 years.That's 8 at a time. 8!!!! I hate myself because of it. I ran out of resources and am taking about the same amount of pills of Tylenol #1 just to cut the withdrawl (withdrawal). The pills make me gag. I can just imagine my liver eating away at itself and I'm queasy all day. Does that stop me from swallowing 8 T#1's ? ! No.

I need to get off this. I'm afraid of the depression that comes with the withdrawl (withdrawal) =(

[all too clear]

I, too have gone through the withdrawal, and it lasted about 7 days..... with some aftereffects which have now subsided. I am searching and reading today as I am getting those cravings again- the high- which isn't that high, really. I just want to remind myself that it isn't worth it. In adddition to codeine, I was also using fentanyl 'occasionally'. The withdrawal was horrible- lows, insomnia, muscle twitches, crying, emotional nightmare. Anyway- Chris- keep at it..... you will get through. Sounds like things are already improving for you.
And thanks for posting.... you just reminded me to stay clean.  

[Braincell]

Sounds like your doctors are full of it!!! An easy codeine withdrawal can be acheived with a controlled valium program over about a week, two max, and although the valium is a great feel good mood enhancer, if taken strictly to a codeine detox program the discomfort will be far less then anything else, but of course we all are different and will have different reactions. The caution is to be strict with the valium, cause if you get hooked on that the withdrawal & consequent side affects are far more severe than codeine/opiate withdrawal.

I have been on 700 - 800 mg of codeine per day on & off for over ten years and also have had up to 20000 mg of  paracetomol per day regularly and been through several different types of withdrawal programs, some even designed by myself. The valium, or benzodiazapene approach is the best and easiest. Unfortunately doctors are reluctant to take this path for fear of people becoming addicted to their new substance, which is more dangerous if addicted to.

The jerk who said the problem is you is half right, generally there will be an underlying cause to get us on the pills in the first place, but once hooked it all becomes physical and not mental. So if your hooked on codeine dont beat youself up, it happens, even to a mental giant such as myself. Just seek the right support, which may not be your own doctor, there are certainly specialist doctors who cater to this addiction, find out who and where and take it from there.

Your all welcome.

[KarenMarie]

Hello...I am 31 years old and I have been taking 12 to 25 T3's a day for all most a year....until now....I haven't had any for 4 or 5 days now.  For the past 2 days I have been having loose stool, nasuea and what is really scaring me the most is have been sweating alot but getting chills too and my skin feels cool even though I fell hot and I am sweating....This is really scaring me....can someone please tell me if these symptoms are withdrawl (withdrawal)???
Thank You!!

Scared and lost in Minnesota

[Jul07Asker]

I don't know what T3 is, but every other time I withdrew from Vicodin those were the exact symptons I had.  You feel physically like you're going to die and there is no position where you feel comfortable, and you can't sleep, and your stomach hurts, and the chills....everything you mentioned. Hope this helps.

[KarenMarie]

Thank you for your response.....It really helped!  How long did you suffer from those withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms you had?  T3 is Tylenol and Codeine.  I never want to take narcotic painkillers again if this is how they are going to make me feel when I stop taking them.

Thank you again.

[journeyjo]

my doctor percribe vicodine for me 5 years ago, for chronic hives and angio edema,  on a daily bases, and i mean big hives, i am in much pain,,,now i know that vicodine is a  weird thing to perscribe for something like that, but it helped,,i take 6 -10mg of narco on a daily basis,  i want more , but thats all i get, i use to get a lot more but i guess the DEA made them lower my amount.  i am hooked, and it just ads to the misery of hives.  i want off of them, and i am going to try the 5% cutting down thing. man,, when it is time to take my meds, my legs hurt like crazy and i feel heavy and tired, and feel like i have the flu all the time, my body wants more, WHAT i don't understand, is WHY DO THE DOCTORS DO THIS TO US? WE TRUST THEM TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!  it makes me mad at the doctor, i mean i feel like sueing them, for making me an addict, especially since i wasn't in the normal kind of pain? even tho they helped at first, they are killing me now, and making me feel worse,,,its like cigerettes, they make them, u get hooked on them, then can't smoke in puplic,,, then the government taxes the heck out of all the tobbacco addicts... whats wrong with that picture?  why are these doctors allowed to keep writting these scripts? over and over,,,i just don't understand?

[Jul07Asker]

So that's what T3 is!  Ha, that wouldn't cure anything for me, I was taking Norco which is like I think Tylenol 10 mg, but in the last few months I found I got high enough with a half a pill and that made them last longer...I felt I was wasting a little of it if I took a whole one, but on occassion I did.  BUT I used to take a whole pill as a dose and still take about 6 a day. I did notice I was slurring my words and was concerned that my clients would notice.  Anyway, those withdrawals were much worse for me with all your symptons lasting a good 5 days and usually by the 7th day I was completely functional with a minor bit of physical discomfort if any at all.  But I was around people during those times, so I really focused on the physical discomfort and just claimed to have a bad cold or the flu.  THIS time I'm detoxing off a lower dose and took a week alone to do it.  So the physical discomfort was only about 3 days but the depression was extreme....for me, because I am not normally a depressed person at all.  I am a million times better today, today is my 6th clean day.
This board and these people are a saving grace!  You should be feeling much better very soon.  Keep knowing that.  (Boy, it's so easy to help others, and so weird that I still ask for advice for myself...maybe that's good medicine for us...as you feel a little better, find someone whose just starting their detox and help them!)
Good Luck, hon.

[Nikki2433]

Hi all,
I just want to say thank you al so much for posing your comments. It helps me so much knowing I'm not the only person in this predicament. I've been taking paracetemog500mg+30mg codiene for painful periods for about a year now. Ican't remember a day this year I haven't had at least 10 of these tablets a day. But after reading all of your comments and seein that so many have had it much worse than me, I'm goning to start (from tomorrow) to get off these addictive pills!! Can I just ask, if someone has come off tablets can they ever go back to taking them occassionally just when they are in pain? Coz they really help the pain and depresion my periods bring!!

[journeyjo]

not only am i taking 6 - 10mg norco a day, i am taking 90 ultram a month that the doctor gave to me to boost the vicodin...all i know is the pills aren't helping anymore and by the end of the day i hurt wanting more, especially my legs,, man they hurt, i have headaches too, from what i have read thats part of it,,,some people on here like taking the pills, while others are in hell,,, kinda funny, the difference in all of us.. i wish everyone luck getting thier life back, and to the ones who are enjoying it now, it won't continue.. sooner or late,r  u will b in the same boat as most of us, so i wish u all luck too.

[KarenMarie]

Good Advice!   I liked taking Codeine for a long time....then I just got sick and tired of taking so meny all the time....I would gag just trying to get the pills down.....I am so glad that I am getting off of them....I have to admit though I hate feeling sick all day for the past 3 or so days.
It kind of scares me beacuse I want to feel good again and I am afraid I won't.

[Jul07Asker]

Every day will get better.  Keep going!!! (I feel GREAT today!!!!!)

[pheggie101]

Well Sonya i found myself in kind of the same predicament here. I have dealt with abuse for years (my ex),never have i had a pill problem, maybe i took like 6-8 my whole life. Anyway 12 days ago i crashed my harley, broke a number of bones, collar, shoulder blade, dislocations etc. etc. The Er doc gave me 4 vics and a script for 16 more. Then i saw my doc and she gave me 40 with 3 refills. At first they worked great, took away the pain, no buzz, i slept. but i needed more and more. One night i got electric jolts in my legs, and the runs. I was sweating and miserable so i gobbled up 3 pills, and all gone. Th e next day i tossed what i had left before it got worse, Saw my doc and told her and she was like no way it takes longer to get hooked, ha ha.........they addict us and then wonder why...i could have been another casualty, she even said well ill write another script cause you didnt need to toss them...............i said no.............Jim

[faith.77]

i just want to tell you all that you and your families are in my daily prayers....any kind of drug just reaks havoc, and it's so hard to get through it.....I can't say I had a 20-30 a day habit, i never took more than 4 a day, but they were vicodins, and i really had to keep it at just 4. i have seen what it can do to people. and i hate that so many people with pain probs, or even straight up drug addicts just get judged and looked down upon.they don't know how it is to be in that situation and they want to avoid it at all costs....and continue to judge and pretend that they would be completely okay if they got a big jug of some oxcycotins or something. yeah right.
but anyway, i feel for all of you, and im glad i found this site.

another question.....what would you suggest a heroin (my friends little brother) addict to do for help if they don't want to take methodone? my friend OD'd back in Jan, was in a coma for 3 weeks straight, and since his body was going through wdrawals the stress on his heart was too severe so they had to induce him in a comatose state after he had 2 strokes....he is only 25. anyway, im really close to his older brother and have watched him steal so much from his family and friends....and he almost DIED, yet when his gfriend breaks up with him, he just totally changes and goes out and gets wasted.....and uses.....he was trying to just eat vicodin instead, but its not getting him anywhere but closer to death. so if there are any heroin addicts/recovering out there that has a suggestion, i would love to hear it!

thanks !!!

[KarenMarie]

Thank you Faith!  It is cool to see people who understand!  I wish I could help with with heroin question....I hope someone can help with that question.
I feel a little better today....today was a weird day....I felt like I was dreaming all day or something....kinda weird.  I just can't wait until all of this is over.

[scared of what´s next]

I have been taking 20 tabs of diclofenac100 +50 codeine(so that´s about 1000 m.g. of codeine)  for 2 years. I am sure that I have serous liver damage etc. but at the time it didn´t matter. Many times I tried to taper but always found an excuse to go right back to where i was.If we had willpower- we wouldn´t be in this mess. I am on day 5 of total withdrawal & an finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
The 1st day was the easest & I thought piece of cake- I can really do this- day 2 & 3 were so bad that I couldn´t even leave the house and by the, I had to much invested to start over(although I did make some bizarre phone calls pleading for deliverance, in moments of weakness). My advice is to just stop- maybe the process should be awful- awful enough so that you never- ever want to do this again, because the worst part is trying to stay clean afterwards & I am afraid.
I had to totally isolate mysef to get through this(let´s face it- we are masters of manipulation & lies- lying even to ourselves). So what do I do- now that I am starting to feel better & can get into my car & start all over? It seems like most other drugs are social- you do them w/other people or even getting them is an adventure- we do them quietly & go on w/ our daily lives- no one knows(at least they don´t say anything)- so what´s next? how do I keep from backsliding? How do I heal the pysic pain that made me almost kill myself? how do I face a shiny, brittle world? and when will I ever sleep again?

[lost one]

I'm in deep. I've been taking 15-20 lortab per day for atleast 4 years. This past weekend My wife left me, my father is dying, and my life is falling apart. I quit cold turkey on saturday.  I feel the pain that everyone on this board is going through. However, I am not dealing with it very well. I'm not a weak person. Ex athlete, business owner,  the person who always will lift the heavy objects. Right now i feel as though i can't pick up my head. WEAK, tired, coughing , just feel like i can't go on... What can I do? Any new things to try? (over the counter) My wife, before she left, was kind enough to call and get my doctor to drop me as a patient. HE got this problem started and now won't help me out of it.    LOST

[[e-mail]]

Hi, I know how you feel, (its easy to say isn't it) but I myself have lost very close family recently and I am due to lose another to cancer very shortly and she is very young. I have been taking codiene for about 10 years (10 or more a day) and knew I had a problem, but I always said to myself, "I can quit anytime", when going on vacation I always had to have supplies with me in case local stores did not sell it. I had a major problem, but what has brought me back into reality is the fact that a routine blood test I had a few days ago that showed that I have got liver damage which the practitioner is convinced is caused by alcohol. As I do not drink alcohol at all, the only other explanation is the painkillers (which I had not told him about). I have realised what these tabs have done to me and have gone COLD TURKEY! I feel much more positive and realise that I have been living in a haze for the last 10 years. Keep off the tablets and although you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, these will pass and you will feel more positive in your mind to deal with the personal issues in your life at the moment as you will see more clearly. You have to talk to your Doctor if you are struggling as there are medicines that help with the withdrawal and if they are not sympathetic, get a better doctor. Be proud of yourself because you are strong enough to face this problem "head on" and you WILL do it.

[London piller]

I have been abusing Codiene for the last 6months. I have been taking up to 15 tablets of Nurafen Plus with 12mg of Codiene and Ibuprofen a day. I take it because of the way it makes me feel. I had a contraceptive coil fitted in January and started having bad periods but when the the periods stopped, my codiene intake continued. It makes me feel happy when i'm sitting at my awful desk at my crappy job or when I'm talking to my husband who constantly gets on my nerves.

Im on day 2 of cold turkey and woke up in tears, walked to work on the verge of tears and the situation has not changed all day. Has anyone who takes them just to feel good amaged to stop?

Any help/support will be gladly appreciated.

[Catherinec333]

Hi there people, I have just ended a 6 year addiction to pain killers. The main substance was codeine and i was also prescribed it by the doctor for kidney pain. The main thing i notice with all of your questions and statements is that alot of you state that its not a mental problem with the pills its a physical problem.  I think you need to "get real". There are woman in here who have given birth, do you mean to tell me you are so worried about the physical side of withdrawl (withdrawal) when you are clearly strong enough physically to handle almost anything.  I truly believe it has a hold on you mentally and you will not and most importantly can not beat this demon until you are completely honest with yourself about what is really going on.  You are an addict!! As ugly as that may sound it is the truth, and believe me, when you accept this fact you can then begin to heal. Most people, in fact i would say all drug addicts take the drug to mask feeelings they dont like to feel.  The things i masked was shyness, insecurity lack of self esteem and just a general sense of not knowing who I was or what my place in the world was.  I was put on a "countdown" or slow withdrawl (withdrawal), but there came a day when i had had a guts full of taking the damn things and truly believed the longer i satyed on them the longer my recovery would take. So i just stopped taking them, the withdrawl (withdrawal) is not pleasant but it is bearable!!! I think that a week of insomnia and sweaty bodies is definiely a small price to pay for having your life back.  being free from addiction, no more waking up every morning thinking about your next hit, where to get them from etc etc. It feels so damn good now i tell you.  You have to find out deep inside the reason you take them, because believe me until you do, that problem will always be there and so will the temptation to use again.  Please contact me if you need help with this subject. My email is ***@****

[Catherinec333]

Hey there, just read your message and decided to post this back to you.  As you can read from my story i was addicted to codeine as well and I too was taking Nurofen Plus, I was on up to 48 a day for around 6 years, it wasnt always that amount but it soon grows because of the toloerance you build up in your system.  Please please listen to me when I say they are very dangerous when used in large amounts, its not the codeine but the ibuprofen that does the damage.  It put me in hospital with a perforated stomach ulcer and a whole in my stomach lining, never have i felt such pain before. I didnt want to tell the doctor what i had done and hoped against hope that it was something else, but when i started vomitting up blood and no amount of morphine was helping i had to come clean. (And they were incredibly supportive and nonjudgemental).  Lucky for me I did because I found out later you can bleed to death with that problem.  Taking paracetomal in large amounts is also very dangerous as once you f*%k your liver you have to either get a transplant or die. Not very good options. You can get off this!!! Do not let some horrible little pill own your life, have you not given enough of your time, energy, thoughts and emotions to this demon!! I will post again in a couple of days and talk you through the withdrawl (withdrawal).  I have done it 4 times and only once with the help of medication so I know how it is.  I am still alive and happier than I have been in years.  Please tell your doctor what your taking and even if you are not ready to give it up at least get your self safe.  If they dont listen, keep trying until you find someone who does.  You need to be safe first if your not ready to go cold turkey.  Stay strong everyone and I will post again with info and what its like on the other side of the addiction.  :)

[codeinequeen]

I am currently on day 3 of cold turkey withdrawl (withdrawal).  I have quit this way a number of times and always suffer with the same symptoms.  Every time I go through it, I promise myself I will remember how this feels and never do it again.  Over the counter codeine should be abolished in Canada.  I am curious if anyone has ever suffered from urinary problems as well.

[migsufferer]

I take fioricet for about a year now.  I take only 8/day max, per my neuro.  I have cronic (chronic) head, neck and shoulder pain due to a birth defect that was exacterbated when I gave birth to my daughter.  I suffered for 2 whole years, in pain almost 100% of the time.  When the neuro gave me the fioricet it allowed me to work again.  I've just found out I'm pregnant and I cut the amount in half that day.  With tapering, but without any anxiety meds b/c it's bad for the baby, will I feel terrible until I'm completely off the medicine?  Being pregnant and having the headache of the century has been my worst nightmare.  I haven't slept for more than an hour per night in 2 1/2 weeks.  I feel like I'm in hell and not sure what to do.  Any help?  Please?

[natesylas702]

I put a e-mail that I just made cuzz i want to no if n-e one has irregular heartbeat or chest pains from oxycodone,loratab,basically i took any n everything with codiene... I been taken them since i was sixteen till twentyfive yrs of age.Lately ive been feeling BAD CHEST PAIN,AS WELL AS IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT????? iVE BEEN TO DA DOC N THEY KEEP GIVE ME DA RUN AROUN!!! See Dnt have health insurance! I grew up in LAS VEGAS liven the fast life! Fast life indeed I feel like Im bout to croke! IM ONLY 25 WIT THREE B-E-A-UTIFUL CHILDREN. DOES N-E-ONE FEEL THE SAME ?????????????????

[fancydancy]

My husband is addicted to pain killers for the past 6 years, the doctor stopped giving him the prescription in November, now he has gone through about $40,000 buying them on the street. They give him a Euphoria, he is starting chem depend in September, but I am at rock bottom, he tells me he has stopped but I don't believe anything he tells me. He has gone through withdrawal many times, done what all of you have done and are going through, he justs want the high, the Euphoria. I think what Catherineec says is true. I have asked him to leave but he won't leave. Just to let you all know that your problem affects us all, and I know you probably all know that too. I can't worry about him any longer, I have to worry about myself. How many chances are you suppose to give? Thanks for listening.

[wifeofabuser]

Hi Everyone,

I am the wife of a Tylenol with Codeine abuser.  He has been taking them for 14 years and I can't even begin to describe the toll his addiction has taken on our marriage, our finances, the family, etc.  He was taking 25 to 30 pills of the Tylenol #1.  Two weeks ago his liver and kidneys finally gave up from the years of abuse and I had to have an ambulance come and get him because he was so sick he couldn't even get out of bed.  He's 40.  He had to go through 3 rounds of dialysis and the prognosis was that he was going to have to go through several months more but thankfully his kidneys have started to work again.

Now he can never take Tylenol and Ibuprofen again or he faces death.

Do I think he's going to stop?  In my heart I'm really not sure...

I beg you to please stop, if not for your sake, for your spouse and children's sake, because once you are gone, you're gone.

[frustrated but in love]

My husband has been addicted to Hydrocodone 10's since 2000 we had a car accident and the doc put him on them.  3 1/2 years later I convinced him the leg spasm, the aweful pain, depression and other symptoms was coming from hydro's.  We decided he would get off of them.  so we Went cold turkey.  3 months to the date he dehydrated and had high blood pressure lots of unbearable pain and suffering.  He finally beat it.  2 years later his dad is diagnosed with cancer and he starts taking them again they were there one or two then 10-15.  Now it is 2 years later and he is depressed, withdrawed from people, he sees stuff and its not there and he knows it.  He has attempted to go cold turkey and its hell so he stops.  I agree with the person who said why are you taking these.  He has been an addict to several things- Acohol, pot, sports, Sex, and always has to be in extreme now its only codiene.  See the longer you take them you don't feel good anymore and you tend to feel sorry in extreme amounts for yourself.  And it is hell on your loved ones due to no one likes him when he is like this.  He is hateful.  And he is normally the most loving person.  I need help.  I have been married to him for 25 years and I love him.  But I can't stand this anymore I fill like I'm addicted.  What can we do to help him get off easily.  

