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Avatar universal

Addicted to Nurophen plus

This is my first admission to N+ addiction and im shaking and crying just admittng it to this post. I take 30 to 40 pills a day and i hate myself for getting in this situation. Ive been addicted for 10 years and i really dont want to take them any more. Ive pushed away my family and all but one of my friends (she is the only one who hasnt given up on me yet) and none of them even know about my addiction and id like to keep it that way. which is prob stupid but if i was a smart person i wouldn't be in this situation. As i was never prescribed them from my doctor I started taking them for a toothache and loved the feeling it gave me and stupidly started taking more. Now i am desparate to get off them but dont know where to start or where to turn to. I am a single mother to three kids (one of which is twenty and has left home) and have to work part time to help pay bills. I know my kids are prob better off with out me (as what kind of mother spends the little cash she gets on N+ which can be anywhere from $70 to $95 a week) But i dont want to cause them anymore pain than i already have. I am worried if i go cold turkey i wont be able to cope and ill take my frustrations out on my poor children and i worry that it will affect my ability to work in a part time job that i have and dont want to lose, as jobs are to hard to come by. I live in Australia in NSW and would like to know what  is out there to help me. Im so glad i found this site it is giving me a spark of light in the darkness where ive been for 10 years.  .
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Avatar universal
Hey hope u are well..i decided today i will give tapering a go because when u said that i could be off them in about 50 days without suffering any withdrawals i thought i would give it a go....so i will cut down 1 each day i take 15/ 3 times a day so instead of 45 through out the day i would take 44 and so on.....say like i take two 15 lots and the last lost i take 14 and keep tapering down i think i might be able to do this...That is what my doc suggested in the first place but i didn't try it i tryed c/t near killed me...anyways thanks for the help and i will let u no how i'm going in the next few days..I think i can do this i can do this..Goodluck to everybody  pebbles
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Avatar universal
Hey ground -hog Thankyou for sharing all that imformation i am definitly wanting to stop taking the panafen plus i did do c/t once lasted 4 days couldn't get out of bed was just so sick been taking them for about 4 years.....i always have good intentions to stop and say this is it once im finished this pkt i will start but in the morning it is the first thing i think of and go buy a pkt my will power not the best..My doc gave me diazapan to take half in morning and one half at night and slow release tramadol one in morning and one at night i went two weeks without the panafen and thought i might just buy one pkt and now back to were i started from..i have heard alot of people getting addicted to tramadol but to be honest they don't really do anything for me except take away most of the w/d still go the toilet a bit get bit sweaty and go off food for a while. and not alot of energy....i would love to do tapering but just don't think im strong enough i need to just stop....so i have taking 15 this morning have 15 left and i am going too try again..The other thing i find is i get a bit down but i no it will eventually pass ...Goodluck to you, and lockness u sound like your doing ok with the tapering i be watching to see how eveyones doing and will let u no how i go when i start which hopefully be today...Take care and Thanx again
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone, well i have cut down one tablet per dose which is nine tablets at a time, on good days its only three times a day and when its not its four times a day and to be honest its mainly four times a day. I háven't felt any negative affects from doing it so tomorrow im going to cut down another one, and im hoping i wont notice much difference this time either. Im just unsure of how many days i should go before i cut another one out.
In response to ground_hog, this is the first time ive tried to stop and lately ive been having something like acid reflux where the lining of my throat burns if taken on an empty stomach and i can't seem to have orange juice or spicy food anymore, its prob an ulcer more so than acid reflux. I live in a little rural town of one pub and general store and have to drive 25 minutes to get to bigger town which is still classed as a country town and the medical center i go to can only seem to keep doctors for about 18 months as they prefer to work/live on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane. Its very frustrating to have found a doctor you feel comfortable with only to find that next time you go their not there anymore. I would like to see a doctor but its finding one im comfortable with and who will be there long enough for me. I cant tell my boyfriend about my addiction because he is an alcoholic and he'll use it against me when he's drunk and it would just be a nightmare for me if he knew and i wouldn't be able to cope with his negitivity. We don't live together cause i can't put up with him drunk every night. My mother travels around Australia with her husband in their caravan and my father is a lovely man who is a stress head and has a bad heart so i dont want to tell him cause he would worry himself sick about it and my closest sister (who is a stress head like my father) is 3 hours away and has her own problems with a teenage son getting in trouble with the law and on drugs, so i really dont want her to have to worry about me as well. Ive been really depressed for years and haven't maintained a lot of friendships cause i dont go out and see people. I have one friend who hasn't given up on me yet but she too is an alcolholic who has drama after drama ( i think she loves it) and can only seem to talk about herself and can be very mentally draining. So i think for now ill just keep unloading to the lovely people in this forum. You have all been so supportive and i thank you for it. I used to think the only way to get out of this addiction would be to end my life and if i didnt have children i would have done it already but i couldn't put my girls through that. So thank you everyone for sharing your own personal stories, its nice to know other people who understand what im going through and to share what has helped them get through it a little easier.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have tried to post a couple of times but the computer keeps losing my post - so frustrating!! So I will keep it to the point this time just in case it stuffs up again:

