Withdrawal Symptoms

Nurofen Plus Addiction - To cut a long story short, I have finally admitted to my family that I have a terrible addition to Nurofen Plus _ I was taking up to 30 odd tablets a day for over a year. In the end, they did nothing and my body wanted more, but there was not way I was going to put anymore of this poison into my body. I have a great supportive husband, a great boss and two beautiful childrend who do not deserve a mother as an addict. I don't even remember how I started and how I realised that If I took a couple more than I should - I got a lovely calming buzz which got me thru EVERY day. Of course the levels escalated, I have lost weight, I am depressed and have pretty much had a nervous breakdown from the stress of, what if I die? what about my kids? why the hell am I doint this to myself BY CHOICE, Bloody hell, people get cancer and die and they don't have a choice, but I do. Anyway, today is day 6 for me but the sleeplessness and general malaise is bad but the worst thing is the restless legs. Any ideas guys. I can't wait to be the person I used to be......... any comments are welcome........ but one thing is for sure I will never go back to that poison. It is a killer.

[jstntime]

Welcome,

Great choice to stop!!!  Nurofen Plus is codeine and ibuprofen?  

Codeine was my DOC for a long time. You ARE doing a great job and your physical suffering is ALMOST over.

Many swear by Hylands restless legs supplement but if you take Nurofen Plus I am assuming you are not in the US.

I have heard of people getting relief for restless legs by drinking tonic water.  Perhaps you could give that a try.  You are so VERY close to being through this.

You hang in there, you are doing something about your problem and should be extremely proud of yourself.  It is great you have a good support system, don't be afraid to ask them for help if needed.

Keep us updated, lots of caring people here!!!

bob

[sadmumma]

Hi there. Thank you so much for your response to my post. I will definitely try your suggestions. You wouldn't think that restless legs would be the worst side effect.

Yes, your are right Bob, I am in Sydney Australia and Nurofen Plus is ibuprofen and codeine.  I could get Nurofen Plus OTC although they did start asking questions and warned me about the problems of addiction, I thought, "it will never happen to me" . But of course it did.

THANKS so much, this was my first posting and the thought of me one day being able to help others as you are for me is something I look forward to.

Sadmumma, soon to be happymumma.xxxx love....

[jstntime]

Hey again,

I had the restless legs and arms BAD.  I always thought that if I could have been put in one of those midieval stretching racks for a few hours that I might have actually been able to sleep.  It drove me nuts!!!!

The no sleep and restless legs are the last things to leave it seems.  I had never heard of the tonic water for relief but I have seen it mentioned a few times here now.  I would have tried it too!!!!

Yes it's nice to help here but reading other posts helps me also.  They remind me of why I can't go back.

You might not feel like it yet but you started being happymumma the minute you stopped taking pills.  I look forward to seeing you figure this out.

bob

[Florida_Guy737]

Hi,

I used Tylenol PM at night and Aleve during the day t help with restless legs...mine were really a dull ache.  There are some meds that are made specifically for restless legs and some other meds like benzos are known to help.

Congrats on quitting & symtoms (symptoms) do fade; just take one day at a time.

Guy

[narla]

Hi,I'm in Queensland and it definitely makes it hard to give up Codeine when you can buy it OTC,I had 10 different chemists I used so they wouldn't get suspicious,For the restless legs at night I'd go to bed with a hot wheat bag,it helped,How are you going with the sneezing that was one of my irritating side effects of withdrawal,Good Luck and keep posting let us know how you are going.

Denise

[sadmumma]

Oh my god I can't believe you mentioned sneezing, in the last three days I have had such sneezing attacks it is not funny. I HAD NO IDEA it was to do with my situation. How funny is that??? And yes it is difficult when it is so easy to get. You know my Dr looked at me like, What are you talkiing about, you are fine!!! But I wasn't fine. some of them don't have a clue you know.

Yep I reckon I had about 7-8 different chemists I went to and it is going to be so wierd going there for something like just a plain old cold or flu or whatever.

I have used a wheat bag a couple of times too. It helped a bit but I end up coming out to the lounge room and lying with my legs in front of the gas heater and that seems to help (although not the gas bill). I stop keeping my other half awake as well.

I will keep in touch and let you know how I am going but as I mentioned - I am feeling a little bit more like myself each day, but get lethargic quite easily.

Cheers.
LIsa.

[dave570]

Hi there, I can totally sympathise with you regarding this restless legs dealy.  It's not funny is it?  I'm now on my 10th day clean after taking the dreaded things for 14 years, and basically everything seems to have cleared up but the being kept awake by this absolutely mind numbingly awful restless legs, and last night was the worst of the lot.  Which is strange because the previous night I slept through and didn't get it at all.  And I end up on the couch aswell, not just so as not to wake my wife, but because it literally drives you crazy lying in the 1 place, I've never felt so close to madness as I do with this restless legs!  And I'm at work today after 2 hours sleep so feel quite tired to say the very least.  But I've come this far so no point giving up now, although to just give my legs some peace it's awfully tempting.

[dave570]

Oh and the sneezing!  Me too.  Quite funny really.

