Need help quiting cough syrup!

[shadowknight]

Hi. I am 23 years old and have been abusing a cough syrup on a regular basis since July. Around 4 days back when I last consumed it, I felt weird and dull the other day so I paniced and made up my mind that I'll stop it. Since that day I've been feeling dull and my body feels weak. Also, I've a hard time sleeping. I feel scared most of the time, specially when I try falling asleep and because of that I am not able to sleep properly. Even though I am not able to sleep properly, still I am feeling sleepy most of the time. I would like to know how the recovery process for this works and how long will it take and if whether I'd need to take any medications?

Also, if I stop now, will I be ok in the future?

Please help.

[monkey231]

Hey.  Someone will be on here prob. tomarrow who can help you out more than I can.  I just wanted to welcome you and tell you that you're not alone.  I've been abusing prescription drugs for a while now.  The withdrawl from the pills is real bad for the first week (thats what I've been told).  I imagine that coming off of coughsyrup would be simalar.  I've been told the pill withdrawl feels like you have a real bad flu.  How much have you been taking, and what does it do to you?  Im just trying to figure out if it causes the same feelings as pills, because I imagine if it does, then the withdrawl will be the same too.  Welcome to the site and good luck hun.

[shadowknight]

Hi. Like I wrote. I've been feeling dizzy and dull. At times it feels like as if my mind is floating. And my body hurts too. Like last night, I'd a pain in my legs. Also I've been experiencing pains in my stomache which I believe is a gastritis problem. Also I've been suffering from constipation. I've been consuimg around 4 or 5 bottles every week, at times even more. Since June or July last year. Few days back when I felt weird, I paniced and got scared and made up my mind that I'll never do it again. Its been just 4 days since I last consumed it. I am not sure how long it will take before I start feeling better. Also I am feeling depressed because of this because I dont really know if I'll be able to recover, etc. I came here in search of hope and guidance. And yes, I am a person who starts to panic very easily. I've been like this from a long time. I easily get panic attacks etc.

[monkey231]

I can relate to you on a lot of what you're saying.  I too am scared that I wont be able to get better, and I get depressed, and I have panic attacks a lot.  What made you start abusing the cough syrup?  Was it because of your depression or anxiety?  Or was it something else?  When you were high on the coughsyrup, what kind of high did you get?  I know that this can all be really scarry.  I admire you a lot because you've already made it 4 days!!!  Thats awesome, I'm still trying to kick the pills.....Its tough.  but I imagine you'll be feelin better soon hun.

[monkey231]

One thing to try is hot baths.....Even when I dont take pills for almost a whole day (I know that doesnt sound long, but Im addicted) I feel very weak and cant sleep at all.  I find that if you take a hot bath before bed, it helps me to relax and unwined....This sounds stupid, but something that I've done for years to help me sleep (because I struggle a lot with anxiety, and it comes out a lot when Im laying in bed) but make it a point to have a bedtime rutine.  and make sure to sleep in your bed, and dont spend too much time in your bedroom when you're just hanging out during the day, its important that your bed is for sleeping, that way when you go to your room at night, your body gets into sleeping mode and it feels right.  This may sound weird to you, Im a Toaist, and we practice mindfull breathing, thats where you breath slowly and steadily and are fully aware of your breathing, and thats all you focus on is taking good full breaths.....I practice my mindfull breathing everynight until I fall asleep, it really helps to relax your mind and body, it can be frusterating at first because your mind will wonder to other things, but just gently remind yourself to go back to focusing on your breathing....sounds a little corky, but it helps me a lot.

[shadowknight]

The reason I started abusing cough syrup was for the euphoria it caused. It used to make me feel really great... atleast back then it did! But now even if I think about it, it scares the life out of me. I've made up my mind that I am going to be sober from this moment onwards.

My main problem is the night. Now that its the 4th day and its afternoon here, I am feeling alright (although still a dull at mind and my legs are hurting bad). I am talking about my state of mind. Its the night thats a problem for me. When I am scared, I dont want to see the dark. And its during those hours I get these panic attacks. And last night when I was trying to fall asleep, even though I was tired, still I was getting these random irritating thoughts and this continued till morning. I kept waking up once or twice every hour. Basically I am not able to sleep in peace. I just think how my parents would feel if they were to find out what I've done. I just hope such a day will never come and that I'll be able to have a normal life.

How long more do you think I'll have to wait till the recovery process starts? And are there any supplements which are recommended? And ofcourse, the question which scares me the most! Is full recovery possible ??

I want to comment on what you wrote and I hope this will help you:

'Thats awesome, I'm still trying to kick the pills.....Its tough.'

