Codeine

I was told there was a taper-off method to get off codeine.  I have been taking 300 mg a day for 4 years due to a injury.  I do not want to take these anymore.  I now have bowel and stomach issues.  My doctor is in agreement with me about getting off them,  she is leaving it up to how I do this.  If anyone has any info please let me know.
Thanks

[peaceinknowing]

There are tapering methods with getting off of all pain medications, it just depends on the person and what they feel will be the best route for them to go with this. I will say this though, you're lucky that your doctor's sticking by you with this. I wasn't so lucky, and I made the decision that I was going to go CT [cold turkey] from the Percocet that my doctor was prescribing to me every other week for almost two years straight.

Are you addicted to the pills, though?  Do you abuse the pills?  Or are you just taking them as needed and/or as prescribed?

A lot of people take other medications to get off of the pain pills, but then there are others who are able to do everything CT with the help of nothing but will power.

[bearling]

I am addicted to codeine and xanax.  I eat codeine when I have no pain.  My friend who is not addicted gives codeine cotin when I run out of my t4's.  I chew hers to get instant relief.  I have been taking xanax for about 15years.  I do not abuse these but I am still addicted.  When I have to start taking more for them to work I cut down so my tolerance is not to high.  I am definetly a pill addict. I am more worried about the codeine and I am scared to quit both together.  I used to eat a lot more codeine but have managed to cut down but unable to quit all together.  

[peaceinknowing]

Do you mind if I ask why you're taking the pain pills to start with, though. In other words do you have an issue with back pain or another form of pain? Just trying to understand your situation a little better, that's all.  :]

If you're getting the pills from your PCP, then I'd suggest going to him/her and speaking with them about this. I know that it's easier said than done, but as your doctor, they have to help and/or do something to help you. When doctors first graduate from medical school, they take an oath that states first do no harm, and protect the well being of any and all patients in which they see.

[bearling]

I have had both my shoulder operated on in the last three years.  My doctor wanted me to switch to morphine or dillies and I refused because I thought it was a worse drug.  She said codeine turns into morphine when it is in your system.  She believed that I would have to take less morphine and it is long acting.  My best friend was a morphine addict and I did not want to be like her.  My doctor is has suggested to contact addiction services but I was hoping there was another way to quit

[animalcopper]

I've been hooked on Codeine for about 18 years....it's affected me in ways too many to mention.....I've managed to get it under control a couple of times....suffer from Migraines and leg pain...and now I have shoulder issues....from and injury at work....I can only manage to get through a work day by taking codeine .....however , some days I end up so tired that I feel like I can't keep my eyes open.....I know it's killing me , I have stomach issues that I know are related to the amount I take....
This all started after my last pregnancy, I had so many complications and began to take the codeine for pain.....
I just want to get this junk out of my system but I need to be able to function and cannot take time off of work to do so.....Please , someone give me some advise on where to start?

[pssssstyo]

ask about suboxone.

[wasteofspace]

I need help also, I am on about 15 pills a day 30/500, but my prescription is 100 which should last me 12 days on the max precribed 8 / day. I used to have a seperate supply that I could fill in the 'gap days' but this supply has dried up and I am now starting to take lots of weaker OTC pain relief. I just don't know where to start - to stop, so to speak. I am really starting to suffer on the days when my body is withdrawn, I am restless, crabby and particularly my legs ache. Can someone help

[Newpower]

Hello. I am on T4's. Have been for several years. Doc gives them to me to slow down my IBS.

He allows me 4  a day that's 120 a month. But I take all 4 in the morning. Most days that's it. But other days I will take 4 in the evening. It's crazy. Then I'm always short at the end of the month. I know the Tylenol limits and he checks my liver funtion often ands it's always normal. I though Tylenol was easy on the stomach but I have cronic (chronic) inflammation in my stomach. It's crazy to taper every month and go thru that just to do it again. I need more control. I kicked the codeine habit 25 ys ago and here I am again.  I don't know how to stop for good. I know immodium helps and I have Xanax at night for sleeping and I do not abuse those ever and have been on those since my husband died 12 yrs ago I ask a physhiatrist to help me with those but she would only suggest klonapin an I said no.

Codeine is hard for me to stop. I keep reading all the posts everyday and think wow I'm doing good if all I take is T4's compared to what's out there. I know I am lying to myself with that excuse.

I'm a Christian and pray alot and read the bible. I know we are not suppose to abuse things. Please pray for me. I pray for myself to stop with Gods help.