Pebbles, you asked how i did it - in my case I have had to do cold turkey each time, as at most I would taper for a day or two and then lash out with a big binge - for wheatever reasons, I cant achieve it. Tapering would be ideal in terms of minimising withdrawals, so if you have the will power and the patience, reducing at one pill per day will probably barely have withdrawals (since you are only reducing 12.8mg codeine per day) and in 45-50 days or so you will be done.

Cold turkey involved just stopping cold and for me always has two issues associated with it: dealing with cravings and the habitual triggers for the pills (e.g. how to get through my morning coffee without my usual dose of pills) and coping with withdrawal symptoms.

Dealing with cravings usually requires me to be busy - at various times, i have timed my detox while paining my house, while having a full work schedule, while having a few obligations that I cannot ignore etc. Even though my energy is pretty lousy, being busy helps me from just sitting and debating with myself whether I should take a pill or not - once i start that debate, i always lose, always run off to chemist, so I just dont get into it. I also go to the movies by myself, do tourist like things in my city, and so on - my only aim is to get to the end of the day without using pills.

Physically I tend to go through typical opiate withdrawal symptoms - in my case, maybe due to the long years of being addicted, maybe due to poor underlying health anyway, I find that it takes 7 to 14 days to feel better, pretty regularly my first day when my energy is decent is around day 14 or 15. It is important for me to stop the diarrhea as soon as the bowels have been thoroughly opened and cleaned out - when I am going to the toilet and only yellow water is coming out then I take as many immoduium as necessary to get it to stop. My experience has been that if i let the diarrhea go on too long, it really weakens and dehydrates me. I force myself to eat small regular bits of good food - a half banana, a few spoons of yoghurt, a roast chicken leg etc. I drink lots of fluids along with rehydrating fluids such as Gastrolyte, that have all the postassiums and so on in them, to minimise muscle cramping. I force myself to walk daily, to push myself until I am bit sweaty and panting, so that i am getting the endorphins going - this can be very hard to do, both physically and motivation wise, but it is essential - the times i have been too lazy or too unwell to do this, I have really noticed a difference in the quality of my symptoms. I take valerian herbal tablets or melatonin to help with sleep, though honestly sleep is rotten no matter what. I also get into a bed that has been thoroughly heated up by an electric blanket, even in summer, as that high heat seems to relax my muscles a bit. Melatonin can be obtained by prescription from the GP, non addictive.