[Savas]

Welcome to the future, where little pills are given to you in an irresponsible fashion by doctors.
You have an addiction now, physical or otherwise. And dealing with it won't be easy, but you have to be aware that with today's medical philosophy, you're kind of on your own.
     So...go ahead and ask your doctor but be prepared for him to not be of any help. In fact, be prepared for him to cut you off. Mention "addiction", and most doctors think only of covering their own a**es.
There's three posts on this board. "Nutrition and Withdrawal", and "Amino Acids and Recovery". Also a Clonidine thread I think called "Thomas Recipie".  Unless you can spend 10-20 thousand dollars on "special treatments", this is your best option.

[frustrated but in love]

Thank you... I just want him well.  and back to normal if that can happen.  

[brysboo]

[brysboo]

I am a 36 year old mother of a 15 year old daughter and married to the man who helped me create her. 7 weeks ago I had major knee surgery. I have been on more than 200 percocet a month for almost a year. I have dabbled in drugs legal and illeagal most of my life but this withdrawl (withdrawal) is by far the worst time of my life. I lie to my loved ones to my doctors and make the pain be way worse than it really is. Sometimes I just want GOD to take me I have convinced myself at times they would be better off without me. Although I know in my heart they need me and would miss me. I cant afford rehab and am not convinced it would do any good anyway. I am lost in a sea of complete addiction and have found myself doctor hopping. I am ashamed I am scared I am lost I am a shell of my former self . I cannot even remember what it was like o be sober and love being sober. Any advice will be well received good or bad thanks Melissa

[IBKleen]

Good Morning Hun!

There is nothing to be ashamed of. This is a great forum to talk about what you are going through, ask for help and get suggestions from others just like you. I was just like you a very short time ago.

So, let's get this straightened out. You are posting on a thread that is 7 years old, and it will get pushed to the bottom on the forum. What you need to do is go to the bottom of this page and hit the "back to the forum" button. Once you do that, you will see a blue button up top, on the left, that says "Post a Question". Hit that button and follow the instructions. It is easy. Type exactly what you did here. That way you have created your very own post and there are ppl here to help you.

If you have any questions about this, all you have to do is click on my name (highlighted in blue) and you can send me a message. I will walk you through it.

I hope to see your post in the forum. I will be around most of the morning. So will others.

Take care.

[nuttyiestmum]

[ANon978]

I am on day 4 of being clean of a 2 year codeine (nurofen plus) habit.  I saw my local GP who is also an acupuncurist.  He gave me a list of alternatives - cold turkey, acupuncture and methadone.  I went with acupunture.  Having gone through withdrawals several times before i didn't want to go cold turkey and decided to give the acupunture a go.  I have been used as a pin cushion the last three days and it has helped in a very big way.  One of my biggest problems in the past is the aches.  Worst feeling i've had where you are so tiried and nearly asleep when intense aches go through my limbs, and going through this cycle for days.  Four days of no sleep is no fun.  With acupunture i have been able to sleep a solid 6-7 hours whilst withdrawing.   My doc also prescribed me Valium for when the depression/anxiety gets bad.  You just have to be careful no to replace one addiction with another.  THERE ARE NO MIRACLE CURES!!  but i would highly reccomend acupuncture.

Good luck all

ANON

[xyborx]

I'm one day 2 of a 190mg/day dihydrocodeine (3 years) withdrawal. I take 100mg/kg tyrosine each morning and walk for about 2 hours along the beach... I feel fantastic, no symptoms whatsoever.
I just took another dose and am now stoned of-my-face and have to go out to dinner. I'll try to get of this stuff later, it really takes over your life.

[livingsober]

My name is Joe, and I am a recovering cocaine/crack addict and alcoholic (16 months) My question is being asked on behalf of a friend of mine who is also in recovery from alcoholism, but who now finds herself desperately struggling with a rather serious Tylenol/codeine addiction. Living in Canada, T1's and T2's are readily available for the consuming, and T3's are fairly easy to get, especially when one factors in that she is dealing with a legitimate chronic pain issue. My friend has no cartilage left in one ankle due to an accident a few years ago, and has had steel pins inserted. This means that her bodies natural cushion/shock absorber is non-existent, and therefore each and every movement of her ankle joint creates bone-on-bone friction/grinding, resulting in enormous pain. She thus medicates with codeine as a means of being able to handle the pain during her day to day living. However, she recognizes that her codeine consumption is out of control, and desperately wants to get off of them. The problem is compounded by the fact that all of the other pain med's that have been prescribed leave her feeling too 'out of it' to function normally in day to day living. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[worried_daughter14]

After years of suspecting that my father seemed to consume quite a few panadeines (codiene) I have started monitoring his use and found he takes about 40 per day. He is very secretive and hides not only the tablets/boxes but the empty sheets until he can dispose of them without mum knowing. Hence he must know something is wrong but I'm worried as to how to confront him. I don't know how to get him to kick the habit and if he knows I'm on to him, he'll just lie about his use and find a better way to hide the evidence. My husband and I are about to give birth to his first grandchild and I feel so angry at him for not caring enough to live to see him grow up (and yes I know this is an extremely selfish and ignorant emotion).

[stringbean447]

I just stopped the codiene merry go round 2 months ago.After 5 years!!. I'm lucky I'm still alive. I'ts not the codiene so much as the tylenol. Tylenol will kill you. I know a few who died horrible deaths because of it. It will cause liver failure. NOT might cause it. Please talk to your father and soon. It will kill him. Make him see a doctor. If he's to ashamed to see one ,drag him to one. I quit cold turkey  and it was not pleasant. But not as bad as I thought it would be. The first 24 hours not much of anything. The next 48 hours was bad. vomiting diahrea ,nightmares when I could sleep. Depression .But after the first 3 days i felt OK again for the most part.In a week I felt wonderful and i have not had the desire to use them again,yet. I tried the taper method 50 times. It won't work for most people. You'll be right back where you left off in no time at all. and be taking even more I do not recommend it.Be wary of a doctor prescribing something else as well .a person will only switch addictions.If you can get him to go to  detox facility get him to go. They can help with the withdrawal. the 48 hours after is the worse. but it's only 48 hours and gets better fast. But make him do something,or plan a funeral. That sounds awful for sure,but it will be the result of doing nothing,both him(mostly) and you. You care for him obviously so have a frank but caring talk to him SOON. He has to get honest with himself or he will suffer. You'll notice I said will suffer ,not might suffer.Addictions have a common denominator. Dishonesty. It will kill you. Good luck and hope to hear you here soon,

[geraldine_potts]

I was in car wreck last december i hurt my back .I been taking codoine and musler i cant make it with out talking them I need help to getoff pleae help me

[IBKleen]

Geraldine,

This post started eight years ago. It will get put to archives and you may not get an answer. Got to the top of this page and hit the post a question button. You can start your own question. Hope to see you out there.

[none440]

I have been an addict of hyromorphone and codiene for about 20 years. I have been clean for 71/2 months and want to tell you all what I think may help you be at ease with some of your symptoms. The painkiller affects the reward portion of the brain. It significantly reduces the anxiety and fear level you normally feel. If you feel really anxoius while coming off, and fearfull, please know that this is so temporary. Hang in there. Also eat lots of potassium(bananas) as this will help the cramping in the legs. yes valuim helps but the withdrawal from valuim is a worse hell than you are currently feeling. I know

[balwant]

hey ppl... im from india.... im hooked to corex a cough syrup with 15 mg of codeine per bottle and dextropropoxyphene pills.. it started as a recreation which became an addiction.. i really feel relaxed and stress free after takin diz stuff... but recently i had anal bleeding and costipation ..... do i have intestinal ulcres????? is it colon ulcer????? is it due to codeine ??????

[cl3]

I have been taking loratab 10 for about a year now, daily dose highs of 40(10's) I have been tapering this week with addication to quit.  Today I have had 22.5 and I'm cutting back at a rate of 10% or more daily.  Does anyone have any advice as to whether taping is easier than cold turkey or does the end still produce rough times.

[Greatgreebo]

Welcome to the forum....The original post date of this thread is 8 years ago. These people are not here any more. Go to the top of this page and hit the green 'Post Question' button. Start a new post of your own. This will get you the help and answers you need.
Good luck,
Greatgreebo

[Palpitations]

I suffer from chronic neck and shoulder pain due to nerve damage and disc problems.  I have been taking codeine for about 4-5 years and about 8 months ago began experiencing heart palpitations.  I freaked out thinking I am having a heart attack.  I was taking zanax at the time for panic attacks so I stopped taking that thinking that was causing the problem but that didn't seem to make any difference.  I saw a heart specialist who did a stress test and determined my heart is just fine but when I finished the test my heart was palpitating so badly I could barely breath.  My regular doc put me on blood pressure medicine to help the symptoms. It helps somewhat but they are still there.  I wake up first thing with shortness of breath and palpitations until I take my heart meds.  Does anyone know if long term use of codeine can actually cause palpitations even though I took the codeine for years without any heart issues.  I would like to get off of these anyway but would really like to know if this is the cause.  Thanks!

[Timeout427]

I know what your going through. When I first started having them they scared me to death. I thought for sure something was wrong with my heart. Like you I had all the tests done and came out clean. That didn't stop me from still thinking something was wrong. I didn't believe the doctor, I didn't believe the tests. I had made up my mind that there was something causing the problem. As it turned out the palpitations were caused by stress. A doctor didn't tell me this, a friend did who was having the same problem but I didn't know he was. He told me that palpitations will not harm me but they do scare you to death. He went over all the things he was feeling (Same as mine) and told me he got rid of them by just getting some excercise. I was good until I heard that part. How the heck can I excercise when my heart feels like it's going to stop or jump out of my chest?? It took some long repeted talks to get me to do it but I did. I just started walking. It kept up for a couple of days but then started to taper down. I then read everyhing I could on palpitations and still with walking everyday I began to feel better and not be so scared. It's to the point now that when I have them, which is only at the most once a month and not long at all I'm not even scared anymore. I know even when I feel them start that I'm just stressed a little and it's no big deal. I know they won't hurt me, I'm not going to have a heart attack or die. Also with just knowing nothing is going to happen to me....It helps!!! I know the more you think about it, the more you worry about it, the more often it will happen so slow down and don't panic. Like me, you will be fine. Just give this some thought because it really did help me. I hope you can force yourself to do some walking. That's the hardest thing to do. Good luck and I hope this helped. Please ask if you have a question.

[Timeout427]

I have been on Roxicet 5-325 for three years. (Perocet) I needed them for pain. (RA) I am now taking three pills a day. I needed them for pain but to be honest with myself I know I can do without them for the pain. I have limited myself to just three like the doctor says but instead of taking them for pain I take them for the high I get. I need to stop them but I'm afraid of going through withdrawals. Because of the kind of work I do I can't say anything to my doctor. I have to do this myself and I want to taper off so as not to go through any kind of withdrawal. If I'm taking three pills a day what do you feel would be the safe way to start tapering off. Example: Start taking just two a day for a couple of weeks then one a day for a couple of weeks then a half ....and so on?? Can anyone give me some advice please?

[pink_dog]

Hi,
I found this message thread a few days ago and its been helpful to read through all the comments, even if they were written years ago.  I guess withdrawing from codeine feels the same in 2008 as it did in 2000.  I have been taking it for about a year now, for nerve pain from a disk in my neck.  I'm due to see a surgeon next month, but have been trying to come off the pills and deal with the pain by restricting my movement, which is actually possible, but it limits my activity.

I have been getting all the physical symptoms mentioned in this thread, but I'm finding the depression and irritability very hard to deal with.  I suffer from depression and anxiety anyway, and take meds for that, so going back into a depressive downswing is very scary for me.

I also have a daughter, but I'm also going through a very nasty divorce and property settlement with ongoing abuse from my ex.  But now he can only harass me through the legal system, and our daughter because I have cut off all contact apart from email.

I got no helpful advise about codeine withdrawal, just that I guess eventually it will end and until then ...... one day at a time.
J.

[skip66]

Like you all I was addicted to codeine I was taking for pain (in my case Migraines).  I used the tapering off method, cutting back a half a pill every three days. It took over a month, but It really helped with the major problems. I had only slight stomach pain but no diarrhea. My doctor also gave me colidine to help with the high blood pressure and sweats.  I have been off the codeine now for almost three weeks but my legs still ache and I still feel yucky, no energy, don't feel like doing anything. My doctor said it will take time, guess he was right. Does anyone know how long to feeling better?    Al

[bex333]

hi, ive been taking codeine now for about 2 years, it started when i had an operation to remove a lump from my abdomen. the little white pills i was sent home with were amazing, when they ran out i went to the doctors and rrquested more for afterpains ! sure enough i was given a script for 100...as time went on i was using more and more and now here i am consuming up to 25 tablets a day all 30mg codeine each. my doctor became aware of the problem and now i am given a weekly script but i have friends who can get hold of it and i beg or lie. i aM ASHAMED OF THE STATE IM IN BUT im more scared of withdrawal, so far ive gone nearly 48 hours and no bad effects as yer except for the depression, i think its a dangerous drug which should be a lot more closley monitored. i really want to stop taking the pills but im already looking for a way to get some more as i cant pick up another script till next week (i lied to the doc that i was going on holiday to get more pills) sad aren't I !!!!!!

[mr.lucky66]

Codiene is a strange narcotic . A shrink I knew once said it causes strange mental effects. It's also rough on the stomach but is addictive. One of the worst problems with codeine is all the other stuff you take with it like tylenol,(liver poisen) and the ingredients in cough medicine. I used to gag down a bottle of rob. AC  or another kind that would twist my guts about for the 360 mg. of codeine. I found the cleaner stuff but I don't want to get into all that. The point is there is life after codeine and you don't need to go on methadone and probably don't need sub to get off and stay off. all the best

[sommer900]

I've been addicted to codeine for ten years and have now decided that enough is enough.  After my accident I had to take more and more to get the same effect so I eventually added large amounts of morphine to the equation.  The poblem is that the fun alway ends and you can't get a high enough dosage for the same effect.  So, I can only say, that you have to take the bull by the horns, grit your teeth and show what you're made of and do the withdrawal terror.  You'll have to put up with a week of living hell (insomina, shaking, suicidal) and go through the valley of the shadow of living death.  But it's a small price to pay for getting your live back and ending the destruction.  After about a week you should be able to sleep normal again and it might take a few more weeks to get your energy level back again.  And then you'll have to rework your life and decide why you love it.  MANY HAVE DONE IT = SO WHY NOW YOU?  Good luck

[danzanangel]

i could have cried with  relief when I saw this forum, for 1 1/2 years I have been addicted to taking over the counter painkillers.
Nurofen plus tablets which contain 12ng codeine and 100mg of ibruprofen. I had not realised that there where so many people wth one sort of painkilker addiction or anothrrit stated for me shortly after my 9 year old son died. After omly a few days of his unexpected death a friend offered me 2 nerofen plus tablets as I had such a bad headache from crying. These tablets lifted me immeadiately and blocked out the pain of loosing my precious son. Soon I was taking thm every day and increasing the amount because it stopped me feeling the high I wanted to feel and not the  horror I felt when I  didn't take them..I've only tried cold turkey once and that was unbareable.I was trawling the towns where  I live trying to buy boxes of them where people didn't recogmise me. I WAS TAKING 32 TABKLETS A DAY WITH 12MG OF CODEINE IN THEM, SWALLOWING 8 TABLETS IN ONE GO AND  ONE AFTER THE OTHER. I had an appt with my GP today' I was totally honest with her about the amount of medication I was taking, she wants me to go for kidney and liver function test., I think she may have saved my life, she has given me 30mg tablets of coedeine that i take2 four times a day and then after 2 weeks we reduce it by 1 a week so i only take 3 a daty etc, she also gave me a little diazepam incase i  had a panic attack wilst I was waiting to reduce.. If I hadn't read any of yor stories today then I probably would not have gone to the doc. i feel 100% better for doing so, so this time in three nonths I could be clean off all of them and feel normal again, even though i dony now any of you, everone of u has upliftedmy stamina and making me ready to this.                      GOOD LUCK TO YOY ALL

[danzanangel]

even if no one reads this it is very cathartic for me to write on this forum so i can see the progress i am making on a day to day basis. This is my first day in two and a half years that i have'nt gone out and bought a pack of neurofen plus. My first day of not swallowing 32 tablets just to feel like a human being. I woke up this morning expecting to have a really bad headache and crampy legs but i did'nt first thing. As the day has gone on though i have started to get a bit irritable, and have cramp in the back of my legs and ankles. My doc has reduced the amount of codeine i take on a daily basis from 384 mg to 240. She was not allowed to prescribe me any more than that. I must have damaged my insides something terible. I hope i can do this, i am so determined to do it. If i can go through the pain of losing a child then surely i must be able to do this. I feel so much relief that i have finally got this problem out in the open, my husband and mum knew i was taking quite a lot of these pills but they obviously had no idea how many a day i was taking. When i told them both yesterday they both said if they'd known how many i was taking they would never have gone to get any for me, it would be really nice to hear from anyone else who is going through the same thing so we can compare how we are getting on. My GP was absolutely wonderful yesterday so if any of you are frightened to go and admit to your GP that you have this problem, my advice would be to go and be totally honest with them, I was so ashamed to tell her i was taking 224 tablets a week at a cost of £41.93 a week. Just think of the money i have wasted, money that I could have spent on my two children. If you dont tell them how many you are taking then they cant give you the help you really need. If I fail this three month weaning off course the next stop is a drug clinic and i really dont want to be going there. I hope all of you are doing well and have not sucummbed to going back and buying any more, I went in to my local pharmacy yesterday and told them no matter if i beg them to sell me any please dont do it, They all hugged me and told me they were so relieved that i had finally taken the bull by the horns and done something about it. Anyway thats enough of me blabbering on, please let us all know how you are all getting on. The best of luck to you all. xxx

[tina588]

I suffer from migraines a lot and I take panadiene 15s every day just so i dont get the pain. I also suffer from irretable bowel snydrome which i take pain killers so i dont feel the pain. I take them so as to prevent pain so i can enjoy my day. I saw my doctor yesterday he told me to stop taking the codiene he gave me some tablets to prevent migraine called sandomigran. Going out today taking no painkillers was hard having to put up with any pain as i could take panadol but they do nothing so i didnt bother.

[worried878]

This is an old post tina...if end up needing any help...post a new question to draw attention to ur needs

[BrandyLeeV]

I think this addiction to codiene is just as serious as any other heavy duty drug!! I know how bad it is, honestly ...I have been there. I was at the point of taking them to numb out emotions, and it worked quite well. They killed more than physical pain for me. It got so bad I was even taking 3 Tylenol 3' s at a time, That was went things were at the worst. Wow man, trying to quite was not happening!! When I did I like psyched out on everyone, I could not do it!!! But I did find  a way out... I got on my knees, broke down and asked Jesus to forgive me for everything, and to come into my heart and help me to stop taking these things. And he did! I am now free, it was a little tough but I just placed my faith in him, I flushed them down the toilet and put my trust 100% on him, and he carried me through with very few withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms... But I did do a lot of praying in that time!

