Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1131217 tn?1260291231

question??? cough syrup with codeine???

so i broke two ribs and dislocated one about 2 weeks ago...i declined pain medication since i am now over 50 days clean from it.  the pain has been excruciating but i have been managing to get along.

however, to add insult to injury my yearly sinus infection arrived about a week ago creating a nasty post nasal drip causing my to develop this nasty nasty horrible cough.  i have tried to get myself better but it's not working and i would just ride it out but the coughing attacks are so horrible that is causing the pain in my ribs to be about ten times past excruciating...... and robbutussin is not working to help ease the cough.

so i went the dr. . .  i got the meds to clear up the sinus infection which is fine and just an antibiotic but she prescribed me cough syrup with codeine to help ease the cough which is causing my ribs to just throb non stop.

i have read on here addictions to codeine...i am nervous to take it but actually really need it.

anyone know about this cough syrup with codeine??? am i putting myself in danger???

any advice would be helpful...i have not taken it yet.

~kim


22 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1131217 tn?1260291231
i took one teaspoon total yesterday....1/2 when i got it and 1/2 before i went to bed....

i felt no high whatsoever, i just got really tired and hungry.  so i ate, painted and went to bed.

i have not even taken any today....i'm just going to try and stick to night time although this cough is absolutely relentless.

it's more the dr. said that all the coughing is really making my ribs irritated and slowing the healing process down.

i am going to tahoe in 2 weeks...it's my vacation, and i have not vacated since last december.  i want to be able to snowboard and my ribs need a break.

fear not amy...i have NO desire to do a pill.

and i am not abusing the cough syrup at all...only going to take it as absolutely necessary.
Helpful - 0
710423 tn?1271161074
Hey doll,
I'm not gonna lie, I'm officially worried about you. I DID relapse on Codiene many times, and immediately jumped right back to the pills. Please, please be careful, but also remember that no matter what, we are all here for you....

Stay tru to you, sister, and take it easy.

I love you,
A
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Percogesic contains acetaminophen and an antihistamine called phenyltoloxamine which enhances the pain relieving effect of acetaminophen.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi~  I believe you're in control,as well. And...I would have done the same as you.  It's really painful...  Keep your rib area warm,too.

Sleep well~

Vicki    xo
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hope you feel better soon!
Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
i am in frisco, co about 25 minutes away from vail, i regularly snowboard there.

i took a half teaspoon of the cough syrup, it stopped the cough and i am not 'high' off of it at all. . . i will take another half a teaspoon so i can sleep...

i could deal with the cough and i could deal with the ribs but the combination of the two is unbearable.

i can't deny that i need something to help me right now...i have tried every over the counter medication and they do nothing at all.  

i wish i could describe the pain of coughing with two broken ribs but unless you have broken a rib and had a severe cough at the same time you wouldn't understand.....

and no i will never go back to the pills..

i am only going to take this until i am better and then get rid of it and i am going to stick to taking half the recommended dosage.

i think i am in control.

i'm not looking to get high, only to be in severe pain instead of excruciating pain.
Helpful - 0
1091472 tn?1268845655
From reading all your posts you sound like you are really determined to stay away from pills so this codeine cough syrup shouldn't make you relapse, but you never know right?  I'm sure that you're well aware of how the mind can play tricks on you.  If the pain is totally intolerable than help yourself but don't let it be an excuse to start up with the blues again.  Which resort town are you in btw?  I love to ski and I've been out to Colorado a couple of times...Winter park and Vail.  I loved Vail that place was awesome!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey !     Don't suffer!!!   It will wear you down.  Take the Motrin/Percogesic. Forget the Tylenol.  Take a cough syrup with a cough suppressant in it.  What's in the Robitussin you're taking?  There are a bazillion different kinds!    I know the rib pain is wicked...Do you think you can handle the cough syrup with codeine and then dump it?
It makes me a little nervous because I even loved that cough syrup and opiates were not my drug of choice!!!