I know it must be tough but you just have to stop it. Its just not worth it. I am sure even you must be young like me and you've a whole life ahead of you. I started cough syrup because I felt my life wasnt great. And I used to feel unhappy. But that unhapiness was much better than this 'scared' feeling. As long as your health is fine, no matter how your life might be right now, there will always be a hope for something great to happen tommorow. Stop thinking about your present and start thinking of the future. You'll definitely be able to quit if you start thinking about your future.

[newmanagment]

A full recovery is possible,if you want it to be. cough syrup is like taking pills, but also like alcohol. Try tylenol PM for sleep help. hot baths will help with the leg aches.immodium will help with the gas problem. Sounds like you are beginning w/d's, so just ride thru them and you will get better.
"As long as your health is fine, no matter how your life might be right now, there will always be a hope for something great to happen tommorow." That is one of the best things to remember right there.Focus on the future, remember your past and that you want something better. good luck and keep posting, much love....

[shadowknight]

Hi. Thank you for your reply.

Is 'Tylenol PM' a prescribed drug or will I be able to get it without any prescriptions / doctors consulation ?

Also I forgot to mention, just a day after I last consumed this, my body was getting a burning sensation. It felt like as if I was getting a fever and also I was starting to sweat and my ears were feeling warm. This happened once before also, but hasnt happened again in the last two days.

Nothing to worry about, I hope?

[susieq87]

You might want to consider asking your doctor for a temporary sleep aid.  You are too young to keep an addiction going as that is all you will focus on and not your life.  If there are issues, you may even know you have them, see a therapist.

[toxictome]

TylenolPM is OTC......no dr. rx needed

All the other symptoms sound like normal wds
A full recovery is possible.
Getting clean is the easy part...staying clean is the hard part(the mental part)

You may want to look into attending NA mtgs. or seeing a counselor or therapist to get to the core issues of why you use meds  to make yourself "feel better". .
I think this is an important part of the process...and if you don't deal w/ these issues...they will send you back out there at some point in time...
GOOD LUCK and KEEP POSTING!!!

[shadowknight]

I am more concerned about the getting clean part. Is there a diet which would or could help my body and brain detox? I've made up my mind this time and I am very sure I'll be able to commit myself to this. I dont want to be scared again and I want to live a normal life. So hopefully, I'll be able to remind myself about all this and make sure I dont get into it ever again.

[shadowknight]

Hi. I just went through this form and came across The Thomas Recipe. I would like to know if it would be applicable to me?

I am looking to find information on supplements which can help me recover. The Thomas Recipe listed the following:

1. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
2. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium
3. Vitamin B6 caps

And can this be used as a 'wide-spectrum mineral supplement' : http://www.naturetherapy.com/revital/revital.htm

Please, I am looking for as much information as I can get here.

Thanks.

[Jacqui805]

I'm assuming you were on Phenergan with codeine?  If not, what were/are you taking?  As for anyone suffering from constipation, and these meds. do cause it, please go out and buy yourself some generic Colace, called by it's drug name Docusate Sodium.  It's simply a stool softener, it will NOT cause cramps.  Take two caps, twice a day if you need to get you started, then two caps before bed.  I can almost guarantee you'll thank me later.  I wish you the best of luck with your detox., it is tough, and feels rough, but it is not only possible, it just simply CAN be done.  You can do it, you'll feel SO much better afterward I swear!

Jacqui

[shadowknight]

Hi Jacqui. I am not sure. This is what the syrup contained: Chlorpheniramine maleate and Codeine phosphate

Does that help?

[FAITHFUL74]

Welcome... I just want to say that you are doing great, 4 days is a big achievement.
I also wanted to shed a little light on some of your symptoms. Look on this sight for anxiety. Then click on the (red) anxiety prompt. It list symptoms of panic and anxiety disorder. I also suffer from this and just knowing that it DOES cause very physical symptoms can give you some peace of mind. It is different for everyone of course, but, when I feel a panic attack coming on, I begin to feel warm all over, sometimes my extremities such as my fingers or toes feel tingly. My mind feels blank, almost like I forgot what I was supposed to be doing. (daydreamy, if that makes sense). Also, get yourself checked out physically if possible and I would reccommend you talk with a counselor or phsychiatrist, not because I think you are crazy,but, because you obviously have underlying issues that you are not dealing with. Best of Luck to you and I wish you all the best...

[shadowknight]

Hi Faithful. Thanks

I think you missed the link to that site?

The same thing happens to me when I get a panic attack. I feel scared, start feeling warm, I can hear these noises in my stomache, and also I start feeling dull.

Would a phsychiatrist be able to prescribe something which can help in the recovery process? Or do they just offer counselling for this?

[FAITHFUL74]

Yeah... I just realized that. I was going to go into it myself and post the link for you and they have changed the medhelp link. Now I dont know how to get there. I know you can look other places such as webmd. Just type in anxiety and click search, then click on symptoms. Hope this is helpful.