[joann1975]

Welcome to the forum....glad to hear you are clean...this is a very old thread. You may want to repost this as a new thread.... just click back to forum and post new question. Also, to save typing time & energy you may want to cut and paste your post first.

You will find lots of support on the forum for aftercare....would love to hear how long you have been clean!

JoAnn

[lostandalone67]

It's funny I have been taking Tyn#1 for 6 years and started with about 30 a day over the last few months I wanted NO MORE...I am trying to get off them slowly and the last 4 days went from 20 a day to 6. I really thought I was the only one out there with this problem , well maybe I beleived myself to be...the last few days have been hell...I have been experiencing the worst nausea and panic attacks i have every had. I do suffer from panic attacks and maybe the Tyn#1 was masking them buy giving me a certain High.....I am so afraid of this feeling of helplessness!!!. I suffer from high blood pressure and the last few days it has spiked and i am wondering if anyone had the same effect with there withdrawl (withdrawal). Guess I am just overreacting or letting the panic attacks take control

[kim715]

You have posted on a pretty old thread.Go to the top of page and hit post a question and start a new one you will get more responses that way.

[Heidi1026]

Hi everyone,
I've been taking codeine4 3 times a day for years.  Unfortunately my doctor is always late in refilling my prescription.  I am in so much paini it's unbelievable.  Head, legs, lower back, pain......does anything treat this.  I take the meds because I have terrible arthritis. But it's true, the more you take, the more you need.  Any ideashow to get through 2 days?
Heidi

[hatingwithdrawals]

Talk to your doctor. If he is still late in refilling then try over the counter tylenol with codeine and caffeine. It's not codeine 4, but it will tide you over.
Good Luck!

[Cindy885]

I guess this is for everyone.  I have had a prescription for Tylenol 3's for a few years now for headaches and migraines.  I admit in the past I have taken them to get high.  Its such a nice feeling sometimes to numb mind body and soul for a little while.  This progressively got worse recently.  I had my presciption filled of about 100 T'3's and I went through them in a matter of a few weeks.  I know I used them because I was dealing with a lot of stress, so much stress that I was actually physically sick to my stomach, and taking them made it go away, but also made it worse.  I also deal with some anxiety as well, and anxiety and stress combined are not good! Again I have been going through a rough time in life, a messy break up etc.  So I used them to avoid dealing with what I was going through.  The end result now is that I have smartened up!  I haven't taken anything for 10 days now, and I think or I hope I am finally starting to feel better.  The withdrawal has been horrible, headaches, pain, irritability, depression (on top of feeling sad to begin with), night sweats, chills, and stress.  And stress on top of the stress I was avoiding.  Fatigue as well. I also have a difficilt enough time sleeping to begin with, I feel like I am going to have a heart attack,my heart beats so fast sometimes, nervousness, vomiting and loss of appetite etc.  

I have not taken them as long as some people on here or worked myself up to as many pills, but it was enough to induce withdrawal.  Again day 10 my heart is starting to feel normal, the headache is starting to go away, I am still very fatigued.

I have only one person in my life thats knows about this, because well its emabarrassing.  Most people that know me, think of me as strong and healthy.  I usually eat well, I exercise 5 days a week usually.  So I am starting to focus on me, and being healthy again ... mind, body and soul.  I wish everyone luck!

[Fairybread]

Been an abuser of Codeine for nearly two years. I have issues regarding self-control, especially in relation to my way of thinking.  condeine has the ability to take away certain ways of thinking - something zoloft is unable to do. I have no intention of quiting, nor would I recommend it. To those who up their intake due to tolerance, it's not necassary. I myself found that required a higher mg of Codeine to acheive what I "needed", however I quickly learnt to take the gift from God at certain times of day:

Before breakfast
Before lunch
Before dinner

This take the drug before consuming food. In addition, consuming say a cookie between breakfast and lunch for example will decrease the affect of the Codeine when taken before lunch.

For those who consume Codeine recreationally, I would highly recommend moving to marijuana or something lighter. The withdrawel symptoms of Codeine near of severity of Heroin withdrawel. ******* ouch! It feels as if someone is injecting ice into your
Knee-caps. Then there's the headaches, liquid **** pouring from your anus, muscle pain, vision problems, rapid heart beat, hot flushes followed by sweating and lastly, depression.

[Fairybread]

Damn iPod keyboard, sorry for spelling and sentence structure
Where I said "I wouldn't recommend" quitting, I am referring to myself. I think it great when people move forward and away from substance abuse

Good luck to all.

[tropicalkhandi]

this forum was a gift from the gods....this is catharthic writing for me as i have just today made the revelation that i am addicted to codeine.  thought i was a few years back and weaned off the neurofen plus, but how i hit the strong pains and strong pain plus, sometime 8-12 day, not as bad a some but bad no matter how you look at it.  as i lay here in the dark and the rain, aching and running to the loo every 10 minutes because of the stomach pains and diarreha, thinking its because i broke 3 ribs a couple weeks ago and the codeine wasnt cutting the pain so the dr gave me endone (oxyconton) it helped but i went off the codiene for 3 days and felt worse.  thought it was just the ribs until i started looking at the forums about codiene withdrawlas this spark idea cam to me in a moment of utter clarity that this might be the problem...got me written all over it.  i cant and wont go cold turkey as that has never worked for me but i have already cut down.  stopped the endone too and will aim for plain panamax or asprin.  i have severe arthritis and the codeien had been the only thing that helped since they took vioxx off the market....wouldnt you beleive.....i havent told my husband but he he isnt stupid.  i will in the next few days so he can help me from myself.  thanks for this forum.

looking forward to the furture for the first time in many moons....

[Sandra14k]

I am here to speak for/to:  the spouse's of the victims of OTC drug addictions??  My husband of 34 years, who is now 56 years old, has been addicted to codiene for at least 30 years now!!!  Together we have tried pretty much everything, to get off of these "demons"!!!!  I call them "demons" because there is nothing positive about these pills??  I feel they need to have a negative conitation to them, for a constant reminder of what you are "really" dealing with.  My husband most days would welcome the "peace" of just "checking out" of this life, if you know what I mean????  We are once again, in the midst of another shot at getting off the demons.  Sadly we do not have a doctor that understands the ramifications of quitting cold turkey.  That in itself is a whole nother talk show.............trust me!!!!!  Anyhow this is what we have come up with and are willing to try, to get this man through the tuffest "body breakdown" a person coould go through.  I have been through this with him many, many times and each time, I learned something new, as I stand by and try to help him heal.
I am equiped with the following for this time around:
Vitimins.......Multi..............nutrience will need a boost!
Vitimin "E".........helps with leg cramping!
Hot Water Bottles...(at least 2).....leg cramping and other body crampings!
Heating Pad...........sometimes hot water bottles aren't enough as they are being used in different areas of the body at the same time another cramp comes on!
Imodium (immodium)............for the runnnnnnnnnssssssssss!
Lots of Gatorade/Propell/ or any other drink of the like that boosts your electrolites??  I was told this in emerg, one of the times I had to admitt my husband.
Plenty of Towels, dry bedding, dry jammies or the like???  
Ladies: the hot flashes and night sweats are very much like our own menopause issues!  If your there yet??????
Plain Crackers................for the stomach if they can't keep anything down??
Pail or Pot...........which ever you choose.........for the wrenching times!!  They will be there.....trust me!!
If you can get them out for walks, or even the treadmill, this will help the leg cramps and hopefully strengthen the muscle a bit to help combat the cramps.  
As much sunshine as possible, even if just sitting in the sun through an interior window.  The sun has natural healing affects. vitimin "D"
Sometimes the dark is all he can handle, but I try and get him as much sunshine as possible????
Any thing you can think of for comfort is "essential".  
He or she will be misserable and there isn't much that can be done at this point, except to be there for them, no matter what comes your way??  Its a very difficult time for all involved and sometimes you just want to run away.  Sometimes I feel like "I" need some help too, but I push myself all the way through and do what needs to be done, in hopes that "this time" we will get through this and beat the "demons"!
If this letter helps even "one" person..............then I have done my job with helping you???
My heart goes out to all of you that are suffering with an addiction and those of you who are suffering along with the addict!!!!!!!!!!!
Sandra

[princessjulieanne]

I am from Canada as well and been addicted to mersyndol for the last 5 years and I believe finally ready to stop taking it.  In spite having 3 drugstores in my town, they all seem to know my face and its getting harder and harder to go in and get them.  When you know the schedule of all the employees its enough.  I was averaging 3 bottles of 100 per week and now down to 100-150 pills per week.  I have withdrawn before from Lorazepam and from aderal (Adderall) (spelling I'm sorry) but in a way it was easy because I couldn't get any of it so just had to tough it out but with the Mersyndol I'm a 3 minute drive to the drugstore.  I keep saying I can't possibly be that bad because I don't get high and I totally function.  Its the no sleeping and the headaches that scare me the most.  I am in for a busy week next week at work so just trying to cut back a bit this week and next but planning the week of the 23rd to go cold turkey as I do not have to work for 4 days.  Any input as to what to expect, how to make it easier would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and good luck to all on their journey!

[co_addict]

This is day 9 of a cold turkey codeine detox. I have been addicted to codeine for 14 yrs due to fibromyalgic pain, the last 4 years much heavier addiction emerged. I have been taking 2 to 300 mgs codeine daily and 40 mgs Oxycontin plus Serapax and Valium with some alcohol thrown in for an increased buzz. Yes I have legitimate pain, thats how I have justified it, however the more you take the more you need the less it works, and then you have no idea what your natural pain levels are because any natural opiates in the system are drowned out. Hence my very first and by the grace of God/goddess/higherwerpower/universal conciousness :) the last detox. I am scared of how I am going to manage pain in the future, but I've just proved to myself that I can endure as its now day 9 and not been pretty! Anyway currently the worse symtom is 'jelly legs and arms' not the pain so much but a horrible weak insipid feeling that does not allow me to lye still, so very little sleep, deep heat has dampened some of the cramps, and the diaria was semi welcome after years of trying to **** golf balls through the eye of a needle (thats opiates for you!) I go to NA (Narcotics Anon) for support I don't feel so alone there and get the encouragement to continue on, if they can stay clean for 20 plus years of heavy addiction so can I.......well it hurts to type so gonna stop, I heard this detox is longer than heroin because codeine stays in system much longer (liver) I am 51. Cheers M

[aussieman78]

I'm 30 years old from Australia and have been taking 10-12 tablets containing paracetamol 500mg & 12mg codeine or 200mg Ibuprofen & 12mg codeine, basically whatever I could get my hands on for the past 5 or 6 years every day. I now find myself travelling anywhere up to 100kilometres to get them. My local pharmacies won't sell them to me anymore. I started taking them for pain relief for a dislocated knee and got hooked. I take them because they give me energy and keep me awake, I wake in the morning feeling tired but as soon as I have 3 of these  tablets I am wide awake and feeling great. Sure its an inconvenience getting them but do I have a problem? Do I need to stop taking them and feel ****? Any advice much appreciated

thanks

[adagio99]

I had my gall bladder removed and it caused severe diarrhea which has not stopped now for 11 years.      I took Questran for the diarrhea and it worked for about 3 years, then it gave me alot of leg pain and I had some strong allergic reactions to the it.    Doctors told me to keep taking the Questran, now I suspect because they did not know what else to do.  

After a few more years, and several trips to the emergency ward I quit taking the Questran.   Diarrhea came back with a vengence and the leg pain was now permament.  

So the doctor prescribed pure codeine.   It worked well on the diarrhea and finally let me get more than a few hours of sleep every night.   Then the doctor got worried she was giving too much codeine, I was taking a max of 180mg a day, and usually 120mg a day.  

I had no trouble quitting codeine and felt much better in my head.  I DID NOT have a need for it other than the diarrhea and the sleep.   However, nothing else seems to work.   The leg pain is severe and I can not walk more than a few hundred feet.    The diarrhea is dehydrating and the raw bile most uncomfortable.

So.  What is a person to do?   I hate what the codeine does to my head as I am an organist and performance is difficult with codeine.

I get so weak from lack of sleep it is unbelievable.    

I have quit codeine for months at a time with no problem at all, just the raw bile and leg pain.    I have lost faith in doctors.   I just want no more pain or diarrhea.

No wonder people become addicted.  I guess I am lucky, quitting is actually easy for me, I feel clear and have more mental energy.

Is there no such thing as a pain killer that works?

[Brambles22]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm posting here anyway.                     In 1975 my six year old son, a previously normal able-bodied little boy,  was left extremely severely handicapped by hospital negligence, my husband could not cope with this, and had a nervous collapse. Over the following 20 years he had several more “nervous breakdowns” and his G.P. prescribed Lorazepam, he stayed on this, and various other medications  ( rarely visiting the Dr, mostly done by repeat prescriptions requested over the phone) until 15 years ago, when without warning the Dr withdrew it.
My husband suffered severe headaches because of the Lorazepam withdrawal, and he was prescribed "Solpadol", (not Solpadeine that you can buy over the counter), paracetamol & codeine to counter them. He’s been on this muck ever since (again repeats over the phone)………..until three days ago.
I have been trying to persuade him for years to stop taking them, and eventually tried ramming home the effect it was having on him, and our family, but like all junkies he wasn’t prepared to listen, he wasn’t a junkie or an addict, he wasn’t addicted……..oh what!!!!...............his only motivation through the course of the day was his next “fix”!

Two years ago we moved to France, and at first the local pharmacist was happy to give him the paracetamol & codeine on the strength of his repeat UK prescription, but last month the pharmacist told me that he could not provide it any more without a French Dr’s prescription, (my husband has put off going to the Dr here because he has an absolute phobia about Doctors and hospitals etc in general) so he got me to visit the Dr and he was given a prescription for just 84 tablets, nowhere near the quantity he’s used to getting, he has hinted over the last few weeks or so that he was running low, and I told him several times to go and see the Dr, but he hasn’t, and he has alternated between refusing to do so, asking if I'd go with him to translate and explain, and expecting me to go and do it for him, but has now finally blamed me for his shortage of the drug.
Finally he ran out of the tablets and has had to go “cold turkey” and he has been very sick, weak and in pain, since coming off them, yesterday he lost it, and told me it was my fault he was in this situation!

OK……..I’ve kept my mouth shut over the years, the days of aggro I get after even the slightest remark or comment about his pill popping are unbelievable, but I finally exploded……. he’s been stuffing this muck down his throat for years, nobody has forced him to take it, all he does is open his mouth and swallow, with total disregard for the impact this senseless, mindless, stupid, self indulgent act has had on his family, his health and his life in general.

I have to admit, in all honesty, I have had great pleasure in watching him suffer this last three days….
It makes up a little for all the hurt he has inflicted on my children, and myself, over the last 35 years, i.e.his bad moods, thick, heavy, black, sulky silences, bouts of depression, irritability, short temper and outrageously volatile temper tantrums, warped, twisted thinking, constant whingeing, and all the other gross and hideous nasties associated with being a drug addict.
It makes up for the years of having to be both mother and father to my kids,
It makes up for the years of verbal abuse, inflicted on all of us, when he either had too much or not enough of his fix.
It makes up for my two girls leaving home as soon as they were old enough as they could no longer cope with him, and despised him for his weakness and lack of control.
It makes up for my kids having to go without because
a,) these pills cost money, and he spent more money on them than he ever did on his children
b,) he didn’t have the patience, because of these drugs, to be a real father, the kids were walking on eggshells around him all of the time, and that’s not healthy.
c,) he couldn’t cope with work, or stress of any kind because of the control this c**p had on him, so I was the main breadwinner……….. and one wage does not go very far.

It makes up for him blaming my disabled son for his need for “something to calm him down”, (claiming at the same time that he is not addicted!) as he still after 35 years cannot face the fact that his son is disabled!
What a load of rot. It was just another excuse for self indulgence.

I know it sounds heartless, but yes, I am glad he is suffering, short lived as his suffering will be………( if he stays off them) he certainly won’t be suffering for 35 years like his family has………….

There are a million and one excuses, (no, not reasons) why people take drugs, most of them selfish, and addicts seem to spend more time trying to justify why they do take them, rather than accepting the reasons why they shouldn’t, or seeing how much better life could be without them, and most importantly, realising or caring what it’s doing to themselves and their families……… you can only be supportive for so long before it wears you down, and wears you out…………..

Yes, Doctors are in a very small way, partly to blame for addiction, taking the easy option, conveyor belt medicine, get them in, give them a prescription, get them out, and yes, my husband’s GP (being one of the idiot kind) had told him that they were not addictive, and this statement, unfortunately was just another convenient excuse for my husband to happily keep on perpetrating the myth that he wasn’t, and couldn’t possibly be addicted, could he? The Doctor had told him so……….urrrgh!!

But nobody, absolutely nobody except you yourself, forces you to take this muck, you do it voluntarily don’t you? Just open your mouth and pop it in?……Really easy isn’t it? Makes you feel great doesn't it?    And to hell with the consequences.....??!!                                  
I do hope you can all get off this stuff, not just for your own sake, but for that of your families, it’s obvious some of you are trying, but many of you are so pathetically full of self pity and wondering how YOU can cope, you should try thinking  about the others like myself  who have had to live with the results of your self indulgent cravings,,,,,,,,,,,,we’ve always had to cope..... even when it’s been an absolute b****y nightmare living with you...

[milenaky]

I can see how angry you are, and boy do you want him to pay for what he made you go through....
However, just an observation.......... nowhere in your looooooooooong note did I read a glimps of you trying to help him. And don't write that you did.... if you ever did...... your tone would have been very different. This is all about you, and how much you suffered... the only selfish, angry, pathetic, little, sorry creature here.... is you.
Probably, the solution here would have been for you have left long time ago... frankly don't understand why you stayed if it was so bad (and that's what makes you pathetic).... ohhh but if we want to be completely honest, I'm sure you'll come up with a reason why you stayed.... nobody stays with a "junkie" for free.
Yep... probably that would have been the solution for him too.... because just reading you makes me try those pills... but then again, I have a job to do and help the one I love...
Thanks, you showed me what NOT to do.... HATE!!!!

[narla]

I'm a 47 year old woman who has been taking an analgesic / calmative for approx: 20 years. They contain 500mg paracetamol,10mg codeine and 5.1mg doxylamine succinate.I live in Australia and this medication is available over the counter no prescription needed.Along with this I am also been treated for depression & panic attacks with zoloft / sertraline hydrochloride 200mg per day. My doctor had no idea about my codeine addiction,I also used alcohol daily 3 to 4 bottles of spirits a week.                      My reason for doing this to my body was simple I was sexually abused by my brother who was 10 years older than me between the ages of 7 to 10, 20 years ago I told my parents and it was like it was swept under the carpet, I had to choose if I wanted a relationship with my parents or not,I did. So to deal with everything the alcohol started first as a 14 year old it made me forget what had happened as a child, as I got older and had my own children it brought all the memories back. I was desparate to have a girl first I did not want my daughter to have an older brother,I did have a girl first then my son, As the years went on the alcohol wasn't working as well at fogging my brain.I was given codeine for a migraine and that was my start at self medicating by the time I was 47 I was taking 18 to 24 codeine per day plus the alcohol and anti-depressants, now I could sleep. Two weeks ogo I had a blood test my liver has been damaged, hopefully it can be repaired. So now I have to give up the codeine and alcohol which have been a constant in my life for a long time, my doctor is helping me seeing me on a weekly basis and using low doses of diazapam/valium to help with the withdrawal symptoms it is now 2 weeks since I touched either alcohol or codeine it's hard but I'm looking forward to a life without them and enjoying good times with my grandson.