[laurel453]

don't forget to take those magnessium+calcium supplements that are always adviced here and to eat as much potassium rich food as you can.... I ate a lot of bananas , they are rich on potassium and the easiest way to have it just before going to bed ( also  raisins, nutcrackers, apple/orange juice, tomato..... google :) . those minerals will help you a lot with rls.

tonic water has quinine on it and this is  good stuff for RLS

Where i live i couldn't buy Hylands and i found this way to make this tribal dancing at night a little more tolerable..along with hot baths and putting ice badges on my muscles when it was really bad ( for some heat blankets/badges )

[narla]

I love what you call RLS (tribal dancing) very funny, lol

[laurel453]

yeah .. :)... people going through them now could even start singing along the dancing and make  beautiful nights celebrating the summer solstice, narla ;)

[sway1]

for me it's "happy feet" and unfortunately it runs in my family. i had it long before i ever began using. while in withdrawal i would get it all the way up into my abdomen and my feet would lock up in a palsied position. very painful. good luck to you. you will be in my prayers. sway

[sadmumma]

Thanks so much for your great advice. OK Bananas, here I come.

I bought 3 large bottles of tonic water yesterday and drank a full bottle, and guess what, no RLS last night, however they have ached today. Anyway, I have had another bottle so see how I go.

Not feeling as good as yesterday but I guess one step forward, two steps back, definitey better than last week, that's for sure. One thing is that I don't feel like re-lapsing, I am angry at the damn things.

Oh well, at least we have Wimbledon to watch in the middle of the night when we wake (in Australia anyways).

Thanks again and kind thoughts to all you guys who have taken the time to chat and give me advice. It is worth everything xxx. Lisa

[jstntime]

Hey Lisa,

I hope things are cool.  Let us know when you get a chance.  May today be one of the "better" days!!!!

Hang in there,

bob

[sadmumma]

Hi Bob, not too bad today, pretty tired (even though I am sleeping okay), but been easy on myself, not doing too much, trying to be kind to my body. And yep, I am definitely hanging in there. Day 9 today.......

Thanks for your thoughts.
Take Care
Lisa

[jstntime]

Yayyyyy for day 9!!!!

Great job Lisa.  The fact you are sleeping is a sign that physical wd is almost over for you.  What a relief to finally sleep huh???

So very happy to see you getting better and staying clean.  It's nice to see yet another success story taking shape.

Keep keeping, you ARE doing this,

bob

[sadmumma]

Hi Bob, oh it is great to get a good nights' sleep. I slept quite well last night as we had a 3 year old's birthday party to go to and although physically it was quite difficult, (I have hardly been out of the house) it was nice to get out and chat and mingle, something I haven't done without the aid of tabs for a long time. And it was okay, no drama's.

Thanks again for your support and yep, I willl keep keeping (actually, back to work tomorrow) after two weeks off.

Take Care,
Lisa

[jstntime]

Hi,

I'm very happy you had a good one.  I ALWAYS urge people to "get out" even if it's the last thing they feel like doing.  It is such a help to get distracted at times.

Going to work will also be good for you.  You should be very proud of your progress.  This is not easy to do and you are doing it.

Congrats again and good-luck at work!!!!!

bob

[sadmumma]

Thanks for the good wishes Bob. Distractions definitely help, we feel a bit less sorry for ourselves.

And how are you doing? Everything Okay?

Thanks again,
Lisa

[laurel453]

Hi, good luck with your first day of work without the pills and happy to see you are feeling better..
congrats on your clean time, 10 days, right ? :)

[jstntime]

10 days for you???

Great job!!!!!  I'm very happy you have stuck this out.  You have proven to many that this CAN be done.  There will be people reading this who are wanting to quit and questioning their ability or resolve to do so.  Your success and story may just give them the push they need to get it done.

I am on day 50 I think and doing OK, thank-you for asking.  Pain ***** but my attitude is good and getting better!!!!!

I hope your day at work eases you back into life gently.  Congrats on your freedom, you deserve it and I am proud of you.

bob

[desperate85]

hi, does anyone on here know anything about losing love for your signicant other while recovering from addiction? my long time boyfriend says he doesnt know how he is feeling about me, like he should be feeling more. he is a month clean from vicodin.. help!

[dave570]

Day 15 and I think I've done it.  Sleeping without restless legs for the past 2 nights, food is staying in, no more headaches.  Please god let me have done it.

[sadmumma]

GOOD ON YOU DAVE. Great job. You have done it and you should be proud.

All the best for your future days......

Lisa
Sydney

[dave570]

Thanks Lisa, I am quite proud of myself yes!  2 weeks ago when it all started I thought the time would drag but it's gone quite quickly.  Can't believe I'm out the other side.  One good thing I'm noticing now too is the money I'm saving.  No longer do I have to make sure I've got money set aside for tablets, it's all for me to spend!

[sadmumma]

Hey Dave, yep you should be proud. You've done an awesome job. I am up to day 16 now and I am thinking I am just about out the other side. I still don't have a great deal of energy but I am taking vitamins and trying to eat well and get sleep. Unfortunately sleep isn't as good as it could be but heaps heaps better than before. The restless legs have finally left me, thank god.

And oh yes, the money. Obviously I was spending money every day on the damn things too, so also saving heaps. Another benefit to this whole ordeal.

Cheers Dave and all the best ............
Lisa :-)