For now that is all that comes to mind - please ask if you have anything else you would like to know. How are you going? Are you planning to quit, or are you still at the stage of preparing yourself for it, building up to a decision? All my best wishes to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanx cindy you are right and im so glad to hear your going great well done.....it is scary when i think of doing it but you no i have a young grandson and 2 daughters and i should be doing it for them..but thankyou please let me no how u are doing goodluck on monday ...Take care Deb
Helpful - 0
1576513 tn?1327896759
Hi Deb

I know its hard but I think the answer to quitting either by cold turkey or tapering is to find a reason to quit.  Mine is my daughter.

I knew I had to stop because I couldn't help my daughter if I didn't stop taking the tablets.  I have two doses left, one tonight and one tomorrow night. Monday will be my first clean day.

I know making the decision to stop or taper is scary but just take it one day at a time or even one hour at a time.

take care
cindy
Helpful - 0
1895503 tn?1332373374
Hi, Marie here.  -- i am tapering and have tapered from:
40 mg Opana ER three times a day  plus up to three 10 mg Opana IR IM (Immediate Relief) each day.

I am now at 10mg Opana ER three times a day plus up to three 10 mg Opana (Intermediate Relief)

Perhaps you could taper on a similar schedule--or you could private message me to discuss it.

I still have a month or two of work to get off  these.  Best Wishes Marie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanx lockness for ur encouregment..but i am still not going very well i just can;t seem too break the cycle of waking in the morning and first thing i think of is panafen plus...i thought i can give tapering a try but don;t no if im strong enough i need to just stop taking alltogether......groundhog i would love too no how u have done it all the help the better we can prepare ourselves...i think if you are mentally really ready too do it it makes it a little easier...but i read all these posts and can relate to each and everyone of you..i started taking them for a back disease think i took 3 to start with and thought i liked the feeling and then im up to 45 a day 15 lots 3 times aday but to be honest they don;t do a real lot for me anymore except to keep me feeling normal so to speak goodluck to everyone and this forum has been a godsend for me to be able to speak to other people who really care and understand what we are going thru..pebbles
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Avatar universal
You are definately not stupid, you have a physical addiction, please go easier on yourself, your children would not be better off without their mother. Now, I did a rapid detox on revia, it's 3 days of hell, but when it's done, you will have no opiates in your system and the physical part will be over with. If you can swallow your pride and tell someone close that you need to get some help, you will probably be suprised at how eager they will be to help you.  I don't recommend trading one drug for another as I did this from oxy to methadone and became insanely addicted to it, but if you are scared of any withdrawals I would recommend suboxone, the withdrawals are not bad coming off it, and u will not be sick while on it. It is less sedating and you can function as well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi lochness - another Aussie here, also hooked on nurfen plus for the past 6 years, at my worst 60 plus per day, currently around 30/40 per day supplemented with Panadeine Extra to minimise amount of ibuprofen i am consuming. I have stopped for varying periods of time (up to months) but unfortunately keep going back on them. I have stomach issues as a result, ulcers and pain; it costs me exactly like you up to $100 per week, and it makes my life so much harder than it need be - not to mention it doesnt work like it used to, I barely get a buzz anymore but i am terrified of the withdrawals that come when i stop. I am sick of having to rotate chemists and having to travel to suburbs far from home, and I am pretty certain the chemists i go to know me anyway, and i feel ashamed.


I used to visit med help pretty regularly, but this is the first time in a while - I cant sleep even though its 4am (thats the other change, I am now having sleeplessness despite the tablets) - so I thought i would hop on and read a bit, and lo and behold, yours was the first profile.

If you would like to know, I am happy to tell you how i managed to get off them in previous times - getting off is doable, for me long term staying off seems to be the issue, almost like i forget or pretend that "this time" i will just have a few pills and stop at that. This has never happened - as soon as i take any codeine, I am off and running into full blown addiciton.

And truly, it is not stupidity on your part - it is addiction. We do insane, stupid, crazy, harmful things when we are addicted, but neither you or nor I are essentially stupid. My parents too think addiction is stupid because it is non logical and non rational to keep taking drugs when they are destroying your life - but it is not that simple by far.