Yes all of your symptoms are so consistant with anxiety. Its amazing that a mental feeling or fear can cause such prominant physical symptoms, but it does. A phsychiatrist would be able to prescribe a seditive for you and most of them do for anxiety disorder. Something like valium, xanax or visteril... something along those lines. I am not trying to get you addicted to any thing else, but, anxiety is real and in combination with counseling the medication is helpful. I would not take it in excess, prescription drugs like these work very quickly to calm you so I would just take as needed. When you feel overly anxious take it, when you feel good and stable, dont. just my opinion. that way you wont become dependant on them.

[Jacqui805]

Sorry it took me so long to get back here, but........that's what I thought, about the codeine at least.  I personally think, especially if you hadn't been experiencing any of those s/s before having taken the cough syrup, that you're having w/d related anxiety and just plain old w/d.  It doesn't matter that you're still taking it.  You've developed a tolerance and a dependence to it.  Again, provided you weren't this way before, or haven't had something traumatic or otherwise happen to you, I believe that all of this will pass after you've completely detoxed off of it.  

Jacqui

[shadowknight]

Hi everyone. Its been 17 days since I am clean. And I am feeling great :) I stopped coming here because I wanted to divert my mind. I am not sure what was wrong with me. But whatever I was experiencing, it faded in 7 days.. I guess I was just getting panic attacks?

The fear is gone now but I get headaches at times. But then, I got these headaches before I even got myself involved into abusing this thing. So it might not be related.

[Flutterby111]

That's fantastic!  Stay away from that stuff and any other drugs!  Proud of you!   Headaches suck.......... They control my life.....sniffle sniffle.  Thanks for checking back in, it's so nice to here people getting clean!  

[shadowknight]

Hi Guys. Its been over 45 days since I have been clean :) And I feel happy about it.
Although I have a few questions I am looking answers for.

I feel weak physically and my stamina has lowered. I get tired easily and feel shortness of breath when I do something physical.

Also, this is weird but I feel my bones have become weak. For example, if I give a moderate hit to myself on the shoulder, I feel somepain. I have noticed the same thing on my ribs.

And I have been experiencing erectile dysfunction. Although I had this problem from the last 2 to 3 years. So it might not have a direct relation to the abuse. I know cough syrup causes erection dysfunction. The problem is that, I dont get an erection easily. And when I do, its not hard enough. But if I masturbate, it becomes strong. Is this treatable? And what kind of doctors would I need to visit for these problems?

[HYDROSUPERMOM]

All these drugs make you lose your sex drive.  That will fix itself after you are clean for a while.  I took cough meds with hydro in it for 4 years.  It's as tough as all the others to withdraw from.  You are almost done with feeling like you are dying.  You will probaly be with no energy for a few weeks after that.  GIve in and nap and rest.  When you feel a energy moment, put it to good use.  You will love it as the fog leaves you and counting days beween scripts.  You will catch up on the laundry and all the other stuff eventually.  I love being clean and really have to urges for it.  I sleep regular hours again.  I don't fall asleepat the movies, a borig meeting etc.  The euphoric feeling stops eventually and all that super energy goes away.  If you can get valium-need script you can sleep through the worst of it.  You are almost there.  Congrats on 4 days and good luck.

[HYDROSUPERMOM]

PS  the constipation is part of the narcotics.  Also check this site for the Thomas recipe-it really helps

[starfruitanimal]

I have been abusing cough syrup for the past three 3 years in small dosages every day. I don't know why I continue to do it, but I want it to stop so badly. There's no reason I do it, I just do. I don't want to die one day because of it. Anyone who has any advice could really help, it's the only thing ruining my life.

[Mikeinthesouth]

Hang in there. What are you using dxm or codein?

[shadowknight]

I am more eager on asking than advising, what is it thats stopping you from quitting the habit? If I could do it then so can you.

[starfruitanimal]

I'm not sure what is keeping me from it... I use it a lot to enhance the way I look at reality through my art work. I'm also afraid I'll be depressed if I stop using it. But I hate using it.. I am compelled by something that drives me to the store everyday to get that dxm...I steal it usually, because I can't afford the habit. it's pathetic. I also am a heavy drinker of alcohol. I am a pretty young artist who had a future ahead of me these are the things holding me back.. any advice whatsoever could help. I don';t think doctors or my parents took it seriously.

[shadowknight]

I am a programmer myself and I like to consider it to be an art rather than a science. During my days of cough syrup I too felt it helped me focus and gave me motivation. But one day I realized the habit is eventually going to take my life. Also I did a lot of things under its influence which I now regret. And one of those things was marriage. I could never think straight. All the time my thoughts were altered and this is something I realized when I became sober.