V.   xo
Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
ya that's where i live in colorado...and yes we do have a wal-greens....my neighbor is actually the manager....i have been taking 650mg tabs of tylenol but it does nothing so i stopped taking anything at all and have just been dealing with riding out the pain.  but it's the cough that is making everything so much worse.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Percogesic is an over the counter pain reliever.  I'm sorry but I can't remember what the heck is in it but it's something like aspirin,and/or Tylenol and ????  Pharma9 will know for sure.   You probably won't find it up there in the Mts. unless there's a Walgreens near you.  It's not often found in the Mom and Pop stores.   Motrin 800mgs would work, as well, four times a day if your kidneys are pretty  :)       I know how it goes...I have a Cabin in the Mts.(Colorado) and I try to stock that place with everything because I know I won't find what I need when up there!!!

V.
Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
wait what is percogesic...???? like what brands i have seen nothing like that or heard of nothing like it???

i live in the middle of the mountains...we have a limited selection of pretty much everything up here.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey!   I feel for you...broken ribs AND a cough is wicked!  I'd stay a mile away from the codeine cough syryp because it's an opiate and a lot of people really like it...it could hurt your clean time.  Codeine is a cough suppressant and it works well in cough syrup but not for us addicts.   I agree with pharma9.  Get some cough syrup with dextromethorphan and guaifenesin and take as directed.  Get the Walgreens/CVS brand because it's cheaper and works just as well   :)     Good for you for not taking that syrup and for declining pain meds.   You're being extra vigillant which we HAVE to be.   Oh and I've taken percogesic and it's a decent otc pain reliever.   Feel better friend~

Vicki
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would stay away from the codeine cough syrup if you can.  When I had it in the house I would drink it whenever I was out of pills.  It was kinda like liquid vicodin to me.  

Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
ok i have been using robutussin for about 7 days with no results what so ever...and i have a yetti pot....not working either.

i think if i just take the cough medicine prescribed as the instructions state and throw it out as soon as i am getting better i will be fine.

my poor freaking ribs can't take anymore coughing attacks....they just can't.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That is a valid treatment.You can get a netty pot with saline packets and rinse the nostrils.I usually recommend it to people who have highBP and can't take decongestants.I really don't like decongestants anyways for anybody.
Got to run to work now.See yaz all after 9
Helpful - 0
890982 tn?1259091185
I can only sympathize.  I looked at your profile and it looks like codeine would pose a threat to relapse.  With all the money and research that goes into medicine, it seems like they could come up with a really effective non-narcotic cough syrup.  

I have a treatment for sinus infections that helps, especially if they are really bad, but most people seem to think it's worse than the infection.  Fill the bathroom sink with warm water, add a generous amount of salt, put your face in the water with your mouth closed, and suck it up your nose.  Spit it out in the toilet, and repeat several times.  You may have to close one nostril at a time if they're clogged.  Do this 2 or 3 times a day.  It won't do anything for the cough itself, but it will relieve the conditions that are causing the cough.  This is based on one of the yoga cleansing techniques.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
While you are out there get some percogesic for your pain.It does not contain any opiates and works quite well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You can buy it otc.No Rx needed.Try it first before you go to the heavy stuff.
Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
does a dr. have to prescribe dextromethorphan cough syrup??? cause i'll go back right now.....
Helpful - 0
1131217 tn?1260291231
ya, i am proud of myself although this a time i really really could use some pain meds.....you cannot breathe, talk, laugh, eat, go the bathroom, walk, move, COUGH without feeling the pain of two broken ribs....so i am being extra special tough.

but my life would be made just a smidgen better if i could take the edge off of this cough just a little bit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There is always a chance of relapse in taking any opiate.Codeine is an opiate.Perhaps you could try dextromethorphan cough syrup which is not addicting and suppresses the cough centre.Not quite as strong as codeine but it may be enough to help the cough.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I'm sorry that I'm not able to comment on the cough syrup with codeine but really wanted to post to commend you for turning down the pain medicated!!! way to go! I'm sorry that your suffering and hope you feel better soon.  congrats again :)

D
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.