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

I liked your comment about the "government taxing the methodone"  I never thought of it that way but it kinda makes sense...

good thinking and stay clean......

[buana]

Hi,
finally, after 8yrs I decided to try and get my life back. From a very active, athletic individual I ended up addicted to codeine, without strength and without the skills required to survive a day without drugs.
My codeine usage started due to spinal surgery 9 yrs ago, which got repeated 5 yrs ago.
Then I realized that it's a lot easier to deal with life's issues through a mind numb by codeine. Stressed at home? pop a pill. Nervous at work for presenting in front of a large audience? pop a pill. Want to have a good time with the kids? pop a pill. It seemed to me it's a 'cure all' miracle pill. However, 3yrs ago I left Melbourne, Australia for 2 weeks in Europe and I was left without my daily intake. From sweats, shivers, sleepless nights, cramps, depression,... I had them all in the period of 7 days.
However I"m in a 'catch 22' here as without a pain killer, I have to continuously fight my pain as a result of the 2 back surgeries. I tried other pain killers but nothing works. With codeine I DO NOT FEEL THE PAIN. Can you imagine how this is for someone for who the alternative is 24hrs of pain?
I could get panadeine forte from GPs and I've done it for years, but convenience wins.. I"m buying Nufofen Plus OTC.
Currently I have cut down to 3intakes. 10 pills per intake. Tomorrw I'll cut another pill out. 3xday, 9pills = 24pills.  A few weeks ago I was consuming 2 packs a day or more. (>48). However I know that I"ll get to the point where my pain will become more and more intense and I do not know how to deal with whole situation. Suicide? Chronic pain can wear you down and decrease the quality of life to a level where it's perceived as not worth living. However I have a lovely wife (knows nothing) and 4 kids.
What I miss most is the energy that I used to have. It's not there anymore. Truthfully the codeine doesn't do much for me anymore. I'm too used to it.
Anyone out there who's experienced chronic pain and codeine addiction? Any options?
Currently I only see two- constantly in pain (to the level that it affects your life) OR happy Larry... Well, based on these choices it's easy to go for the wrong option...
Any ideas, help would  be much appreciated.

[netta46]

Hello

I got addicted to over the counter medication a few years back. A mixture of codeine and nurofen. A deadly combination for me since I am bipolar and take lithium. I kicked the habit for a while but then slowly went back on it. I am now reducing partly because I have to. The pharmacists are on to me!

I used to take four at a time in the morning another four mid afternoon and four in the evening. Four the last two days I have taken two in the morning and two in the evening. I feel like ****!

For those of you taking codeine combined with paracetomol please be careful. the paracetomol will kill you in the end. It attacks the liver.

[NicoleL1986]

I, too, have been an abuser of nurofen plus for 2 years now - taking from 6-14 of the evil pills every day. It started off as a pain management solution to a tootheache, however I continued to take them after a dentist appointment and the pain subsided.

I never realised the horrible side effects long term use can have, and after researching what I was doing to my body I swore to never take anymore again - and I have been successful.

My withdrawals were not as horrible as others I have read on here - there were a couple of nights where I was stuck on the tolilet with diarreoah and vomiting. I was also restless through the night, with only 4 hours of sleep each night. After 5 days, I was through the worst stage and I have never felt better.

Throughout this process I have not craved nurofen plus at all. I think one of the main factors due to this was staying positive. I also exercised everyday to release natural endorphines, and also consumed only healthy foods - no salt, no sugar. I have no doubt that these factors helped in my recovery. Overall, I would say try to stay positive and work through the detox with exercise and fresh fruit and veges.

Good luck everybody - remember, BE POSITIVE!!! Think of the end goal - you will have your life back! xo

[forget]

I have been taking narcotics for 18 months.  It started with severe back pain during a pregnancy and ended with spinal surgery that I am still in physical therapy for.  I was taking 60 mg of percocet a day... and now am down to 6 pills of T3 a day.  I am hoping that by weaning off the percocet, to the vicadin, to the T3s, and now trying to wean off those by taking 6 a day for 3 days, 5 a day for 3 days and so on..... I can escape the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.  I have withdrawn twice.... once fully... so ignorant me for taking it again, but how do you recover form surgery without narcotics? and another time just a few days ago.  I made it to day 4 and was screaming "SHUT UP!" at my 3 yr old.  My sweet baby who wasnt doing anything wrong.  I cannot go into a withdrawl (withdrawal) state like that again.  I have to stick to my plan.  Once I am off, I never never NEVER want to even see a narcotic pill again.  I quit smoking cold turkey about 4 years ago, surely I can wean off this, right??

[shroomer]

it started as a 1 panafen a day which was a treat. then it grew to 5 to 6 a day with a fat bowl of weed. then it was 10 panafen , 3 snorted 10mg oxycontin and 1 mild 20mg morphine injection self cooked from kapanol capsule. after a month trying to withdraw i was successful and clean for 2 months then i was in hosipital for chromes and i'm getting 120mg codeine a day. i'm back on board the drug train  help me

panafen- 12mg codeine

[Hayet_2]

my bf has been taking 72 neurofen plus for 3 years every day.. he now is going cold turkey but has started smoking excess amounts of pot to calm the withdrawls.. i cant handle the thought of him smoking pot to help.. i understand the withdrawls are awful but is it right to replace the codine addiction with another addiction? he doesnt work and is constantly alone during the day.. is there any other natural remedies for these withdrawls and how long will this last?

Thank you

[PARA78]

HI ,
ITS NICE TO SEE IM NOT ALONE ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS ADDICTION WAS .
I GOT HOOKED ON CO-CODAMOL 30/500 , THEY WERE GREAT TO RELIEVE THE BACK PAIN BUT THEN I NOTICED THINGS GOING WRONG .
I LOST MY JOB LAST YEAR AS I WOULD RATHER STAY HOME AND ENJOY THE CODEINE FEELING .
STRANGE HOW IT TAKES OVER THE MIND , IM GOING TO TRY COLD TURKEY , I HAVE TO STOP THIS AS I FIND MYSELF TAKING 12 A DAY , THATS A SCARY AMOUNT OF PARACETAMOL .

GOOD LUCK ALL!!!

[LucyMidnight]

I'm NEW!  3rd day of withdrawal and suffering.  Can anyone help me with this one, I have all the symptoms stated above, in addition I've had a headache for 3 days, feel drunk, am having problems with co-ordination and I can't seem to focus well. Everything feels like a hazy world. My eyes hurt too.

I'm the mother of 7 and wife of a good man but not one who is compassionate.  I'm on my own with this so am glad to have found this forum.
Thanks
tired of addiction

[thunderlover]

Hi, I to have bin taking those t-1's thought I was the only person who took them . and like all have said,, I DON"T WANT THEM but I too went off them a 9 yrs ago for about a yr . then bin on since. and I don't want the withdrawls( sorry about spellin) so this is why I am scared plus had eveyone suport the first time where no one knows how many I am back taking, so don't want to admit that part to husband and friends and don't want those leg pains, and all the other things .. ALL THE POWER TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE DONE IT AND ARE TRYING<> you are showing me and giving me hope.. now does anyone sugest cutting down from 15 + plus a day , don't want to go to doctor cause again will just get told get off them and that is that... So any tips folks . THANKS FOR YOU HONEST HELP and time

[fuzzypeach27]

Hi I am Fuzzy day nine for me, I feel the same too, I was told it was just the mental affects of long term codein use, basically a hangover. But I would see a doctor. I cant focus and feel drunk not quite there. But a World without codein is a new world, one we all feel new too. But check it out.

Day nine folks withdraws gone but craving like made, but its cool. Just trying to ignore it. Sleep 7.5 hours no bad,I choose not to take naps so that I will be tired. Also I used to mix my codein with red bull and energy shots to get ultimate high I have also been clean from them for 9 days. I am not drinking any thing with caffeine as it is a stimulant and I am already stimulated. Plus I think I am craving cos since the 18th December 09 its been snowing and its really rubbing me up the wrong way. cos you cant even go for a walk.  

[fuzzypeach27]

I read your post and loved your honesty. I can only speak for myself but I tried to cut down and it wasn't for me. You will feel some withdrawals though when you do cut down. Im only speaking from my own experience.Thats why I went cold turkey. I even got my husband to put them in the safe and he dished them out to me. Guess what I picked the lock with a hair clip.  HAHAHAH. I laugh now but, god for the sack of a wee white tablet I was taking 600 plus mg codein a day. Day nine now. I was also using peoples names for prescription.  My husband found out as it was in his name. That was the trigger. Who did I love more. I needed to confess and I phoned the police just to clear my conscious a little. Police were very nice. I wasn't charged . Thats what the trigger for me was I finally relised I was well a functioning junky. I lied about everything telling folk I had arthritis and I had a bad back to justified and not to ask questions. My point is sweet heart I got found out well after three years,  I also told ma dad and he cried cos he lives in perth in scotland and I live in Mayfield which is next to Edinburgh. and I realised at that moment that people loved me. For so long it had been me and codein. I don't mind saying this but well we are all honest here. I lost my sex drive on codein. Now its like get your freak on. I wish you all the best. And I know am a bleather. Scottish for chatter box

[mich79]

my hubby is on 45 np a day he wants to go cold turky im scared if he dos hel die im scared

[misscodeine]

Hi everyone,

I just got out of detox for an addiction to Tylenol 1s. I had been on them for 11 years. I was taking up to 100 t-1s per day.
Finally, I decided to book myself into detox and I tell you, it was the best decision I have ever made!
Where I live they use a medical methadone withdrawal system for four days. They start you on 10 ml methadone three times a day, and then taper you off until there is none. By that time, the worst of the withdrawal is over and it really cuts down on the horror show symptoms.
Meanwhile, everyone on the unit has generally the same problem and you feel understood and comforted - that you have a DISEASE called Addiction and not a FAILING of morals or something.
I urge anyone who is fighting this very common battle to do the same. It is not as hard as you think. I was terrified when I made the call but I am so glad I did.
I am 12 days clean now.

[Motosuna1982]

Hi all, i've only been a user for about 2 weeks now but i'm so glad I found this site. I know most of u have been though the wars with opiates but I really need some advice. don't think i've 2 much of a problem(yet) although I have been taking codeine based for mood enhancement and have even been doing cold water extractions. I could really do with some help, have i been taking it too far? Take about four six pills a day and been cwe'ing full trays of nurofen plus and solphadol, just worried that it's getting to me. Haven't been getting any full on side-effects apart from the occasional headache or mood-swing although I am getting frustrated quite easily.

...and yes, I've had previous problems with drug addiction. Y'all probably think i'm nuts but i've been going through some serious mental health problems and thought I could do with a boost(stupid me)...arg!!...should've just said no!!...dufus that I am.

[Aussiemike]

Hi to all. I had chronic back pain for 12 years. Doctors put me on codeine, somedays 240mgs per day. 4 weeks ago purchased a back machine that gently stretches  spine. Back pain  almost totally gone. Doctors told me I would need these tablets forever to stem pain. My pain medication now is virtually zero. Most days I don't even think of my back let alone the meds previously needed to cure it. Coming off this stuff is shocking. Sweating, Tiredness, uncontrollable constant crying, halucinations, depression, nightmares,aggression and really dirty looking urine (browny orangey colour). I don't think I have ever felt this bad in my life. I don't crave the drug I'm just shocked at my body's reaction.  Aussie, you need to get off this stuff  mate,if you can get your pain under control.  It would be a shame to shorten your life if you didn't have too. Save your liver for drinking, it's more fun and healthy. Thanks for all the info on liver damage caused by paracetomol at ibrufren ( I didn't know any of that- you buy them at the chemist so they seem quite harmless). I'm just SO MAD at these doctors!! If I had this machine 10 years ago I wouldn't have needed to put all of this rubbish in my system or suffer this awful pain which has has stopped me from getting a god nights sleep for 12 years. Doctors don't seem to have time or ability in helping people to get of fthis stuff. I'm no doctor but it would seem to me if you can get rid of your pain, Physically or emotionally there might be a chance for a new life.

Please people! You are all so hard on yourselves. Why? You didn't create the pain you have to endure everyday. You TRUSTED people who should know better ie doctors who don't seemed to have been much help to you. I would just urge you to keep searching and talking to your family and friends and looking on the internet.Everyday seems to be getting better and if I can help in anyway just post here. 4 weeks ago I never thought of myself affected by drugs - I couldn't have been more wide of the mark. God bless you all in your efforts to get off these drugs and eliminate your pain once and for all.

[Rianydayz]

Hello, this is day 1 for me, and I am so scared. I am 33 years old and have been completely dependant on T3's for a little over 4 years now. I finaly fessed this info up to my doctor last week, he prescribed me 60 T3's to help me taper off, but now their all gone. Even though I confessed to him, I don't think he realized how dependant I was on these. Not only was I getting them from my doctor(s) but also from a family member, and walk in clinics (where I live, you check a box on a form stating if u want the info from that particular visit to be sent to your doctors office or not, I always strike the NO box).... anyways, during this week I finaly looked reality in the eye and researched my T3 addiction, and wow, am I ever scared of what I have done to my body. I have 3 beautiful children to live for, they are my whole life, but it also seems as though I've put my addiction in the same 'love' bracket as them. I am and always have used these pills for recreation porposes.... they make me happy, happier than any anti-depression pill, they keep my house clean, they get me out of bed in the morning.... they always seem to be whispering in my ear. But yet, as I fall asleep at night, I know what I am doing is wrong. I know I'm an addict. So, today I could go to my doctor, and tell him I'm out.... that I need more to taper off, but I have no control over them, they control me..... if I get another 60, guaranteed they'd be gone again in the same amount of time. So, for me, I think cold turkey will do it..... but I am soooooooo scared. I'm scared of myself, I'm scared of the power that I've let these damn pills have over me. It's been 15 hours since I took anything and I feel  the pain starting to creep up my spine, my body is cold, my legs are acheing, and my head feels very light. I'm finding that this is taking me forever to write because I'm having to re-spell the easiest words..... it's only been 15 hours, and I already feel like a wreck. Please, someone help me.... I dont want to leave the house, can I take ibuprofen for the pain and when the pain gets worse? regular tylenol? I honestly DON"T WANT anymore T3's, I don't want to do anymore harm to my body and mind than ive already done.... I'm scared. Please, someone tell me what I need to hear.

[jeroman]

First of all, the major issue is the paracetamol or similar you put in your body. It will kill your organs. Start buing JUST codeine pills cause thats what your addicted to. Tell you doctor you just need codeine and not the mix with lever danger substans. Then take ame amount of codeine as before but just 1 or 2 pills paracemtamol only.

Now you spare you organs BUT still addicted.
You can buy pills all over the Internet, terrible prices though.
Been addicted for several years and use around 1000-1200 mg codeine per dose, 1 - 2 times per day.

WIll try to quit again now, for the 4th---5th....or maybe 6th time.

/ Jero

[ithaqua]

     In my life I have had been addicted to Alcohol, speed, cocaine, cigs. Now I need to take Vicodin for torn shoulder pain. I have been on them for about 2 months but find that as long as I take them as perscribed the calling of addiction do'es not get exceeding strong.
     when I was in my early 20s I weighed 350lbs and had a bleeding ulcer my life was in a spiral thats when I was saved by the program of Narcotics Anonymous.
Alcohol 5 yrs sober
Speed 19 yrs sober
Cocaine 17 yrs sober
       Remember once you quit you dont have to quit for all time. Only one day at a time. I always incourage people to talk to Dr then go to meetings. 90 meetings 90 days. You used everyday you need to work on beating addiction every day too.
     Good luck everyone I hope to see you on the road of happy destiny

[needshelp572]

i have been on opiates for 10 yrs now it started with having my first daughter and the meds they give you after you have a child. and from then on i just looked around for docs who would write the scripts for me. going to the emergency room every 3 days. or going to the dentist faking a toothache. i found out i have sciatic nerve damage in my back and didnt know it was there because i was covering up the pain. i am 29 and have severe arthritis as well. thing is we over do ourselves sometimes when we take opiates. (the superman effect) it feels good to go to bed lay down and wake up with a bottle full of pills to make the rest of your day. you say that you have kids to take care of. but when you are taking all those pills do you really pay attention to your kids? i know i have caught myself slacking in care for my 1 yr old daughter sometimes because i become obsessed with trying to find my next fix. i never feel like sleeping with my husband sex has just became nauseating to me. opiates can take over your life. if you have only been taking them for a short period of time my advice it to quit while you still have time. i feel like i am so far gone sometimes its not funny. i do have pain. but alot of it is in my mind i know. im not afraid to admit my addiction i have many times to doctors and they just throw them at me to shut up. i could stop yes. but tell that to someone who hasnt taken them for 10 yrs. but throwing those to me is like throwing a million bucks at a gold digger. seriously you cant say no. i have noone to help. no family my husband doesnt care anymore what i do. ive lost my whole life because of these drugs. trust me stay away from them

[coddy25]

Hey all :) Well ill be quick because i hardly ever reply to threads that i read on the internet when i have found the information i needed. But this time is a bit exception as i have also been a codeine addict for 3 years now.

Recreationally i would take 330mg a night every night for 3 years. Some times id take 1000mg during the day and only JUST feel the effects.

Now i am in Australia and we have currently brought in a new law which makes these products behind the counter and you need to sign a piece of paper everytime you buy one bottle. I'd buy 3 at a time twice a week usually. Also i would also do what a previous post stated, and that is to memorise the employee shift changes so that nobody would catch on.

So anyway now we have to signoff to get a 48 pack (450mg) which is a daily dose for me. Now i can't be bothered goign to a pharmacy 7 days a week signing forms all the time, dealing with pharmacists with 20 questions. So i decided to quit.

It has been 7 days and i feel great :) Its funny because the first day i felt ok.. then 2nd day my knees were aching like crazy! I had to wear knee compressors to walk around. 3rd day i fell asleep and then kept waking up unable to breath. I had 2 nightmares that night. One of somebody yelling at me to breath and wake up! Then i opened my eyes and i was half asleep/half awake.. it was really scary becaise i couldn't control my breathing or open my eyes.

2nd Dream was seeing something hold my arms behind my head then i woke up instantly. I was scared if i fell asleep id literally die so i stayed awake all night.

4th Day i was craving and terrified of sleeping that night. I fell asleep but was waking up constantly during the night very restless. Not much sleep at all

5th Day i was buying whisky to curp the cravings and then i realised... man... this is getting serious. That night.. again.. couldnt sleep and kept waking up all the time. BUT this time i started getting intense heart palpitations and shortness of breath. I literally freaked out thinking i was going to die.. oh i also had severe headaches in the back of my head. I honestly didn't link it to WD symptoms at this point.

Untill...

6th Day was ok actually. I had some coffee and gone to the gym as usual but had no motivation becaue i thought.. "Why? tonight i wont have any codeine so ill be bored as hell.. why bother"

That night the palpitations and tingling sensation all around my heart/chest/stomach was intense along with teh shortness of breath. So i prayed to god that i needed to find out if im sick, or its actually Coddy withdrawel. I was wide awake and found this forum thread :)

And suddenly the pains in the chest whent away as i read every post and realised.. woah.. this is EXACTLY what i am going through :) Now its day 7 and i don't even care about codeine anymore. Sure if the law changes and its back on the shelves, ill relapse :( because it makes me feel so confident and great about myself :) Its what i always thought AntiDepressent Meds SHOULD be like.