I see my doc tomorrow. I'm struggling with the idea of asking him to cut me off. I need some encouragement or a big wake up call

[wishful1]

how are u doing now? u sound exactly like me but with norcos. i do it every single month but now i think im ready to end it i just need a plan

[hayleyxx]

i was on 6o nurofen plus tablets a day for two years last week i decided enough was enough i went cold turkey,it was one of worse things id ever been through i have been free from these tabs now for 7 days and i will never ever go backxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Zandra600]

I have been on codein & paradex for 10 years. I started on codein just before my first back surgery. Then 4 yrs later another back surgery. Then just last year I had my tailbone removed & 2 months ago, shoulder surgery. At my worst I was on 26 tablets aday. I have been through awful withdrawal, aching legs, sweating & so very, very tired. I have managed to stop paradex & am down to 4 x 30mg codein aday - and its still difficult not taking more when I feel like crap. I just want to get off these completely. I have a 10yr old boy with high functioning autism & ADHD. The tiredness is getting worse, I fall asleep about 2pm & struggle with the rest of the day.

I still have some pain but I would rather suffer the pain if I could get my life back. I am going to try accupuncture this week. I can't really afford it, as I am a single mum, but I've got to try something. If anyone is interested on how it goes, I will keep posting results. I have been trying to get off codein for years, even before my recent lot of surgeries. I am over the worst of the surgery pain, so nows a good time. Although I managed to get through the withdrawal of cutting down, I can't seem to get of the last 4. Wish me luck.

[zoe95]

i have been useing codeine for ten years. i hate what this drug has made me become. i am irratable tired lazy depressed agressive and have irrational thoughts. i am sick of wakeing up feeling like i am ninty years of age acheing all over with headaches that last all day. i have used this drug to numb myself from feeling all emotions that when i attempt to give up which i have tried several times i am faced with emotions that are unfamiliar to me and have no copeing mechanisms to deal with them as my copeing mechanism is to numb myself which is what i have been doing for years. this drug has taken over my life i am no longer in control of anything and am not copeing with life in general. i never wanted this for myself and still find it very difficult to admit i have an enourmess problem. i believe you can only fail so many times before you stop trying all together. i have tried so many ways to stop often asking myself what is something positive i enjoy doing that i can do to replace this addiction with????? the truth is i dont and cant find anything that i enjoy more than getting high from codeine the truth is i cant imagine my life without it to do so makes me terrified. i have no life and am constantly beating myself up for being so weak too weak to stop takeing the pills i hate that about myself. i can clearly see that takeing codeine is ruining my life i wake up each morning depressed that i am me depressed that i can not stop depressed that i did not choose this formyself depressed that i am weak to weak to stop.  i am sick to the core of my soul that i have done this to myself and can no longer see a way out.my body creates severe pain to encourage my habit pain that i can feel but not pain that is real. i struggle with this. i am fearfull to stop and to try to quit as i become severely depressed and aggresive (aggressive) i often take this out on my partner who inturn will pleade with me to take the pills again as i become the most horrible person .. but this is not me it is asthough my body is seperate from my soul i know when i am being horrible irrational aggresive (aggressive) and my head is telling me to breath....stop...think about what you are saying...think about how you are acting.think about what you are doing to your body...about the person this drug has made you become...yet my only solution i use is of course take more codeine you will become normal  you will no longer have to feel and for a short time you can forget who you are and the person you have become. the most horrible thing is that writeing this has made me feel  emotions that i dont want to feel emotions that i dont deal with so now i am going to get high now i am going to forget that i have a monkey on my back even though the tought of putting those pills in my mouth are makeing me feel physically sick ill do it anyway cause i would rather feel sick than face who i have become n tomorrow when i wake up ill feel that familiar feeling when i open my eyes and wonder where my life has gone that lonely feeling of knowing im still me and I AM A DRUG ADDICT i am twentysix years of age and codeine is ruining my life!!!!!!!

[booshy]

Hi Guys,
I have been addicted for maybe 10 years and before getting back on teh wagon, I had one other proper shot at rehab. I used Suboxone and weened off of that to give up the codeine. It worked but I still abused other over the counter meds. I eventually relapsed when I had a personal crisis and I didn't have any other strategies to deal with stress. I have just started the Suboxone program again and I have NO desire for any other drugs - great for all the withdrawls (though valium and sleeping tabs help - but these should only be used at the beginning of detox) and it also takes away cravings. All I need now is a counsellor - I live in a small town so privacy is an issue - but I know I have the strength to do it. Three weeks down and it's going well - though you have to make sure you find the right time of day to take your Suboxone!
Think about everything you do to keep up with your addiction - it is an amazing ability - all you need to do is use this power you have to beat it rather than feed it!
There is an alternative and I am reaching towards it everyday!
My prayers go out to everyone :)

[bmdad]

You guys posted on an older thread. You should really start your own thread that you way you have a post that is dedicated to you. These older posts tend to get overlooked. Copy your post and then click the "post a question" box at the top of the page.