Have you tried to stop before? Have you had any tummy problems because of the ibuprofen, or anemia? Are you willing to tell your GP and ask for help? Do you live rural or metro (I ask in terms of the access you have to possible resources such as counselling, inpatient or outpatient detoxes, opiate subsitutes such as subuxone etc)

Would love to hear more of your story if you like. You have found a good place here - good on you for acknowledging your problem, that is the first step to help yourself.
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Avatar universal
Hey lock... Please dont say your stupid. Your not. Thats the addiction talking. It took me a long time to rebuild my self worth. Bit by bit you too will get yours back. This disease makes our brains so scambled. The chemical change takes awhile to reset. Just hold on and be patient. It took me over a month to feel good. Today i woke up smiling. I was like wow where did this mood come from. I love it. I whistled this morning pouring my coffee. So please please with sugar on top. Dont beat yourself up. Save your strength. Dont obsess over negative thoughts. Be kind to yourself stay strong and determined. I promise that big black cloud will pass by. Remember we didnt get sick overnight. So it takes some time. Chin up chickidee. And know your not alone.
Helpful - 0
1926359 tn?1331588139
Lockness
Please don't say you are stupid...You are not!  This disease can get the best of us and it's important to be kind and gentle with yourself...It's truly the path to healing...I know it's scary to 'come clean' to your family and friends but it if you can it really helps your chances of staying clean....Have you thought about aftercare?

Feel good about yourself....You are reclaiming your life and need to be proud of that.  Don't fret about the past and that which you cannot change.  Move forward...one moment at a time....Lu
Helpful - 0
1895503 tn?1332373374
HI Friends,
My name is Marie.  I am tapering off of Opana (I was on ER and just changed to short-acting).  Reading your posts I had to write.  I have been tapering for 3 months, getting lower and lower -- but I am still on a good dose.  I have made great progress, I am on 1/3 to 1/2 of what I was on.  I will write back.  My husband is calling me to go to the doctors (he is coming with me today).  I will be back in touch tonight.  Hang on.  I can share what I am doing, especially if you need to taper.  Love Marie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well done for going 4 days without them, I can't even go one day without them, your a lot stronger than i am, and like i said i totally feel your disappointment when you do give in to them. My family know nothing about my addiction. Im too scared to tell them, Im affraid of what they will think, I dont want them telling me how stupid i am cause i already know that. Sometimes i wish the doctors could put me in a coma until the w/d are over so the only thing i would have to deal with would be the mental side of the addiction instead of the physical w/d.
Good luck tomorrow ill be thinking of you  
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Avatar universal
i went for a day and night but next day i brought a packet..so tomorrow saturday i am going too give it all i have i just can;t wait to be one of the ones too come on here and say im free and feel alive again...therre's  been people on here that are so supportive and helpful and who truly care..locknessmonster you are going well..i would like to taper down the only thing that worrys me is because i take 45 thru the day 15 at a time will i be able to keep buying enough to taper down..but then i think iv'e been buying this far and had no troubles im not sure..or keep going with the tramadol..i let u no how i go tomorrow and would love too hear how everybody else is doing;;im determined too do this eventually..or i could just go cold turkey i have 3 weeks holidays left it scares me a bit because i have been there before and lasted 4 days with bo signs of getting better such as vomiting and other end restless legs aching back hios no sleep runny nose u name i had it...i have only myself to blame to llet it get out of control as i do have 3 discs out but think i would rather put uo with the pain than this..feeling down today because i have let myself and family down not that they no about it this time...thanks for letting me vent guys luv pebbles goodluck to everybody:);
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your suggestions i did have a look at the Thomas recipe and I agree with you about the valium i would really hate to come off one thing only to get addicted to something else. I am weighing up my options and ive been talking to another Australian lady and she said her doctor prescribed Tramadol which she says helps with w/d apparently it doesnt get rid of w/d symtoms but just takes the edge off it so its bareable and its not addictive. So im going to try and find a doctor who has an understanding of drug addiction and just see what he recommends. While in the mean time im still taking one less tablet each dose which i havent noticed any difference so maybe tomorrow or the next day ill cut down another one. I seem to find all the excuses in the world about why i cant go c/t at the moment but I would love to have the strength to say thats it no more and just give up. That would be so freeing. I will get there, this  is the year that i will change my life for the better and by this time next year I hope to have some self respect back. In the mean time I just have to learn to forgive myself because I have known all along I shouldnt be doing it and totally blame myself for the situation I am in and now i just have slowly climb out of the hole ive dug myself. Thank you lulu you are giving me hope and i am starting to believe I can do this so thank you.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks kyle for your words of encouragement. Congrats on eight days clean you must be so proud of yourself. I am very tired. I am sick and tired of abusing my body like this and dont want to be in the same situation next year it has to stop I have to stop. I know it will be worth it as I dont have much of a life at the moment ive been like a zombie for the last 9 to 10 years and i want to start living again, to have a life i am not ashamed of. Good luck it sounds like you are over the worst of it and about to reap the benefits of a clean life I wish you all the luck in the world and thank you for your support.
  