There is no advice to give. You either stop the habit or you don’t. You yourself admit you are young and you have a whole life ahead of you. The good thing here is that you acknowledge the problem. So that’s a start.

In my opinion breaking the cough syrup addiction is easier compared to other synthetic drugs. What I mean to imply here is that the withdrawals you will experience from cough syrup won’t be as bad as other drugs. And they'll last for a week at max. You basically have two problems here. One with cough syrup and the other with alcohol, which too is a drug. I cannot help you with the alcohol problem but I will try giving you some insight on how to break the cough syrup addiction.

It’s the addiction that compels you to go to the store. Resist the craving and don’t consume it for a day. If you can stay sober for one day, you can for another. Do just that. Stay sober for two days and then think of the third day. Then the forth and the fifth. Set a target. Maybe a week? If you can stay sober for one week, you most definitely can for another week. Make sure your current no. one priority is to stay sober. Thats primary, everything else thats going on in your life make them secondary. This is how I did it. I came here to medhelp 4 days after giving up the bad habit.

Regarding depression. It works two ways. Depression can lead to substance abuse and vice versa! If you develop a depression once you are sober then there is treatment available for that. But let’s not get into that right now.

Remember, count every single day and feel proud. You'll be able to do it, trust me! Not because I am saying so but because I am 9 months clean now :)

And please make a post on the forum and ask if whether its safe to quit DXM cold turkey. Cold Turkey means quitting the habit at once. The cough syrup I abused contained codeine and I went cold turkey.

[starfruitanimal]

I did well for one day, how ever today I'm getting an extreme urge. I just might do it, but I hate to. Then I have to start soberness all over again, and I only lasted a day. I need to do this because I made a commitment to myself and my father. I can't let my father down,  I need to make him proud of me and happy because he's sick, and I don't know how many years he'll be around. He's the best person alive, and the closest to me. Why is this so hard for me? The image of him should be strong enough to beat this. Especially when this whole thing is so stupid. I need to continue the strength in my myself. I don't want to go to rehab. I want these thoughts to stop going through my head, they won't go away. I'm on antidepressant (wellbutrin) also. This helps, but not with this. Thanks for all the advice people have already given me, I know it's myself who has to do this, who has to keep the strength to do this. If i do do it again, I'll just feel even more guilty and upset with myself. :(

[starfruitanimal]

oh and by the way, the main substance I've been abusing over the past couple years is Corcedin cough and cold, and alcohol. I'm 20. I'm a young pretty girl. I know this. Its draining me.

[micheleTX]

what is DXM?  an the corcedin?  what kind of cough syrup is that?  i am just curious.  it makes you high?  you don't have to answer if you don't want to talk about it now ok

[Unknown_User]

Hi
I'm 28 years old and I've been hooked on to this habit for more than 10 years. It started when Once I bought Corex for an severe cough. I got a high and was addicted to it since then. What really disgusts me is that I'm also responsible for spoiling one more life along with me i.e, of my girlfriend. It gives me bouts of depression. She is also on cough syrups with me for all this time. My life really is in shambles. I've quited my job (I was working with American Express and had a good future) and have been sitting unemployed for past 4 years. If it wouldn't have been for my girlfriend who is working it would have been impossible for me to survive. We spend daily more than 350Rs on smokes and cough syrups. Right now I've been taking Rexcof which is a cough syrup of an different brand.

I just keep on playing computer games 24x7 with my room closed and am very attached to my dog. Who has incidentally suffered because of my habit. Couple of times earlier I did tried to kick this habit but could not cause one of us backed out.

But now as I'm growing older and getting depressed about wasting so much time of my life I've once and for all decided to quit this habit after discussing this with my girlfriend. I really donot want to go to an rehab.

It's been 3 days today and I will keep all of you guys updated what happens next.

Also I'd like to mention that my elder brother was also addicted to Spasmo Proxyvon and even after marriage he wasn't able to kick the habit. He is facing the consequences now and has gone to a very good private hospital in New Delhi which has admitted him for fifteen days to help him to kick the habit and live a normal life. This is what has really spooked me and led me to take this decision.

My girlfriend and me are also facing withdrawal effects of Cough syrups such as body ache especially in legs and arms while going to sleep. Any help will be appreciated to kill the pain.
UnKnown User

[cuckoo43]

unknown user,it was of nice of u to put it over ere as even i m also taking it (Rexcof) n its been around 12yrs since i first took it wit my elder bro now even e is nt able to quit n recently suffered epileptic seizures. i feel bad for me n family ie my wife also encourage me to quit n is in family way n expecting twins n its after 10yrs of our marriage.i almost spend 600/- per day on syrup n smoke n i feel bad about it. everynite i decide its enough i will stop it from mornin but as soon as i wake up i find myself standing near a drug store.So tryin to quit all n any help is welcome