You have come to the right place for support.

[vick81]

I need help to fight my brain fog and headaches its runining my life! Pls help me I have given up codeine for 6 months now  

[vick81]

I need help to fight my brain fog and headaches its runining my life! Pls help me I have given up codeine for 6 months now  

[Bewildered1]

I did go through the withdrawl (withdrawal) process to stop taking T-3's. Its been a month now. I am also on Effexor and stopped taking this? Boy am I depressed, the dreams are terrible, I am going to take T-3 again, will I get hooked again?

[FootlooseandFancyFree]

Ive had 8 back surgeries and 4 neck surgeries over the last 7 yrs,  I started on the high dose of percacet and slowly weened myself to Norco the higher one and cut them in half to save money.  Now the dr went from giving me 120 pills a month to 90 pills a month so Im forced to take less. Today was the first day having to only take 3 pills in a 24 hr period.  I get very restless in my legs, I dont know how to make it stop.  I cant sleep even with sleeping pills. Im anxious and cranky, not myself at all and so very uncomfortable like I could crawl out of my own skin.  Im trying to go longer times in between the pills but I just feel like Im joanzen for more just to act normal... I want off badly and completely... what do I do?  Are there any places that will help you get thru it confidentially?  This is embarassing! Any ideas? I would really appreciate any help...

[mookie377]

Hello: I think your situation has,or should include a Pain management clinic.The worse part of the drugs you take is not the Narcotic,its that Tylenol.That wikll destroy your liver,anymore than 2grams a day ,thats 2000mgs,each of your pilols has 325-750mgs.Please go and get your Liver enzymes measured.Those especially Codiene are Harsh? Liver toxic.John

[cames1]

I could of written your post about me, it sounds like it was written about me, I am now near the end of day three of cold turkey, I have been taking three to four hundred mgs of codeine daily for eight years now, started out when I hurt my knee really bad, I have had to smuggle it over the border to keep myself supplied and always worry I am going to get caught but could not stop, the other day I just reached the end of my rope, I have had the cold sweats, fitful vivid dreams, thirst, burning frequent bowel movements, stomach is off, no appetite, headache and just feel lonely and like I would like to lay down in front of a mack truck, but it is actually easing, and I am proud to say that the last ten pills I had are still in the bottle and when I am over this I am going enjoy flushing them, keeping them here and not giving in just makes me feel better, I am a weak person and I don't do pain or discomfort very well, I am fifty five years old and honey, IF I CAN DO THIS SO CAN YOU, YOUR LIVER AND KIDNEYS WILL THANK YOU

[Tom0121]

Congratulations!!! Be proud of yourself. My Dad is 55 and stopped taking them around the same time you posted- 4 days in and his doing well.

Looking over the posts tapering is mentioned alot. My Dad has been trying to taper off them for the last year and it didnt work. He felt like he was drawing out the withdrawel process and resulted in him giving in to the cravings. He tried to go complete turkey and succeeded so far. Im not a doctor and wouldnt advise anyone going complete turkey without knowing what daily doses were being taken BUT if you have tried tampering with no joy, then try and reduce to a safe level to come completely off.

Most people iv spoke to all got this addiction the same way. you had a pain and went to the doctors- the right thing to do. Do the right thing again and say goodbye to this evil drug and look forward to living again. 3 days- you CAN do it!!!

[ruuduu]

i cant do this anymore but neither can i stop, 80mg per day, myt sound little but it began as 20, then 30, then 40 and i keep goin now on 80

[Blondibear]

Anyone able to tell me how to slowly withdraw from otc Solpedeine Max painkiller?   Started for migraine and grew to "just want to feel better!"  Antidepressents have helped with that....but now I can't stop the solpedeine without hellish withdrawal.....can't afford to go cold turkey and suffer a fortnight of "flu" as I just started a new job.  I told my doc I want to taper off, but she's left it to me....Is one tablet a day less a good start...?  How long before I should try 2 less?   I average around ten to twelve a day at the moment.   Anyone else coped successfully this way?    

[greatgranniedot]

your story is identical to my story.im on solpadol 30,supposedly 6 max a day.i was prescribed this for a frozen shoulder and i was unlucky enough to go straight onto the other shoulder being frozen too.i take 10 a day.i actually watch the clock hoping my 4 hour period has passed and i can take my next lot.im on the effervescent ones and tho they taste horrible,i am starting to like them.crazy.i still feel shoulder pain so why bother to take them,but i am.i cant believe my doctor just continues to give me repeat prescriptions with no checkups.surely that cant be right and explains why so many of us are in this situation.im thinking of just stopping.i live in essex england,where it is so easy to just go into a chemist and buy codeine.any suggestions?we could try this together and exchange notes on how we get on?