Codeine addiction, what will it do to my husband?

I am at wits end and need some insight please.  My husband has many, many problems with multiple neck surgeries, migraines and arthritis that keep him in a consent state of pain.  He is prescribed codiene #4's (60 per prescription) every 2 weeks.  He is taking them at an alarming rate.  He won't tell me the truth but from what I can figure, I believe he is taking between 15-20 a day.  He has been buying them on the side from a friend and I know he went through 160 pills in a weeks time!!  I am trying to get him to slow down but all he says is that I don't understand because I am not the one who is in pain. Now this has been going on for quite sometime, though not at this rate but what I want to know is what this is doing to his liver and kidney's?  He also has to take high blood pressure meds everyday and he is suppose to be taking anti seizure meds but doesn't take them regularly like he should.  He is currently out of the cod. and in a very foul mood because I won't help him get more.  Please tell me what I should/could expect if things keep going at this rate.  Can he OD or has he built up such a tolerance that that isn't even possible?  

[ggin35]

Sounds like he needs some help to me. People do build up a tolernce but it's a very fine line between tolerence and overdose. Can you get him into detox or addiction specialist?

[reagan2]

I cant help you with your questions. But i can tell you i feel your pain. my husband takes about 15-20 pills qa day and lies about how many and how much they cost. when i say something to him about it he tells me that i just dont understand addiction. and the pain. I might not understand what hes going through but just from reading the post on this forum i know that if you have the will to quit there will be a way. i just worry about the damage to liver also. he bleeds alot

[beachtowel]

They don't make pure codeine pills........

One thing about true addicts there pain is always at max.......they never have small pain.......

Are you saying no doctor knows how to treat him?

There is no possible chance for a cure?

I don't know all the details of your husbands problems but if he were truly in this ungodly pain like you say why isn't he in a hospital being treated....

[buddog]

He is taking Codeine without tylenol I believe and has been to every type of pain clinic/specialist in the book.  He has tried nerve blocks, radio frequency blocks, pain patches, etc... to no avail.  He has the worst cronic (chronic) pain of anyone I have seen and at only 50 years old what does he have to look forward too? Nothing but more pain!!  I feel so helpless because I know his pain is real and believe me, he isn't getting high off the codeine, they barely make him act like a normal functioning member of the family when he has them.  When he doesn't have any meds he stays in the bedroom and leaves the rest of the family alone at best, but mostly he is just grouchy and depressed and always trying to figure out how to get more pills.  He doesn't work and I work 2 jobs to support the family (we have 2 teens still at home and I am raising my granddaughter) and I can't do anymore than I am already doing.  I know this sounds terrible but I wonder how much longer will this go on????  How much longer do I have to put up with this (him) before it ends? (if you know what I mean)  That is how hopeless I feel this whole situation is.  

[beachtowel]

No you can't od on codiene #4,,,he will get very sick and throw up  first.....
because his tolerance is very high........

Tylenol #4 ( acetaminophen 300mg, codeine 60mg)

Taking that much acetaminophen is very bad for the liver.....god his stomach lining has to be taking a beating......

Pain is very difficult to live with but years of narcotic pain meds is the price many doctors will prescribe........

He needs to deal with the pain medically, his pain is his core issue.....fix the core issue and then deal with the dependency.......

Sorry to not be more help.......

[hellc@mst]

of course they make pure codeine pills.I was a homebaker(heroin cook) for many years and pure codeine(15,30 and 60mg)pills was the grousse dope coz u didnt hav 2 bother with the apap in OTC tabs.
Neways.it would b a negligible high off codeine if any.I cant understand y ne1 would bother.
regards J