I'm addicted to co-codamol

[mizzu]

I started taking co-codamol several years ago for a leg injury. When I first took the painkillers, I felt absolutely amazing. I have always suffered from nerves and anxiety and found that the drugs made me feel so relaxed and took away all of my worries. Since then, I have been going to my doctor on and off, trying to get co-codamol and making any sort of excuse I could to get them. If my doctor wouldn't prescribe them, I would go to another doctor. If that doctor refused, I would go to the Emergency Room and claim that I'd just injured myself. I've been creating all sorts of fake injuries in an attempt to get the meds. I only take two a day, but it worries me because when I reach a certain point in the evening, I automatically go to the bathroom and take them, almost at the same time every night. I turn the tap on so my partner can't hear me opening the packet, and sneak into the kitchen to get a glass of water.  I am about to run out, and am already thinking of how I can get some more pills. I'm quite worried about this now. My moods have definitely changed. I get so irritable and moody over nothing, and often snap at people. The thing is, when I take the pills, I don't care about anything anymore, and my body just turns to jelly. I've become so addicted to this wonderful feeling, and am concerned that I won't be able to live without it.  Has anyone else experienced this?

[lcw84]

Im scared and in need of some advice. I've been taking co-codomal 30/500s for over 4yrs. I made the mistake of telling my doctor i sometimes took 9 a day instead of the prescribed 8 to ease my pain. She literally looked at me like id murdered someone. She explained that i was to have bloods taken to check my liver function and if it came back with any abnormalities she would instantly take me off my tablets. I asked about withdrawals and her look nearly threw me off the chair. Apparently i shouldn't get withdrawals according to her. After reading all your posts about withdrawal im terrified of how im going to cope/feel. Can she do this to me after 4 yrs? Help xx

[mrsxyz]

i cant beleive so many people are addicted 2 these pain killers. i thought it was just me and reading about liver damage terrifies me but still take them every 4 hours ./ i feel trapped.

[corgiepuponenut]

Hi there maggieceltstim, i am curtis and i have been on them for 4 years cause i had a bad football injury i had my knee discolated and they where the only thing that helped but it took 3 years before i got my knee sorted with an opp and bang they put me on the tablets again for all of that , butt almost a year after my opp i started to notice i have had to take 2 a day to get by so i could get to sleep with that funny feeling you get in your tummy at night,
But after a year i got more bad news and found out i had TESTICULAR CANCER and had to have a testicul removed and had CHEMO, thats when i found out that i was addicted to co codamol when the hospital sent me home with differrent tablets, well them first nights at home i almost went out off my head , but any way it is 8 months now and am all clear from cancer and this is my 5th day without the co codamol and i have all the same side effects you are havin.
hope you got off them keep your chin up.

CURTIS.

[Kendraerika]

Start a new post as those one is old. You still be able to get more help. Look up the thomas recipe, will help with the wd

[leeds11]

Hi , i have been taking co codomols for 12 years 30/500 as most have said perscribed for pain etc now i am getting dreadful migraines up to twice a week , i no i am addicted to the painkillers as i am watching clock ready for next dose , i really need to come of them , i have tried phoning NHS for advise to safely come of them , i explained i didnt feel i could go to my GP with this , they never got back to me ! I am desperate to know the safe way to do this as i said i have been on them 12 years 30/500 8 tablets a day , i would be so grateful if any one has any advice for me how to safely kick this addiction , i cannot believe that something i thought was a harm less pain killer has got me in this mess ,

[Astray]

The WD will be very similar but nowhere near as severe unless you have been taking huge amounts of the stuff. They would normally only last a few days as well.

The paracetamol component is indeed bad for your liver but at the prescribed dose over a year it is not likely to to have significant damage. A visit to the doctors and a blood test to get a liver count will hopefully put your mind at rest. Even if the count is higher than it should be don't panic as the liver is a very resilient organ. Mine was in a terrible condition but after just 3 weeks clean of all drugs a retest showed it back in the normal range.

In other words you are right to be irritated at the understatement by the doctors of the addictiveness of this substance but you are likely to be OK. The main thing is to get this harmful drug out of your life and it sounds like you already have that in hand.