But ill be just fine without them i hope :)

Sorrry for the epic post but i thought maybe my post could help somebody else just as much as all of yours posts helped me :)

I literrally thought i was dying.. just remember.. it WILL pass! You will feel like **** for 7 days (so far for me) but its your body saying THANK YOU and repairing/detoxing itself :)

[radionactive]

I'm a 24-30 tablet per day user who tried to taper down in the final week or two when my supply ran out and had to go cold turkey.  I took my tablets as Nurofen-Plus (200mg Ibuprofen 12.8mg Codeine) and was taking 12 in the morning and 12 just after lunch.  I'd never take them all at once  otherwise I'd suffer severe stomach cramps and extreme dizziness.  I am one of those people who mass-purchased stocks of the drug online just before the new laws came into effect in Australia (I purchased 2000 tablets on 3 credit cards from 5 online pharmacies under 5 assumed identities!).  In my case, I was a therapeutic user who became a recreational user because of the quality of life it was providing me with at the time.  Let me explain...

I'm a male who just turned 40 and is considered by many to be quite physically fit and with the appearance of someone 10 years younger.  I don't smoke (I gave up in 2000 after smoking for 16 yrs) and I didn't drink any alcohol for the entire 18 months I was taking the Codeine.  I do however, have advanced osteoarthritis in my left hip-joint... which is partly related to a rare form of septic arthritis I suffered as a child when I had a large cyst cut out of that same joint.

Anyway... After nearly 30 years of having no symptoms whatsoever, I began to suffer aches and pains in my joint.  My doctor prescribed me several repeats of Meloxicam as an anti-inflammatory for osteoarthritic joints, which helped immensely.  But after a year, I decided to go it alone and see if I couldn't beat the disease myself... changing my diet and managing the pain on my own with mild pain-killers (such as Codeine and Ibuprofen, etc).

So, to cut a long story short... my body slowly built up a resistance to the numbing effects of the Codeine.  As well as my osteoarthritis, I went through an extremely emotional relationship breakup and also suffered a few weeks of intense pain from an impacted molar.  So, all of that combined saw me bring up my dose to about 24 tablets a day.  If I had break-through pain, I would increase that dose to 30 tablets a day and would begin to suffer 'near death' like symptoms... such as forgetting to breathe, constantly shallow breathing, listlessness, chronic fatigue, sudden collapses, instant sleeping episodes (falling asleep on the spot), medically induced constipation (continuous), rectal bleeding, stomach cramps, irregular & sudden bowel motions, etc.  It was beginning to become a dangerous game and I knew I had to quit, especially now that I needed to obtain a prescription to buy any more of the drug.

So I decided to taper down with my remaining supply.  24 per day, 20 per day, 16 per day, 12 per day, 10 per day, 8 per day... and then a last 6 per day supply... then cold turkey.  The first 3 days I suffered intense aches and pains all over my body, I had hot and cold chills, I would be sweating all over and feeling intensely cold and shivering, I was very, very emotional and all these pent-up feelings came bubbling to the surface and I felt like crying most of the time.  I would curl up and just sit there really upset or angry.  I also had a sudden case of the flu, or allergy-like cold and my sinuses started running.  I was sniffling all the time and blowing my nose and each and every morning, there would be blood in my nose blows and my nasal passages would be bleeding all the time.  Other symptoms included constant changes of temperature (hot, then cold, then hot, then cold) and I would drink about 7 cups of coffee a day just to keep me motivated.  I was always tired and and couldn't find an interest in anything, because I was so focused on my withdrawals.

Eventually, I began taking my new Meloxicam prescription for my osteoarthritis, which helped take away the pain I was treating in the first place (intense joint pain) and I also took a daily anti-histamine to help 'dry up' the constant runny nose and hayfever-like symptoms.  I also have access to Diazepam (Valium) and have started taking 20mg per day and tapering it down to 7.5mg per day after 1 week.  Then I plan to keep taking 5mg per day for 1 more week and reduce it down to 2.5gm per day and then evenutally 0mg

After a week of being off Codeine, I have already noticed that the withdrawals have lessened considerably.  The only problem I found with Codeine withdrawals is that you cannot predict them like you can with Nocotine withdrawals.  There is no regular set time when a withdrawal takes place.  It varies from day to day and is almost random... some days you can go a whole afternoon and evening without a single withdrawal and then the next day, you could have a dozen small withdrawals all throughout the day... then the day after that, it is different again.  Then, sometimes at night, you can get woken up by withdrawals... constant craving for something, anything.

The only way I can describe it, is... it's like my lungs are aching.

To those of you who are facing the prospect of giving up or going through the intense physical discomfort and emotional turmoil that withdrawal brings.... just hang in there.  If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.  You will get through it and DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP OR EMPATHY.  Talk to your Doctor... spill the beans, tell your friends... your family.  Let everyone know, in your own way and in your own time.  You will be amazed at just how many understanding and sympathetic people there are in this world.  I guarantee that having the support of others is the best thing you can do for yourself.  Going through it alone is NOT the way to do it.

Posting here on forums is the first step towards recovery.  You have at least halved the problem by sharing it with someone else... never forget that.

[Freerayne]

Holy crap, I'm really going to be in for it!  Having lived with severe Rhumatoid Arthritis since the age of 20 (I'm now 43) I never took anything for pain other than the anti imflams until I had my second child 10 years ago and couldn't pick up my baby.  From then on there was no turning back.  I've never had a day of not being in pain, some more severe than others to the point of debilitating, but others cope-able.  There were times my specialist offered me stronger meds for pain and I always turned it down, feeling that it's bad enough to become addicted to the T 3's.  A horrible car accident in 2003 added to the chronic pain as well which just made it worse.   I work full time as a waitress while single parenting my 10 and 13 year old.  Long story, shorter, I've finally started Enbrel for the RA which apparently has a huge success rate (it should, it's $18,000/yr, thank God I'm covered)  but now I'm dealing with not needing the T3's for pain anymore.  Taking time off work is not an option, how do I do this?  I've taken 8 pills a day for years.  I want to save my liver, but I have to say, I'm worried.  Has anyone approached this holistically and if so with what results?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Lisa

[Usio]

Reading some of the stories on here has been a real eye opener. To think comments have been posted for ten years shows me that some places on the net have nice and supportive people, and this problem has been around for a long time.

My story, by comparison, is, i guess, fortunate. I was given some Forte for back pain by an aunt and took them onec in a while, but didnt see any effect other than taking the pain away. Til one night i was playing a video game and it was getting intense and then i realized how happy and giddy i also felt. Working in customer service, i would take them about 4 hrs before my shift finished because not only did it help with the pain, but i was nice to all the customers because i felt `giddy` and the day flowed through. I was never fully addicted as i would go through a packet in 2 weeks (2 - 4) per day, then only take them if i got any pain or anything like that. But when i had them i enjoyed them. It wasnt til about 2 years ago that i found Nurofen plus had  the same effect but you had to take twice as much and didnt have to get your doctor to approve them. When i found this out i would take 4 in the morning and maybe 4 in the afternoon. I had enough control fortunately to stop taking it like that as my digestive system gurgled and swirled all the time.. So I just started taking 4 when i got home from work, like having a beer, as im not really a drinker and dont do any other drugs of any kind. After a while i started taking 6 when i got home and thats pretty much where i am now. But my body has told me to maybe give it away, so i have gone cold turkey, there are no cravings or insomnia (Actually,  it makes me feel giddy and drowsy however when i`m taking them it makes it real hard to fall asleep) but i am getting stomach pain, which kinda ***** and a sort of heavy chested feeling sometimes when i breathe, but thats not very often. One thing i have noticed is my short term memory suffers when i take them and thats one thing i want to keep.

But i want to feel like me again, so i`m just going to see what happens. I hope all you guys that have real heavy addictions work your way through. Its great to see supportive people like you guys, Just have faith, because without faith you have nothing.

[cat6802]

Well it's good to read a thread that is current! I am previously a long term poly drug user and went to a year of rehab 12 yrs ago and then had my family. Other then drinking at various times and pot, I have stayed off other probs but have struggled with otc codeine based meds. First it was nurofen + and then Panadeine 15, now extra and even though I'd given up each time with a weaning prog after my last ceasaren nearly 3 yrs ago I got the taste for codeine back as I was put on this post op.Well I just couldn't seem to give it up at all after that and now I find myself 26 wks pregnant and weaning myself off and using this forum to give me strength. I kept going up and down with doses as I'm now a single mum and everytime I felt a little bit sick I would up my dose to the original as I felt it hard to cope looking after 2 very active kids . Doctor gave me 30mg panadeine and I'm proud to say I'm now down to 2 tabs a day (60mg)from what was 5 (150mg)and weaning by 1/4 tab every 4-5 days so i don't shock bubs. I definately don't want to have and addicted baby as I took nothing with my other 2. It's giving me strength to walk and get through 1 second at a time sometimes, changing my mindset till the urge passes adn "brainwashing" myself into feeling so much better without toxic crap in my system. Whenever I took a "bit more" to get thru I'd feel like the lowest of low and be angry and grumpy and down on myself. Yes I feel a bit achy and tired but I feel proud and I'm going to keep going till I'm off this crap and hope bubbie doesn't come too early! As I need antoher ceasar I just hope the hospital can offer me a pain relief alternative as I so don't ever want this **** in my life again..good luck everyone and if I am off this stuff completely in the next month..will bubs still be affected?

[warender21]

u asked how you could save your liver. oxy is safer for your pain to your liver then taking tylonal all day would be. but that should only be a temorary solution because ull get addicted like i am. oxy has no added APAP that hurts ur liver more. if you were desperate to help your pain i would take an oxy and crush it into small pieces then take just 1 small peice every so often. if peice is pretty small you shouldnt feel high at all and 1 very little piece would be the same strength as a vicodin 5/500 or so if you cut it right but it wont have any APAP with it so you would have to worry far less about your liver then if u were taking ur tylonal 3 APAP pills. you should not do it for long because one day you might cut that peice too big feel the notorious high that oxy's give and never look back which happens to people sometimes.

im not condoning drug use im just trying to let you know the safest thing i know of for your pain. i dont know of any pills for pain other then oxy without apap in them. if there is another out there though probally try that first because oxy is the most addictive pills that you can perscribe that ive ever came across.

[SonyTron]

I have been taking codiene for 7 years
I was on 2 30 / 500 a day which may not sound much but I still became dependant. I have a job which means I have to concentrate and I felt as though I was like a zombie half the time
anyway I decided to go cold turkey . It's 2 weeks and 2 days now
I feel a lot better . The headaches have stopped and joint pain that I thought I was taking them for which was actually me withdrawing and needing more
first few days headaches, joint pain, ect
now I feel great
you have to keep fit though and occupied.
also they dull your sex drive so that seems to be coming back
It just goes to show that you can be dependant on just a small amount every day
good luck to everyone out there
I will never touch codiene again.

[Usio]

Its great you are down to 2 a day, but you really have to get off that last hurdle. When i came home to  chill with some neuro`s it would make things interesting and i would feel good, but i started to feel like poo when i woke up. So being that i was only on 6 max a day i weaned myself down over a week or so. The first 4 or 5 days i would go straight to bed because i was bored brainless, but as time went on i started to feel normal again. Its been nearly 2 months and i took one Neuro plus the other day because i hurt my back slightly and was high like before. However i didnt miss it and i know my stomach is back to normal and i dont get a gassy stomach anymore. I thought that was age, but now i have no indigestion or weird side effects. Constipation is the biggest pain - literally. But most of all i am no longer `fake happy` Sure it felt good, but i know now it was an empty happy. Get over that last hurdle and be free and to all the other wean yourself down. I know im not ``hardcore` like some of the stories i have seen here, but if you are on 200 a day, then start taking 199 for a week and then 198 for the next week and so on even. I was lucky it didnt grab me as strongly as it has others but being free from a prison from within that you permit, is a great feeling.

[Mikenitrous]

I know what you all are going through and whatever works for you is best for you. I am 51 years old and at age 19 became a heroin addict for 2 years and on one of my withdrawal kicks  and out of drugs I broke into a pharmacy and came out with a big bag of assorted stuff but had to throw it away because cops were comming and just to show you how crazy my withdrawals were I broke in to the same pharmacy the next night and this time cops arrested me and put me in jail for 30 days until my trial and that's how I became clean. I had to be locked up to get clean. Stayed clean until age 30 until I discovered by accident that I could buy TylenoI #1 without a prescription (I live in Canada) so I was off to the races and within no time was taking over 200 pills a day (going to different pharmacies was almost a full time job) Did this until age 40 until I turned yellow from the all the Tylenol in my system. Also at the same time I suffered a hand injury from martial arts and started going to a pain specialist and I then got on the good stuff "Oxycontin" I told the pain doctor that I abused heroin and was an addict and should I be taking any opiates and he responded that addicts have the right to pain medications like everyone alse so I was off to the races and within 6 months was prescribed 240 x 80 mg of oxycontin plus 240 x 8mg of Dilauded for breakthrough pain releif per month, I don't think I ever took the oxy's in a pill form and figured that if they are extended releif pills if I chewed them I would get all the drug released at one time and get a buzz from that. To make a long story short within 3 months I would burn through my monthly supply within 10 days and would have to lie to my doctor to get the next script early, and then after about a year I stole my doctors prescription pad and started forging prescriptions and got caught after 2 or 3 months, so my doctor by law had to contact the cops and report this and had to kick me out as his patient, I never heard from the cops for whatever reason so now the big secret was out about how screwed up I became and my wife said to get clean or she would leave me so because of the massive amounts of opiates I was taking, going through a taper down it would take to long so I found a medical practise in Toronto that were starting to do a withdrawl (withdrawal) technic called the "ROD" Rapid opiate detox, they put you to sleep by an anesthesieologist for up to 6 hours and pump you full of "naltrexone" interveniously and when you wake up your body has gone through aprox 95% of physical withdrawal and it is mandatory to have a naltrexon pellet inserted under your skin so if I was to use any opiates I would not get any kind of buzz and the pellet lasts about 6 months and you can get another one inserted if you want to. I chose not to and started using again and was hooked again and was ready to go back and get another "ROD" Rapid detox but my wife stepped in and recomended a methadone program and at the same time I would see an addict specialist and get one on one counseling so for the last 6 years I have not used and have been on methadone maintenance ever since and this saved my life and mariage and business and my home....you get the picture. So what I really want to say to all you sufferers and fellow addicts is sometimes you have to think outside the box and try different ways to save your life and get it under control, and everyday living is a gift and everyone deserves to be happy. My prayers are with you all. Mike the addict. ( I'm sorry for all the mistakes but I'm sure you get the point)

[Cat_girl]

Hi Everyone - I'm glad to see lots of you on here have or are on the journey of getting rid of this horrible and evil addiction.

It's probablly one of the most difficult addictions to banish, as we all know it's easy enough to buy the stuff legally over the counter

So I've been addicted to codeine for 5 years (since I was 18) I used it to get rid of migraines, it workes for a while, but then I noticed them creaping up on me more and more often, then realised only this week through research that taking codeine is likely to bring on the migraines or headaches - ARGHHHH - I have suffered so badly with them, and I have been doing this to myself, I feel a fool...

I knew I was addicted to codeine after my first dose - I didn't think about how they got rid of the pain, but more about how nice they made me feel - So I wanted more and more - I had bags and bags full of empty boxes and every day after uni/work I worried my mum would ask what they were, if she'd been cleaning my room or snooping (lol)

Codeine made me feel euphoric for about 30 mins, then most of the day I felt like s**t basically...Tired, loss of concentration, in a world of my own and the dull headaches were just horrible and constant, most of the time leading to migrains...The worst symptom was a lack of sexual drive - My boyfriend of 4 years seems to feel unwanted and unloved, and I hate this, but I just physically can't get myself to want to do anything sexually - I want this to change asap !!!!

So on sunday (3/10/10) I decided to go cold turky - Not the best way I know, but I can't bring myself to see a gp, the community I live in is too small, and I would just hate for anyone to know about my business...I was taking 30/500 co-codamol - 8-12 tablets a day...

On sunday I took none (and I don't have any left) and I have gone three days without any

My withdrawl (withdrawal) synptoms started monday...These are my symptoms:

Cravings
Sweating
Slight Headaches (although not as bad as I expected)
Constantly chaging from Hot to Cold
Depressed feeling
Wanting to cry all the time
Restless Legs (HORRIBLE !!!)
Insomnia (only on night one, I slept well on the second night)
Stomach Cramps
Runny Nose
Diarreah (diarrhea)
Aching Legs and Muscles

So yeah, a lot of symptoms, but I am just telling myself constantly that it's worth it - I have read a lot that it's usually about 7 days untill you start feeling a bit better, so I am looking to the future and just praying I will feel myself again after 5 years of feeling like a zombie !!!

I think the symptoms are getting better - e.g. I slept well last night and my headaches haven't been really bad...

I am looking forward to my future now, and although I do feel depressed, I have hope in my heart that I will be better very soon.

THANKYOU FOR READING - WE CAN ALL DO IT - IT'S ALL ABOUT WILL POWER xxx

[vickie10]

i went o a pharmacy 2 weeks ago to get some codiene tabs as mine had run out and i couldt get to my dr, i had moved away form my area, the cashier asked all the right questions, had i had them before, did i have any underlying probs! i said no, i had been takin them for 9 YEARS, she went white and said "your not supposed to take them for more than 3 days" i walked out with a pack or paracetemol! 4 days later i was crying all the time, felt low depressed, and jus really feeling crap, i also stopped smokin weed at the same time! i didnt think i had a prob with any of them, but suddenly my thoughts cleared and i realised i was withdrawing, i came online and found codiene was an opiade, i had no idea, my dr had been giving them to me with no questions! i'm not a person with an addivtive nature, but i was hooked... the weed was easy to stop because it wasn't easy to get but the codiene, different story, i have had flu like symptoms, aches pains, runny nose, ill tempered... i had no idea! i live in uk, its only now warnings are appearing on packets...i will never take another one, or smoke another joint! my kids deserve more than a junkie mum, because thats how i feel, i will do it!! i feel something needs to be done to reclass some of these drugs!! i just found out my 16 year old girl is a coke addict and shes living with the person supplying it to her, i have done everything to get her out, but i cant, now the only feelin i have is guilt, i cant help feelin im responsable for her addiction alsthough really i know im not!! i'm lucky in one respect because i dont want these drugs, i hate drugs... hate hate hate!!!! more than the slime giving it to my daughter, which is alot!!! i definately will do it.. i didnt know i was an addict until i stopped, because i didnt know, so the mental side of it was easy, its now physical!!! be strong.... i've not had so much as a paracetemol since, im way too scared, and i was only takin about 4-6 a day, but the scariest part is, i had pain in my side for a long time, it stopped when i the pills did, now im worried i've hurt myself, my kids only have me..... codiene is a silent, slow killer!!! i'm soooo gratefull to thast lady at the chemist... she asked all the right questions and it made me see something i didt!!! i am doin it, and i will continue!!

[justwanttostop704]

I have been on TY3 for over a year now and I was up to 20-30 pills a day. I have wanted to quit C/T for a long time since every place and DR I called about the addiction I was told to get over it. Well Today is day 1 for me not taking any pills and other than mild sweets I dont feel too bad. Is this normal or is the worst to come? Also how long do the withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms last? I am so excited to get my life back but so scared at the same time!

HELP!

[NICKDARV]

Take Darvocet N-100 then N-50 - then chop the N-50 in parts as part of the step-down method from Tylenol 3.

The doctor who gave me Tylenol 3, and other Narcotics, never told me how to deal with withdrawal symptoms. I found a doctor who laughed and told me it's no big thing. Use non-T3/C3 meds (mentioned above) at lower dosages and all will come out fine.

So I took the Darvocet and lowered my dose and it was no big deal. I can't say this will work for everyone, but it is an avenue to try first when all others are about just dealing with the lousy no-med methods that do nothing.

[chrisc2812]

hi my name is chris and im in day 2 of withdrawal from 25 30/500 a day and the cramps started this morning and im so adjatated i know what to do with my self iv been in these for 2 years its very hard how do i get threw this someone please help

[Mirrener]

If you're going cold turkey after taking that much codeine for 2 years, you must be going through hell. I hope you're tapering, otherwise I think that would be dangerous.

One thing that I might suggest is Valerian root, an herb that is quite calming. I take Swiss brand, 500mg, 2 at a time. Also, drink lots of water to flush the drug from your system. If this isn't strong enough, I wonder if you could ask your doctor for a short-term supply of Ativan or something similar.

Best of luck to you as you go through this. :)

[Evilsports]

I'm Kevin.  35 year old male.  Husband and father to a two and a half year old angel.

I've been addicted to T1's for coming on two years now.  I'm up to 30-40 per day on a bad day.  That's four times the "toxic" limit of Tylenol.  I'm fully aware of the risks, but they seemed so abstract.  The warm buzz was tangible.  No need to mention who wins that argument.

I'm at hour nine of my sobriety.  My tolerance developed to the point that my body would begin to withdrawl (withdrawal) after an unusually heavy day.  I can no longer calm the demons with 15-20 pills a day.  

My liver burns, my body sweats/chills, my hands shake, my head and teeth ache.  I lay in be burning.  Wake up in pain and for a split second I wish I wouldn't wake up.  (I'm not suicidal, and I will never be).

I can't tell any of my family about this.  I quit drinking, cocaine, and these pills ten years ago.  Nobody knows I began using them again.  The shame would cripple me, and possibly cause damage irreparable to my family.

I'm posting this here in hopes of some sense of accountability now that I've shared this with another human(s).

I know it will get better.  I know the pain will subside.  I've ridden this hot sweaty train before.  It doesn't make me any less afraid.  My thoughts scare me when I withdrawal.  The depth of sadness and futility a person can feel by removing these little white pills is shocking.

At the end of the day, I play the tough guy.  I tell myself that there is nothing I can't overcome.  I tell myself that there are people laying down dying of starvation somewhere on this planet, at this second.  I have no right to continue hobbling around on these crutches.

There is a dark and ugly area I have got to walk through.  There is no way around it.  I do know that whatever hurts me makes me stronger.  The same goes for all of us struggling with this.

It's not pretty.  We know this.  It's a gross, ugly, frightening ordeal.  But in 6-7 days we can all be in one of two places:

-Burning side, abdominal pain, ringing ears, lightly buzzed on that sickening little pill.

-Or walking out of a fog into a clearer, truer life.  One where we can forever look back at these next few days as a measure of what we're truly capable of.

[VanTiger]

Hello there,

I feel for you in your very difficult situation, and would like to share my experience with this same problem so that I can perhaps give you some perspective and some hope. I am currently 11 days off of T1's, after getting up to as many as 60/day on a bad day. At the point I quit, I was taking 3 doses per day of at least 16 pills at a time. I've taken as many as 30 in one dose on occasion if I had a really nasty headache...wow...that was scary! I was taking them primarily to avoid rebound headache, but was definitely aware of a secondary emotional numbing effect that I have now accepted has been the reason why I've withdrawn and then gone back to these pills probably dozens of times over the last 15 years, because usually the headache that would trigger the initial use after a period off of the pills wouldn't be bad enough to warrant taking them...but there would be a combination of physical and emotional pain that would come together, and in a moment of weakness, I would make the purchase and take some, telling myself that I was strong enough to just use them occasionally for physical pain...what a lie! I'd always end up taking them with greater and greater frequency...that old slippery slope, and then the rebound headaches would start again, so I'd have no choice but to take them unless I wanted to experience rebound headaches again right there and then. As far as the people in my life knew, I just got bad, long migraines that made me really sick, and drained me for a while...but I was actually going through withdrawal, and experiencing rebound headaches until my body's natural pain killing mechanisms could kick back in. I never let them close enough to me to really let them see what was really going on. What a depressing, painful, lonely journey it was. I was so scared to tell anyone because I've been so invested in looking so 'together'...I didn't want the people in my life who respected me to see me as an 'addict'. Each time I tried to imagine telling anyone about it, I'd cringe at the thought of their possible reactions. I have wonderful, loving, compassionate people in my life now, and yet I had this pretty much irrational fear of rejection that came from my past baggage. And despite it being irrational, it felt very real, and controlled me for many many years. But I have long been fairly certain that if I could just get some support from someone close to me, confide in someone, not only would that act be empowering in the sense of accepting and beginning to truly deal with the problem, it would also give me a sense of accountability to someone other than myself, and help me to conquer those pivotal moments when the pain triggered the urge. I needed to trust that those close to me, love me enough to accept my humanness...I am not a pillar of perfection...I have pain, physical and emotional...I function pretty highly in my professional life, and despite my dependence on these pills, I am a loving and giving person who is always there for the people who matter to me. That's actually why nobody had any idea I was doing this all these years. Okay, so fast forward to 11 days ago. I was sooo depressed, feeling sooo physically awful, scared of how many pills I had to take to maintain my functionality, ashamed that I was hiding this huge secret from people who believed that they knew me and who were open with me about their own flaws. I had so much fear and shame. So I made the decision to quit. At the point that I quit, I was still too scared to tell anyone that's what my illness was about. I went through 2 really awful days with a crashing headache, nausea, sweats and chills, body aches etc. And then the symptoms began to subside significantly on day 3...just a mild headache, some night sweats and some body aches, but nothing too major, and some fatigue. But I was back at work after 1 week. I have a demanding and stressful job that requires mental alertness, but I was able to do it. I was very tired by the end of the day, but I was in such a more positive frame of mind, and that more than made up for the physical aches and pains. I could deal with those for a while, as I know they will pass, and they are. Anyway, on the 4th day of my withdrawal, after the veil had lifted, suddenly I had a new perspective on things. The numbing effect of the meds was past, and I felt soft and real...human. It actually felt good. And that was when I finally decided I needed to confide in someone so that I never had to go through this again, and so that I could have fully intimate relationships with the people close to me. So I gathered my courage and I talked with my girlfriend...explained it all. She sat there and listened and while she admitted she wasn't happy to hear it, she expressed her unconditional love for me, and that we'd conquer this together. Wow! She'd never shown me anything but that kind of love and compassion in the past, so I shouldn't have been surprised, but still...wow! I felt so much lighter...I felt so different...I felt that now I could finally beat this demon for good. So I'm on day 11 now. I wake up with mild headaches which often clear with some coffee. I still have some fatigue and some mild body aches and some night sweats. My sleep patterns are starting to return to more normal. And I'm feeling ALIVE, even euphoric at times. My senses are all so much more awake...the good stuff feels soooo much better. The bad stuff...well, I've got support now to really deal with it when it happens, and I have a sense of accountability to someone whom I respect, and whose respect for me means the world to me. So I'm extremely confident about this in an entirely new way than before. It feels real this time, and not like I'm fooling myself.

So...I hope that you'll read this an get some hope...and maybe consider sharing this with someone close to you. We often don't give the people in our lives enough credit and we allow our baggage from our pasts to keep us from taking a step. Perhaps you could take a look at the people in your life from a fresh perspective...what have you observed from them as far as expressing compassion and understanding for others, and what love and compassion have you earned from them through all that you do in your life. You deserve to be seen as human. We all have our ways of buring our pain...this has just been your way. But if you go through the withdrawal process, I swear you'll be feeling sooo much better very soon. And if you get some support, you'll have a much better chance of staying clean. I hope this helps you. Sending you compassion and encouragement!  

[Evilsports]

That does help me.  To be sure, I have every intention of opening up to my wife regarding this.  I decided to wait until I'm quit and through the WD's because that is just my personal penance.  I say that from a selfish point.  I'm scared that if I had to work through the added stress of explaining this to her while detoxing physically, I may become derailed.

I'm 32 hours into my detox and life is fairly miserable.  It's largely physical pain for now though.  Sweats/chills and a fantastic headache.  I find a perverse satisfaction in the pain.  It feels like some type of down payment on the future.

I agree, it is terribly lonely not to have the support of loved ones.  I also agree that the support and accountability afforded through disclosure, is not something I'll want to move forward without.

For now it's the minute to minute victories.  Lol.  

Today, "Make it through the hour without stepping back into the ugliness of addiction"

Tomorrow, "The world".

Thanks for commenting/advising and sharing.  I was fully hoping that I would be able to connect with at least one stranger through this.  Your words of encouragement are hugely motivating.

[VanTiger]

I'm so happy to know that my words have helped you, and that you're plowing through this initial withdrawal process. You're showing a lot of courage and determination...and it sounds like you've got some great insights and some wisdom going for you too. You deserve a great deal of kudos and respect, and I hope that you are proud of what you've accomplished...not just thus far through the physical withdrawal, but also through the self-reflection that has brought you to this point. As much as my own analytical/intellectual side can keep me from feeling my feelings, and can be a pain in the *** sometimes, that same side of me has helped me a great deal to reflect and make sense of my own processes and mechanisms; to understand myself better, and I think I just needed the support to go with that. Many people aren't willing to reflect, and I think that's something that separates the people who are ultimately able to beat addiction from those who aren't. But you sound like a person of depth and intelligence, and with a tenacious spirit inside you; and I think you'll beat this. I'm really really happy to hear that you're planning to talk to your wife. As far as waiting til you're through your withdrawal...well hey...you need to be selfish right now...anyway you can get there is what you need to do. I didn't talk about it with my girlfriend until I was through the worst of it either. A big part of that was fear...I didn't want her to see me and have her know I was still using at that moment...I wanted to at least be clean...and frankly I just wasn't quite ready yet to bare my soul. I understand also about getting something from the pain that you're experiencing...if it wasn't so horrible to go through the withdrawal, it wouldn't serve as such a motivator to stay clean in the future. We do forget what pain feels like to a large degree over time though...while we have an intellectual recognition of having gone through big pain, we forget what it really FEELS like. So sometimes when I'm in the middle of it, I'll write about my experience in the most descriptive terms I can, so that I can read it later if I'm feeling complacent or tempted,  and try to connect with those past feelings in a more real way. Anyway...keep goin'...you're doin' it! :)

[Rose872]

Wow!! That's all I can say after reading your post earlier.  I had surgery two weeks ago to remove several tumors in my abdomen. Tumors that caused severe pain for many many months. my doctor prescribed Dilaudid  long and short acting and tylenol #3 for the pain. So fast forward after several months of chemotherapy, the surgery date arrives and the news is great all traces of cancer gone and all tumors removed.

Looking back now I should have known something was up when it took a fair bit of morphine for pain management post op, but I was riding the wave of complete trust in my doctors.  Three days out of the hospital I stopped the Dilaudid thinking I would be pain free. What followed was severe withdrawal symptoms, vomiting so hard that I ended up back in the hospital, where they gave me....you guessed it Dilaudid for the pain. My whole body had a Hallelujah moment and only then did I realize that I had become addicted to the drugs.
When I got home I stopped the DIllaudid and only took the Tylenol #3, thinking that would ease the symptoms, which it did a bit...I guess. But it was the worst experience of my life...Yes worse than chemo.

So now I'm clean of the Dilaudid, but left with the codeine addiction. My whole being is deathly afraid of going  through the withdrawal symptoms, so I was hoping that I could taper them off.  

I'm so scared, yet I really want my life back.... HELP?  

[VanTiger]

Hi there...wow, I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. Do you have support from people in your life regarding your situation? And are you aware of a psychological addiction, or is it just a physical dependence? Dilaudid and codeine are both opiates, but dilaudid is much stronger. I don't know enough to tell you what you could expect if you were to withdraw from the codeine at this point; not sure how your previous and recent dependence on dilaudid will have impacted your body's response to the re-introduction of a weaker opiate this soon...and it probably depends on how much codeine you've been taking. My suspicion would be that the withdrawal wouldn't be as bad this time...but I'm no professional. Are you able to confide in your doctor about this? You certainly have a 'legitimate' reason for your dependence, and surely your doctor wouldn't be surprised given your history with the dilaudid. It's quite shameful how the medical system creates this kind of thing, and then doesn't provide the kind of support and information to people in your situation who, understandably, become dependent on the medications. It should be an automatic thing that when doctors prescribe narcotics for long term pain, that they provide some counsel on what to expect and how to proceed after the primary condition is resolved...and then provide resources treatment of the dependence. That act in itself could provide validation for people going through this...and would probably remove a lot of the shame felt as a result. This is the body's physical response to a drug, and nipping the problem early can prevent it from becoming more than that. Anyway, I really hope that you will seek some help and support with this. You've been through hell already and survived it...you're strong and you can get through this too, and it very well may not be nearly as bad this time. Before long you'll experience the reward of having your life back. Believe me, it's soooooo worth it!  :)

[addictionssuck]

I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person with this problem! Thank you all for the information, as I didn't know if what I was experiencing was normal or not. I have just confided in my very understanding family and husband about my problem, and couldn't have been more surprised or happy with their reaction and support. I don't know if I would ever have been able to do it alone as some of you have done (very brave). On day 3 now still shaking, sweating and spending more time on the toilet than in the past 3 years, but hoping to start feeling better soon.
Thanks again for the help!!

[addictionssuck]

I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person with this problem! Thank you all for the information, as I didn't know if what I was experiencing was normal or not. I have just confided in my very understanding family and husband about my problem, and couldn't have been more surprised or happy with their reaction and support. I don't know if I would ever have been able to do it alone as some of you have done (very brave). On day 3 now still shaking, sweating and spending more time on the toilet than in the past 3 years, but hoping to start feeling better soon.
Thanks again for the help!!

[VanTiger]

Just thought I'd post an encouraging update for anyone who might be interested. The last time I posted I was around 2 weeks into my cold turkey withdrawal from huge doses of T1's (up to 60 per day). I was still experiencing a range of withdrawal symptoms and mild to moderate morning headaches on waking, which usually mostly cleared through the morning. But all of my symptoms, even at less than two weeks clean, were very tolerable, and I had gone back to work after just one week, doing a demanding and stressful job that required mental alertness...wasn't particularly easy to go back that soon, but I was able to do it. I just felt fatigued by the end of the day, but I performed my job well. I had finally come clean to my girlfriend about my problem, and she had been amazing, and I experienced a new level of self-acceptance, peace, and empowerment. After years of having this secret, I was in a new place...and it felt goooood!

Okay, so fast forward...I'm now 37 days clean. I feel like a new person. I've shared my secret with one other person close to me, and am planning to share with more close friends. My sharing actually impacted her, because she confided that she had an addiction issue that she'd been hiding as well...not as severe, but nonetheless one that she wanted to get beyond, and my story inspired her to look at her own situation with new and more open eyes. That felt good. I have a new and more accountable relationship with myself now. I had originally shared my secret to get support and feel accountable to someone other than myself, because I couldn't count on myself for the love and perseverence to stay off the pills. But after accepting my humanness and sharing it with people close to me, that act in itself seems to have been a gesture of self-love that is now providing me with much more of my own internal motivation and accountability. I feel better physically and emotionally than I ever have...I'm dealing with my demons...I'm moving on issues that have been dogging me for years...I feel real...not numbed out...not depressed...and though I have some daunting challenges ahead of me, I also have a feeling of excitement over what is possible for my future now. In the fog of addiction it's impossible to see how much we are negatively impacted in every area of our lives...even if we are 'functional addicts', as I have been. I had some fuzzy concept of what I was missing out on, and how it was impacting my relationships (though subtle enough that people in my life just thought I was sort of depressed and stuck), but until I stepped out of the fog, I couldn't experience the flip-side. My girlfriend now sees a HUGE change in me, and we are experiencing emotional intimacy that I never dreamed possible. It's having a beautiful effect on every aspect of our relationship. WOW! So, I hope this inspires someone to stick with it when you're going through the process. It's feeling more and more worth the effort with every day that passes. :)

[zoe95]

i have been useing codeine for ten years, i have a hard time admitting i am addicted. for years i have ignored that there is even an issue. these days i wake up of a morning find it difficult to stand let alone walk i hurt all over dazed and feeling asthough i am ninty years of age. ii am experiencing severe depression irrational thoughts followed by irrational actions i become violent and aggresive (aggressive). i am not this person that i have become. i have tried to stop several times failing again and again you can only try so many times before you give up for good. i am sick to the depths of my soul for not haveing the strength within myself to stop. i am sick of walking around each day with a lump in my throat feeling like i am at breaking point. numbing myself to my ever growing problems is all i ever seem to do i hate that i am so weak to weak to stop.. i have numbed myself for so long now that when i do gather the motivation to try to quit i am faced with emotions that i havent dealt with in so long that i no longer have the copeing mechanisms to deal with them. my world is falling apart around me and all i can do is get high and forget for a short while that my life is ******. i try to ask myself what possitive things could i replace this drug addiction with that i enjoy. the truth is i dont enjoy anything as much as the high that i get from takeing codeine. the last time i tried to quit i became irrational and violent i took this out on my partner to the point that he pleaded with me to start takeing my pills again. i did not choose this life for myself i am not this person that i have become. this i know. i cant imagine my life with this drug nor can i imagine my life without it. my body creates pain, pain that i can feel but pain that is not real, i know this because when i am in physical pain it dissapears the second those drugs go in my mouth long before the drugs have time to work, i am so angry at myself for doing this to me, and the people in my life. who am i , what have i become? sadly i know this aswer to that question I AM TWENTY SIX YEARS OF AGE AND I AM A DRUG ADDICT.....the worse thing is that writing this has made me emotional and i am feeling emotions that sadly i do not want to feel nor bear to feel so im going to get high,become numb, and choose to live anotrher day pretending  or chooseing to forget  what i have become...

[SkyleeMcGravy]

Hi there and I hope everyone is doing better than when they posted.  I almost cut my thumb off a few years back and was given percocet for the pain.  I realized very quickly that they were extremely strong and asked for something weaker after using the percocet for about three months.  It wasn't easy to transition, between the withdrawals and the pain but I managed to do it.  A little info for those of you who are addicted to codeine.  The difference between hydrocodone and codeine is that your body will keep absorbing hydrocodone as long as you keep taking it.  Codeine on the other hand, has a 'ceiling effect'.  What this means is that your body converts the codeine into morphine but only up to a certain amount.  Depending on your body weight, anywhere from 300 to 400 mg is the max that your body will convert to morphine, in 24 hours.  What this means is that the part of your brain that converts the codeine to morphine becomes saturated after a certain amount and no more ephoric feelings can be felt.  Only the side effects like nausea and 'the itchies' will increase.  So knowing this it might help with the mental side of it.  

This isn't meant to offend anyone at all.  I just wanted to share info that I have in hopes that it might help even one of you.  

Blessings and peace

I know it's hard.  I have been there.

Good luck and Godspeed!!

[feelingblue65]

Hey everyone,

I have been taking on average 10-12 emtec/T3's for the last year everyday. And didn't decide to quit yesterday but ran out of ways to get them. It is so hard physically and mentally to quit taking codiene. I just like the feeling of being on them and found they helped with anxiety as well. I'm hoping i can cut these out of my life now and don't go onto another drug. Cause this isn't my first addiction to a substance. Its hard as hell. But you just have to be strong. Physically when you quit cold turkey it would be good to have some T1's and advil on hand and also tell anyone who knows about it that you need a few days to relax. Mentally it might be a good idea to talk to someone. I hope this can help all of you trying to stop and would like to hear other people's struggles with it cause it makes me feel like i am not alone. Thanks. Take care of yourself.

[Bayoumama]

I've been on Tylenol 3 for about 2 years and continuously for the last 5 months.  I was put into a pharmacist-induced detox because my RX isnt getting filled for 10 more days.  I'm on day 5 of withdrawals and talk about a wake-up call!!!!  I spent the last 3 days in agony!  This morning seems better but it's still early.  I will call the pharmacy and just cancel the refill or delete it or whatever. IM DONE!!!!  I didn't want to be done, but I refuse to go thru this again.  The deterioration of my spine is what I have to be prescribed this and that is much much worse.  Im scared to death to cancel the refill, but I have to do it.

[K_oz]

I'm a 31 year old male in Australia where codiene is available OTC up to 15mg per tablet. They have just started to put in restictions on the amount you can buy (5 days supply at a time) but you can always shop around.
  I have been abusing this stuff for about 9 years now, taking about 350mg a time 2 to 4 times a day for the past 5 years (was clean for about 18months, but only while living in a rehab the whole time - a place called Teen Challenge - there are hundreds of centres all over the world - check it out if you want help).

  I Recently developed what is called a "pouch" in my throat which now prevents me from swallowing ANY tablet. Now I do somthing called Cold Water Extraction which I wont explain as I don't want to encourage anyone. Still take the same dose.

  Been cold turkey just the one time and it was PURE HELL for about a week - I had the usual symptoms but what I found the hardest was the mix of restlesness and inability to sleep. I spent about a week with maybe 1 hours sleep a night, and that was with taking Stilnox. Kepping busy is the big key, then you suffer mostly just at night. I truly thought I would go crazy with lack of sleep and do somthing stupid like kill myself.

  Anyway, just lost my job because of this crap (already lost my wife, friends and all my possesions - hocked them off - it's an expensive habit, up to $50 a day) so I have to do it again. I'm thankful that I'm forced to quit, but also scared.

  Don't know why I'm posting here. Because of this addiction, my life has fallen apart, my health is bad (especially my teeth, 6 or seven are broken and rotting with the rest on the way). I hate myself. Like anyone else, I crave love and acceptence from others but all I get is disgust and anger becuase of my addiction (and how I've treated others because of it).

  I'm a Christian, but I'm so confused, hurt, angry, desperate and depressed and see absolutely no future at all. I'm both totally numb and in desperate pain at the same time. I both hate and blame God, and plead, hope and pray almost constantly that He would save me from this and myself.

  I'm just so sick of this S@#T.

[dominosarah]

Hi.......you posted on a really old thread.  If you go to the top of this page you will see a green box that say Post a question.  Click on that and You can start your own thread and will get responses just for you.        sara

[sudie58]

i was going to say the same as dominosarah, this thread starts years ago ,you will get help better if you do as suggested.post a question at top of this page,
                  best wishes, sudie

[chuckk1]

My wife has been taking Tylenol 3 for her migraines for the past 8 years.  They are the only thing that stops her headaches, and for her they work very quickly.  Tylenol 3's are extremely difficult to get here in the U.S.  Most doctors won't prescribe them and if they do, it's minimal.  Then they charge a $150 office visit.  My wife averages maybe 40 pills a month intake; not what I would call excessive or an addiction.  But, when she runs out, she panics.  Then she starts taking massive amounts of Excedrin which make her sick from all the caffeine.  For awhile, I was buying her T-3's on the black market, risking arrest, and paying triple what I would at the pharmacy.  Without her T-3's, my wife becomes incapacitated, will not get out of bed, and laundry goes undone, dishes unwashed for days.  I have seriously thought of breaking into a pharmacy to get her what she needs to function.  About 3 years ago, we found a doctor who was willing to prescribe her 160 pills at a time, with 1 refill.  With that, we only had to see him 3 times a year.  We just found out that he left town with no warning.  I'm now trying to find my black market contact again before my home, my marriage, and my life fall apart.  I suppose her addiction is more psychological than physical, given her stable intake.  When she has a supply, she's content, and does not ever take them unless she has a headache.  She's not at all into any kind of recreational use.  What in God's name do I do?

[fharnyte]

Folks,

Its been a yr now i am on a disgusting cough syrup called Tossex. Daily 3 bottles each costs me 75Rs INR. It has 10mg per 5ml and each bottle carry's 100ml liquid along with Alcohol of 5%. I just started for recreational purpose, i wasn't alcoholic. It started with monthly basis, than weekly & since 8mths it all daily. Time goes on and this damn thing goes on high, daily 3 shots of Tossex. 450mg of codeine need to complete my day. Its been 8mths like this and just past 2 days Im on cold turkey. I never want to touch any medication from now on because i don't have any physical problem rather this stupid addiction. But cold turkey isn't easy as like just to quit this **** at once. I am trying to get rid off this thing asap. The things which are working believe me 1. Coke 2. Yogurt. It's really working better than any medication. I not craving for codeine at all till now. Just waiting for my 2nd day to pass with in few hours. I am sober and want be at least for a week to get rid of this **** completely out of my life! you all should give a try to this. It is really working..

[lockocorm]

I find it funny how people in this thread are blaming god or turning to god praying because of there codeine addiction. Lets make one thing clear it's nothing to do with a so called god...its the weak nature of humans.

I use codiene for my sever headaches and i also use it for the high or the hit receationally. I can use codeine when i feel like it and enjoy it as a treat. (usually x3 12mg tabs at a time) I dont feel as if i'm addicted and can use it or go without whenever i want. I think if codeine is used in this fashion it's fine to take.
Let me put it this way....its better taking codeine that its alternatives like speed, cocaine or other hard drugs.

[MEB2011]

Looking through the thread of comments I see that many are taking these very weak codeine plus acetominaphen medicines, in shockingly high quantities.   The liver can only process about 4 grams of acetominaphen, after which it becomes toxic-- even less if you have liver disease or use it with alcohol.   There is one fact that I can share, which is that NAC (N-acetlycysteine) can help the liver to remove the toxins (and is the standard presribed treatment by medical profession for overdose, along with activated charcoal to remove any in the digestive system.

I have been pursuing information about the use of amino acids to rebalance brain neurotransmitters which go way out of whack when using drugs and alcohol.  It is a bit complicated, but I think it is worth investigating.  There is no magic bullet, but if you can take supplements that aid the brain to  recover its normal functioning (including depleted neurotransmitters) it makes sense that it will help to relieve some of the suffering.   This is the physical neurological part, but with addiction there are also many other aspects (psychological, behavioural, emotional, social, etc).  For codeine addiction one can also try substituting  tramadol, which is an opioid but it seems not quite as habit forming, although I have heard that withdrawal can be bad.    At least it is an alternative if you really need something and don't want to go out on the black market looking for a fix.

Tapering down as much as possible before going to cold turkey will help too.   That takes some discipline (to be willing to take say 5 tablets a day for week, then 4 for a week, the 3 etc).

Speaking to the previous commenter, I think individuals are all different and it is not always possible to compare one person's experience with another's. I know people that can enjoy an occasional cigarette.  Good for them, but I can't do it.   Hats off to you if it is easy for you to enjoy occasional use of narcotics-- probably a lot of dependent persons said that years ago they became hooked.

Anyway, try the amino acid supplements, but of course take all the precautions about checking with a doctor as there are several conditions that preclude taking some of them (e.g. if you are on anti depressants, or if you have PKU, pregnant or nursing, etc.).

Best wishes to all. Mark

[devonex16]

Hi I am on day six of withdrawals from cocodomol which can be bought over the counter here in England. Have been taking them off and on for the last six years but for the last 10 months I have been taking increasingly high doses (24 - 30 tablets a day). Went cold turkey and started drinking to calm me down, went off the booze because I knew that was bad too as I am an alcoholic. I seem to jump from one addiction to the next.

Anyway, the withdrawals are miserable and it is nice having this forum to express myself and give me something to do because I am so squirrely and restless. Can't sit still, can't go to sleep. Went into Accident and Emergency last Friday and was given valium to detox which has helped a lot, but I am still so restless and very depressed. Will be going into the doctor tomorrow, Mnday, to get more valium I presume and then be tapered off that until the withdrawals symptoms let up. Can't go to work tomorrow because I can't be around people, barely my children and husband. I told my husband who has been a huge help and encourage others to find the same sort of human support - it is very hard to do this on one's own.

So glad to read over the messages here and find that others have been in the same boat, have suffered and I hope have survived the wretched withdrawals. Can barely cope with them they are so bad, am climbing the walls, crawling out of my skin, pacing, panicking, depressed. I feel suicidal too, but I am living on the thread of hope that it will all be okay in a few more days and things will be better. They have simply got to be! Thanks for reading, bless you all. C.

[Newuser7777]

Hello I have some very helpful advice for anyone going through withdrawals. First is drink plenty of water. Take a good quality multivitamin from a health store as well as the following. Vitamin b3 aka niacin work your way up to 500mg or more 3 or more times a day as well as 1000 mg vitamin c each time. Read up about niacin. It normally causes flush of the skin but I find not so much during withdrawals, and it really helps with the chills.

I can't stress how much this works. I had a 100+mg oxy a day habit for about 8 months and the withdrawals were too easy...

In fact the only Problem with this is it takes the suffering and lesson that you should be learning out of it

Please spread this info. Very helpful for any addict including alcoholics

Credit goes to a book I read on orthomolecular nutrition by Abram Hoffer.

[zzsmum]

omg. I am on day 2 and was so inspired by your story. I am trying so hard to stop with the codiene. I have had all the symptoms you have said.I am doing this alaone. I have a hubby and 2 teenage girls and a 8 year old boy . I was getting worried about the high blood pressure and the heart pains. I have been using 20 pills a day 12mg of codiene. Thankyou I am now hoping to stay strong and wait for day 7 .

[vickster49]

Hi, have just found thes site. i have only been taking co-codamol 30/500 for 6 weeks for back pain, could I actually feel so bad coming off them as I do after so short a time?

[melb154]

Do not worry about stopping the Codeine, i have been taking Codeine 30/ 500 x 8 tablets per day for 5years. Now after a successful Spinal fusion i have stopped taking them and have no withdrawal symptoms to speak off. I certainly did after stopping Tramadol for 4 day's, but i think if you take what is prescribed and no more you will be fine.I have been shocked by how many pills the folks on this forum are popping, and think that is the cause of getting addicted. Mel

[zzsmum]

Well hi. It has been 7 days and I feel really well. Not 100 % but getting there.I have even been to the chemist store twice for other things and not bought any codiene. I am just having to build up my strength at the moment as it was svery draining last week. I did try to attempt to do a few things and found myself very tired and having to sit and regroup for about 20 minutes. I am now just experiencing a sore back (which I am sure has something to do with my kidneys doing god knows what). I am so much better off without a hazy cloud over my head, Everyone has been really concerned for me , as I did say I had the flu. It did help for people to know I was sick! Any way , so far so good , one day at a time and I have done 7 .. Thanks for the emails ..from a very different zzsmum,all the way down in Sydeny Australia

[tiger1978]

Hi,
I'm so glad to find so many people with the same addiction to codeine as me. I've been taking them for over 10 years. I am now 32. I never exceed recommended dose but am constantly thinking when I can have my next one. Like other people have said in the uk we can also buy codeine over the counter.

Me and my partner want to try for a baby so enough is enough I need to sort myself out! He has no idea to my addiction and I have no intention of telling him, I feel stupid & don't want anyone to know.

Over the past two wks I have weaned my dose down and today is my first day without. I feel constantly thirsty, my kidneys ache, I have stomach ache and have a headache. Is this normal and how long will it last?

[kudos87]

im starting to realise i may have a serious problem with codeine and oxycodone. Since a micro discectomy in october last year i have been prescribed per month about 120 panadeine forte  (30mg codeine) and 20 endone (5mg oxycodone). About three months after the surgery i started to recover from the surgery and didnt need to take so many pain killers ( i still received my prescriptions but stockpiled the drugs), but when uni started again i had to move around alot i was in alot of pain which led me to take more.  over the last few months everytime i get an endone prescription ill stay at home make excuses of studying to not see my Grilfreind and friends and the box will last a couple of days, then for about a week after ill be taking large amounts of codeine. this happens once a month and if really affecting my life. only after reading the posts of others have i realized that its a problem i suffer from too. writing this and reading it back to myself   is very sobering.

[neandercow]

Hi all im an ex soldier who started taking codien 30mg for chronic ***** ect i quickly found that i when from taking 8 a day strait up to 25 tabs a day for about a year. i eventualy when and saw my doc who weened me of at a rate of minus 2 a week. but i have also been bying over the counter ones to and taking 4 fore times a day of them to thease are the 8/500mg cocodamol i am know down to 4 tabs a day including what i was bying but this week i lost my script so i have had none this week and have and is still going through the withdrawalls and i feel like crap but its been 5 days now and i had a moment of madness today when i was up and down in mood and having constant panic attaks. i have post tramatic stress etc witch dont help. as you can see from my spelling and writing im suffering. i just wanted to say to all the people that are thinking of quiting. STOP BEING A PRAT!!!! and quit all ready go see ur doc,medicen man, voodoo whatever or just go cold turky. all it feels like is the flu or in the case of men man flu. IT AINT THAT BAD AND WE HAVE ALL HAD THE FLU HAVENT WE. the reason i didnt go cold turkey in the first place is because of my mental state BELIVE ME I GO A BIT NUTTY. just take a look at how severe your addiction is YES ADDICTION PEOPLE THATS WHAT IT IS!!!  and judge if you think your going to have major probs coming off this stuff YOU KNOW YOUR BODY SO YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW YOU WILL RESPOND TO THE WITHDRAWALLS. IF YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE BAD SEE UR DOCTOR AND GET HELP. i have read a lot of forums about this and am also sick of people saying that you shouldnt take that much paracetamol etc and that you should do cold water extraction on the tablets befor you take them DONT. GO SEE YOUR DOCTORS AND BE ONEST WITH THEM TAKING TOONES OF PARACETAMOL WILL EVENTUALY MAKE YOUR LIVER EXSPLODE (my spelling again) the doctor will put you on codien phosphate with none of the nasty stuff paracetamol ect. GOOD LUCK TO ANY ONE WHO TAKES THE JUMP AND QUITS. (Sorry about the rant and rave but atleast it took my minde of the withdrawals for a hour.)

[tiredofthelies76]

17 days ago I found out that my husband has had a long addiction (4.5 Years) to Tylenol 1's.  He has been taking 40 pills in the morning and 40 pills in the evening for the past two yeaars or so.  doing the math quickly thats 640 mg of codeine and 26,000 mg of acetaminophen a DAY.  I took him to the ER after I found out, they did blood work, and an ultrasound and were surprised to find that he hadn't done any damage yet to his liver or kidneys.  The ER doctor put him on two different withdrawl (withdrawal) meds that he was to take for 10 days.  He wants to recover, or so he says.  I don't know if I can beileve him that he has been drug free for the past 17 days, because if it was so eaasy for him to lie to me all this time, how on eaarth would I ever know if he wasn't being truthful?  He has had very mild withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms, the first two days or so he had a headache, and he has had the odd minor pain here and therem but other then that.... nothing.  He finished his withdrawl (withdrawal) meds a week ago, I had been thinking that maybe he would experience more after he came off them, but.... nothing.  Am I naive in thinking that he is really detoxing?  Why does it appeaar to be so easy for him and so difficult for so many others?

[mahogany88]

i know alot of people with this addiction and i know instead of going cold turkey your doctor should be able to perscribe or refer you to someone that can get you suboxone tabs or strips for your symptoms they last all day and they are you to treat opiate addiction ask your doctor. i heard it works really good. but i have never had to take them thankfully
hope this helps everyone goodluck

[me7777]

HI.
I have been taking pian killers for about 4years. the first time i took one was when i had a very bad toothache. i took one..and the pain was gone and it also gave me a buzz. i liked the way it made me feel..so i took another one the next day..and an other the next day. and one day i sprained my ankle and the doctor gave me tylonal #3s that when i started taking them, so now its been 4yaers..im taking 4 to 5 pills a day. This is scary to think about. Im scared..i want to get off them..it seem i have to take more as time goes by. I read all the comments and see how many others took. i dont want to take more then i do now..i need help and i know it, Im just too ashamed to bring it out to anyone. i tell myself each week that im gonna start less but that never happens i end up taking more. when im going thro a rough day i take more. When the doctor gave them to me. she never explained about this medication. each visit she just starts writing this priscription (prescription) and doesnt seem to have time for me. so i guess i need to find another doctor. Thats where im at right now. i didnt start the detox process yet. I will have to stop. no one else can do it for me. I have to make up my mind to quit and live a healthy lifestyle. because i know this is hurting my body and i need to step in and put a stop to it. and im so glad i found this site. it really helped my alot..know what to exspect (withdrawls) im scared but i have to do it.

[joolzjulie]

hi evbody am new 2 this sight. av had a painkiller addiction for bou 4 yrs now but its only the last yr it has bn out of control. a was thing 16 codrydamol tablets a day at my worse 30/500. but was tkn 8 codryde and the rest was dehydrocodine dfs 4 short wich i was buyin off smbody . am down 2 8 a day now coz i went to my docs n said a had a probleme and the person i was gtn them off disapeared. but i really would like 2 gt off these things all 2gther but am scared of not coping as i have 2 kids and work part tm. i also have anziety problems and been on diazapan 4 that wich the doctor stoped. any advice would be appreciated xx

[Jalanutan]

Hi Joolsjulie,
I'm sorry that nobody has replied to your post on the 1st Dec.

I had been on a increadibly high dose of analgesics that included over the counter codeine/Ibuprofen combo, serapax and tamazepam (benzodiazapines) and tramal. I suffered from chronic anxiety, major depression and physical chronical back pain. At the peak of my addiction, I was taking 30 codeine/ibuprofen tabs, 30mg serapax, 1 to 5 tamazepam (to sleep) and 10 tramal capsules due to the high tolerance my body had built up. I finally blacked out one day and split my head open, so I fessed up to my Doc and he put me on the state methadone program. They put me on 60ml of methadone syrup once a day and 25mg of Diazepam three times per day.

I first weened myself off the diazepam over a period of some months and then began with the methadone. The methadone took six months, as I couldn't reduce it any more that 5ml every two weeks.

I believe that reducing slowly is the best and safest way if you can control your urges to overdose. It means that you can go about your everday activities without to much discomfort. You will have to experiment to find out how much you can reduce, and also the time period. For me, my body was able to become used to the lower dose every two weeks. At the beginning, I tried to reduce by 10ml, but I soon was experiencing horrible withdrawals that had me calling my case manager to increase the dose to 60ml again. Two weeks later I tried only a 5ml reduction, and I could cope with that, but my body would take two weeks to adjust to a lower dose.

Unfortunately, I had a major back op last year, and I was prescribed oxycontin for post op pain. At the same time, I was going through a very stressful break up with my partner, so the combination of those two things has lead to addiction once again.

I'm kicking myself that this is happening again, although not to the same degree. However, while I have been able to get over the emotional pain, the pysical pain of withdrawal and also of another major physical problem is pretty severe.

Anyway, I hope that I have given you some hope, as you can do it, all you have to remember is not to give up....even if you fall back occasionally, keep pushing forward when you can. Believe me, you will be free of this, just as I know that I will be also. It just takes time and persevereance.

Wishing you well, and I'm sending you power and the energy to overcome your addiction.

geo

[anon2031]

here is my experience I went to the doctor because i had a bad tooth ache that was really getting bad to deal with, but I knew it was only temporary.

I said i need something stronger than normal painkillers to take care of this. So he gave me codapane forte. This has 500mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine phosphate.

When I took this, I was really suprised, it felt like pure herion through my blood. I have never had herion, but it felt like my body was just constantly having an orgasm kind of feeling. I thought this is too much pleasure.

I was still having the toothache after a few days so I got more of it. You may think why didnt i go to a dentist. Well first i hate dentists so much i had bad experience with them trying to put fillings in my teeth when i didnt need them. So unless i know for sure i need to go i dont. And the toothache has since gone away and is fine now.

But anyway afterawhile i got addicted to this pleasure feeling it was giving me. I went back for my I think 4th packet of it. (the doctor so does not care and just gives a script away without thinking about anything)

So this will be my last packet im going to get. And I can tell you I think its the codeine in this, that is really really bad. I only ever took the recommended dose. Most I ever took was 8 in a day. But my body sure got use to it fast. I still get the pleasure feeling. But I tried to ease back on it reading some of the stories here and havn't taken any for a day. When I don't take it, my legs ache, and i feel weaker, i get flu symptoms and sometimes sorish head. and feel jittery and feverish. It's actually terrible.
feel like a junky, and I havn't even been taking much of it. But they feel like herion pills or something. When i get the withdrawels i think wow this stuff must sure be bad. I ended up taking it not for my toothache but for the europhic high it was giving me.

Don't take this stuff. Try only have normal painkillers and thats it. Cause Im telling you it's like using drugs, full on.

Now im going to have to go through withdrawel when this packet is finished like a junky. Just a warning to people.

[butterflyblu72]

I have been addicted to codeine now for about 2 years - 1 year has been full on, sometimes up to 600mg of codeine per day.  It destroyed my relationship, and is destroying my relationship with my child.

I made a new years resolution for no more codeine and am now on day 3 without codeine (although it is still only 11am in the morning in Aus.  I feel like **** - had a horrible sleep last night and I feel like I am coming down with the flu, a constant dull headache and feel incredibly depressed.  I am determined to hang in there but I have no support (since my fiance basically left me because of the problems my addiction was causing).  I would love some comments from ppl who have been through this and how their lives are now.  I suffer from depression but I am unsure if it is worse because of my addiction (I have had it before) or whether it is legitimate depression.  The anti-depressants I am on give me no emotion at all.
Now that I am going through the withdrawals I feel like I am going through all the emotional pain I was trying to aviod when my fiance left (which is when it got worse).  I feel like the break-up was last week rather than 12 months ago.
Can anyone help with some encouraging advice?

[pebbles360]

Hi just wondering how you are going with the codeine,im new to this forum but i too have a codeine addiction i have started todat without any my doctor gave me slow release tramadol that stops the horrible withwrawals and diazapen to help sleep so i have decided i am sick and tired of trying to go buy them having the money trying not too go to the same chemist to often or they start asking questions over it so day one for me,,please llet e no how u are doing  .....

[BuddyBreak101]

Hi there, to all: It is day 3 now from being on  a Codeine kick for 6 months. It was one of the worst  things i have felt. but now being 3 days sober  and it is going away.
Keep going....the worst thing is just the no sleep part...and ur going to be very hyper and your going to think it will never be over...but the 3rd day when u sleep for the first time rather if its a hr or 4 and wake up Sober!!! You feel so different. even though I know im still in withdraws still on hyper side but hey im a 105lbs 33 woman so yea im naturally hyper doesnt help but i do know im going to wake up even better tomorrow...

[pebbles360]

hi your going great ...i no when i went cold turkey i didn't sleep a wink and the restless legs drove me crazy...but tomorrow i am going to try again and think positive thoughts and keep reading peoples posts as it makes you feel that were not on our own...and i keep trying until i do it...Goodluck....

[Designerforyou2]

I have been using Tylonel 3 for almost 2 years.  I was taking 7-10 pills daily.  I have weened myself down to one a day over the last week.  Question.....how long does it take to feel "normal" again???!!!???  I keep having hot & cold sweats night & day, and my body feels like crap!!

[JosieMarie]

Thanks to all of you......day 11 of cold turkey for me; its been SO reassuring reading about other people with MY symptoms. Nobody warned me what to expect (even though I'd paid for a private consultation) but Dr did say 'You'll hate me for 2 or 3 weeks'  
Anyway Ive had most of the symptoms mentioned but was really concerned about the pains in chest/shortness of breath thing but now I feel calmed. Still not sleeping well and keep feeling nauseous but hopefully it can only get better.
Any suggestions what to take for my chronic migraines now!?
Thanks again for the help Josie-Marie

[matrixopal]

very good luck to you, you can do it the depression is only a sympton it will go soon and then you will be the happiest you have been in a long time

[pebbles360]

Hi all went for a day and night without codeine and brought some the next day.trying again tomorrow will i ever get off this merry go round i am so sick of i just need to tell my brain i don.t need them i don't want them...im looking to go to ameeting next week ...This forum is a godsend to no that i am not on my own..Goodluck to you josie-marie your going great

[abbaschild75]

Hi,

I've not long had a discectomy and have been on cocodomal 30/500 (codeine 30mg and paracetomal 500mg) 2 tablets four times a day as well as nurofen plus which has 12.8mg codeine in per tablet- four tablets four times a day. The pain was so bad before and for a while after the op and the above pain relief were just about holding it at bay. I have started to come off the codeine bit by bit and have now got down to co-codomal 30/500 2 tablets twice a day and nurofen plus 4 tablets twice a day. I am feling achy and rough after 5 days of a halfed dose. Does anyone know should I be looking to cut the dose in half again now or wait until my body settles from the previous dose halving?
I am on antidepressants and have been for a number of years. I take amitriptiline for the nerve pain I still experience in my back and this seems to stop me from having any depressive symptoms. I can recommend this for those suffering from lowered mood.
I am so glad I am not alone in the codeine battle. It is such a horrible place  to be in where you need the meds for the pain but then the meds themselves cause a load more problems too.

[pebbles360]

Day 3 with tapering down on the codeine tomorrow be 4 so thats 4 less im taking a day can;t wait until im down too none..But finding it ok at the moment as long as i stick at it because i really need to stop  they have been making me feel sick lately so i will stick at this...It dos'nt seem as scary tapering off them than trying too just stop plus no w/d at the moment..Thanx 4 everybodys help  pebbles

[meg1992924]

Why i had to quit

I Used to have a problem with codeine,  i even tried to kill myself using it about 9 months ago. i took 35 Panafen Plus (avail. over the counter in Aus and has codeine in it) as well as 20 phenergan, which is an antihistamine (helps with allergy's and motion sickness) that has a side effect that makes you very drowsy, if i took 2 alone of the phenergan any other day i have fallen asleep easily and the first time i took it i drove home and almost crashed my car twice. as well as those two i drank a bottle of wine.

I remember feeling, very high when it all started to kick in then very very tired. after about 45 min ( i kept watching to clock) my pj's became very very itchy, not being able to take it anymore i took them off and turned on the aircon and fan but still with no releif. from there i just got hotter and hotter to the point where i was sweating. I went to the bathroom to shower and looked in the mirror, my head was spinning and i could barely walk or see straight. my head was buzzzing but when i looked in the mirror i was bright red, and i am talking about macdonalds red, from head to toe.

I was worried about it, but at the same time i knew that it want good for me and that is what i wanted. I had the stangest idea that when eventually someone found me i didnt want to look gross, so i somehow managed to wash my hair and shave my legs. as soon as i got out, i fell to the floor and hit my head. I lay there for a while but once again, i didnt want to be found laying on the bathroom floor naked.  i managed to get back to bed and literally collapsed on to it. All i could remember was how much i loved my now boyfriend and that i wished i had done more to do anything, i thought about how my friends and family would  try and contact me and that it could be days before anyone got worried enough to come over because i had a habit of not being the most reliable person to contact. I remember seeing a light and thinking that this was it; that it was all finally over.

When i woke up the next morning i was disappointed, and as soon as i sat up it became that i was going to be feeling the effects. it took me 2 days to be able to get from my room to the kitchen because i was that ill, i was extreamly thankful that the bathroom was right next to my room.

It was five days before i left the house and longer than that before i was able to function.

I eventually told my now boyfriend, who had tried the same thing a long time before (I had been the one to find him), and he took it hard, and i managed to tell my best friend as well. Six weeks after i had tried to kill myself i went to my doctor and asked for help. While i hadn't tried again the thought is always in my mind.

9 months later i have been seeing a psychologist and it has helped. I still have the urge to take the codeine but not for the same reason, went i took them i felt free and happy but when i look back at what has happened in the last 9 months i wouldnt have traded for anything, including my life. it hasnt been an easy road, and i dont pretend that from this point on my life will be easy but at the end of the day the memories that i wouldnt have had, and the things that i have learnt are far more important that a drug. its not easy, at first it is very very hard but slowly things are getting easier.

If my suicide attempt had worked i would not be expecting my first baby, nor would i have reached my 21st birthday.

The only advice i can say is that keep trying, use what ever method you can, even if that means failing a few times, as long as you try and eventually find your solution that is all that matters.

There are many things that havent happened yet and using codeine would have prevented me from living them

[pebbles360]

wow you have come along way by the sounds of it congrats on expecting your first baby....i am day 5 with tapering so still going ok finding it the best way for me..i actually woke up this morning and got up had a shower as i have a few things to do today and catch up with a couple friends..normally i would wake up with a feeling of dread come over me and think i can;t do all those things today but it was the panafen doing that too me..Even tho i'm down 5 days today i feel so much better knowing i'm doing something about it and i feel ok...just hope i can one-day come back and say i have done it i'm not taking them anymore ....

[cinders64]

Hi, great to hear about your tapering, keep up the good work and hang in there.

Cindy

[pebbles360]

Thanx cindy im feeling good one day at a time hey..hope ur doing ok  Deb

[jacko028]

hi kim i dont know how long ago you put up this post. im on day 7 of cold turkey, taking at least 40 nurofen plus a day. my mind feels better but i still feel like ive no energy, although im better than what i was. i will never take them tabs again i was taking them for four years.

[lockocorm]

Just wondering... does anyone else think that it is OK to take a few Nuerofen Plus tablets a day?...say x4  12mg at a time just for a bit of energy or a concentration aid? They could almost be used it as an anti anxiety aid. If you eat well and take all your vitamins whats the problem with it?
I have been using codeine in this fashion for 6 years. Does it do any damage? I have full blood tests every 6 months and there is never any abnormal readings an d my organs are OK
I haven't read anyone else post that they are content and happy to continue with their codeine use and actually enjoy it. What do you think of my view on codeine...do i have a problem?

[thismachinekillsfacists]

For those of you who can't sleep: Benadryl is a relatively benign OTC med that will help you sleep. Doctors like to prescribe stuff like Ambian and anti-anxieties to aid sleep, but they can have bad side effects, especially anti-anxieties, which can cause depression and can be habit forming.

I happened to stumble upon this site and it's horrible how many people are addicted to this stuff. I've always had an addictive personality and have had problems with drugs when I was younger. Even though I don't do any drugs, I'm definitely prone to prescription drug abuse. It's weird, because I've had these T3's in my closet forever, from some past surgery or toothache or whatever. Haven't touched them in five years. Now my back is killing me every day so I started to to take the pills. After like three days all I wanted was to take them every day. I'm only on day 10 or so and I realize I have a problem here. Today my stomach was so sick I didn't take any, but I know tomorrow I will. I only have about five pills left and I'll take them. When they're done, they're done. I'm not going to my doctor for more. I can't be bothered. I'm lucky I don't have a huge stash, because I would take them. What blows my mind is how insidious this addiction is. It's can get pretty bad. I realize that I'll always be prone to addiction, particularly to drugs that make me happy and relaxed, because I'm not all that happy and I'm not relaxed! Hey, NA and AA are great places for help and support. I've done it before but hopefully I won't have to ever do it again.

[george249]

Thanks for all your comments here. I've been taking Codiene for awhile now. The worst part was that I'd quit for YEARS and totally thought I had a hold on it. Then a stressful job made me decide that I needed it to cope. It did help at first, but now it's just a pain and I've risked hurting my marriage. I was taking Methadone for pills years back (I would've been better off staying on the pills!) and that took over a year just to quit effectively. My wife has been suggesting she knows something's up and I finally admitted to it. Yeah, she's upset and confused wondering if she can trust me anymore...but it's still pretty early and things aren't so bad yet. Her big thing is "what if I hadn't noticed or asked? When would you have stopped?" Part of me thinks this will be EASY to beat with someone supervising that I trust...compared to methadone it has to be. I'm so sick of this **** in my life...all the time and energy I've wasted. Even the money doesn't bother me as much as how it's deflected energy I could put into so many more productive things. I'm in my early 40's wasting my life on this ****. I don't blame anyone else...not doctors nor the pharma industry...just me. I'm taking anywhere from 10 to 30 30mg tablets a day. Where I live you can buy them OTC as long as you can convince the pharmacist to sell them to you. I just want this monkey off my back. I was able to quit in a few weeks before, so I want to set a calendar and do the same again. Once you get past the little "moments of panic" then you have a fighting chance. I can deal with the pains...just the fear gets to me sometimes. Cheers and good luck to all.

[jackiegear]

Neurofen is bad for your stomach and taken over a long time together with  Codiene will end up giving you and ulcer. I had to take zantac, a stomach acid relief tablet to combat the stomach pan. Giving them up was so easy as it really hurt to take them. I swapped over from Neurofen to Paracetomol and codeine, and the paid went away so quickly that I ended upping my dose of 2 x 60mg of tablets to 4, then 6. I was gagging when I took them but I was getting a buzz out of them. I eventually, for the sake of my dignity, and life probably, reduced them back down to 4 a day, about 4 or 5 times a day. Eventually the Dr decided I was addicted, even though I had gone to see the doctor in order to tell him first. He wrote it on my records that I was an opiate dependant-rich when he put me on them in the first place. I argued with them and said they just couldnt cut me off, so they reduced the tablets to 30mg and 500 paracetomol. In all this time, it wasnt the codiene that bothered me but the paracetmol is more bound to harm your liver as it builds up. I went back to the doctor and got codeine phosphate without the paracetomol and went back up to 6 x30mg of them about four times a day. They didnt seem to work with the same high as the codeine and paracetomol, so I changed back to the paras and codiene 30mg. I have now been on them in various doctors, when they get fed up of me, I move on complaining. But I have made a constant effort to get down. I am still on them 14 years later, but have now restricted myself to 3 in the morning, and four in the afternoon, not a good dose to have but certainly in the allowable daily limits, and the four I leave until 5pm to reward myself with a more or less instant high feeling. One that is better than the depression I get when coming off them. I have had plenty of cold turkeys when I run out for two days. I go on over the counter drugs then and persist on taking four lots of 4 just to keep my dose high enough to stop cold sweats. It works and although I get pretty low and depressed I have a good cry, a sceam at my husband, a promise of changed life style and then I go back on to my 3 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, ie 90mg am and 120mg later. I have been noticing that I can make the time in between taking the three in the morning and the four later, a bit longer in between to the point that I am forgetting to take them. However, I always start feel down and achy and that reminds me to reward myself with the four again. I am now quite frightened as today I took my early ones at 9.30 and forgot to take the others with me. I had been thinking of changing my whole life style so go some exercie wii fit that wanted to know my heart rate before it set me a fitness regime. I went to the doctor who told me my blood pressure was 146/94 and I freaked. I said it was too high and unbelievably she said it was normally. Look it up anywhere and that is not normal. I then went to Llyods pharmacy and ask them to take my BP again, having told them the story. This time it was a staggering 166/102. Now I think I am in danger of a heart attack and things have become serious stuff. I am 62, been on all sorts of things all my life being an adventurer  but I cannot cope with a heart attack and needs must at long last I must give up. However, again, I am wondering whether the extra time in between the tablets caused my blood pressure to go up unwhittingly, and so to stop myself from the with drawal of codiene causing me a heart attack I took another three. I think the way I will have to do it tomorrow, is to take three, morning, three afternoon and three in the evening. This may calm things down and let my body get used to. Things cannot be stopped just like that. They can cause more harm that good coming off something the body has been used to. Well the fact is though, I am now determined to avoid the nice feeling it gave me and just peeter them out slowly. Feeling bad is worse than feeling high-depresssed repeatedly. I have also taken other steps to get my addictive life style in order. I have bought my wii to give me sodding boring exercise, never liked exercise and found it boring, although I dont mind housework. I have given up on drinking 4 glasses of wine a day and a gin and tonic, and am now down to one glass of helpful red wine. I am off sugar and salt and eating fruit. So all in all I feel positive about a way out of this damn chain. I want to live a long life. Iknow that now. Depression often makes me wish I was dead but when it happens that your life is threatened by the real harm it is doing to your body, you and you  alone have to take control of it and instead of asking others for help, and others to assure you that youre ok, then go down your own path of courage and fitness. Do you want to live a long time or not? SImple as that. Frightening when you come confronted with death. I had a car crash where I nearly died, infact this was the cause of my addiction, followed by a ski accident, followed by being unsure on my feet a few times because of the other accidents. It never ends the worry we have if we over do things. SO simply cut down. I gave up smoking after trying for 5 years. I got up to 60, ( 3 packs) a day. I loved smoking, loved waking in the night for a smoke but in the end I got chest pains. The doctor said I had the beginning of a fatal emphesema, inability to breathe air out from the lungs. I gave up smoking that moment and never had a withdrawal at all. My will to live was stronger than addiction in the case of cigarettes, and now I think after hearing about my blood pressure, that will to live is going to help me get things adjusted slowly and in the right balance, not too quickly off, not too slowly, not too many rewards,and definitely a goal to be on less every month, be it only half a pill. Then I will concentrate my addictions on diet, and fun fitness games, like SPORTS RESORT, or Zumbra dancing. Whatever. I am in charge of my body NOT some damned addictive pill which I did not go out to get in the first place. I think we all ought to keep in touch and write diaries about how our addictions can reduce a tiy bit each day. If you are on too high a dose, then replace half of your first tablets with lower stength over the counter tablets. I could go on and on, and when I succeed, I may write a handy step by step book on how to avoid pains, withdrawals, and depressions. Lots of love to you all. I am actually a registered nurse so I know a lot about a lot!! I especially wasnt put on this earth to degrade myself by the indignity of letting a few little pills ruining my life. MY PILLS WILL DO AS I SAY FROM NOW ON. xxx

[captainfacepunch]

if you r going to continue you should look up cold water extraction it will save your liver i just lost a friend to the same  combination your on

[mjh28]

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 (withdrawal) 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

[Dubman1916]

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 (symptoms) i can hack not the shocks and insomnia. If I could stop the shocks I would cary on detox no prob.

[englishlady4]

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

[DieM67]

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.

[englishlady4]

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.

[Cheriel]

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.

[miranda21]

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 (withdrawal). 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 (withdrawal), 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.