Helpful - 0
1970885 tn?1435860428
Lock:
You've got Lulu and may other here for you...You're in good cyber hands. I have been abusing pain meds as well for over ten years, off and on (mostly on). I am now eight days clean after using Norco 10s, five to ten a day, for well over a year. Anyway, I can't add much to Lulu's post; I'm writing because I JUST got through the crap, and want you to know it IS absolutely worth it. You sound tired; I was. Just keep posting, listening to Lulu, Vicki (she'll show up sooner or later) and all the rest on this site. They helped save my life. Welcome.
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1926359 tn?1331588139
Okay...
Good for you!  Your positive attitude and desire to reclaim your life and your BELIEF that you can (and you can) is going to take you far...

We can't give tapering advice on here-there are people who manage to do it..and those that can't.  Personally-I tapered for awhile and I couldn't stand it..I felt way better once I made the decision to go C/T...But that's just me.

Detox-
Look up the Thomas Recipe in the health pages...I would strongly suggest doing this minus the valium as it is addictive and harder to come off of than the opiate should you become dependant...Why make more issues?  Vitamin B6, B12, C, potassium and magnesium are really important.  Melatonin (for sleep-it's natural)
HYDRATE.  Drink as much fluid as you can-gatorade, herbal teas, juice etc...Eat small amounts of food as much as possible (crackers, toast, soup)  Immodium (not sure what this is called in Australia but it's for the runs and cramping)  

Most importantly- be kind to yourself and proud of yourself for doing what you have to in order to get your life back...Forgive yourself and look forward...and take it one moment at a time.  There are a lot of people who have been/are where you are with this and we are here to support you...

Please let us know what you need....You can do this...Lu
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your support. It is such a relief to finally tell someone. Nurophen plus is codine and ibuprofen. I have started to take one less tablet each dose that i take but im not sure if i should slowly ween off them or to try and go cold turkey (which im unsure if i could do) As i dont want to take my withdrawal frustrations out on my poor kids. Any information you can give me which has helped you would be greatly appreciated. I am so ready to take my life back but also scared i will fail. The last five to six years ive really beaten myself up over taking these tablets and i have to learn to forgive myself and to stop the negative voice in my head telling me im worthless. I know detox will be one of the hardest things ill ever do, but i am starting to get excited about the life i can live without nurophen plus, and maybe one day i too can help someone else recover from their addiction (I know im counting my chickens before they hatch but its a goal im aimimg for ). Thank you Thank you Thank you for your support it is greatly appreciated.
locknessmonster
Helpful - 0
1926359 tn?1331588139
Hi and Welcome to the forum...

I commend you for reaching out and wanting to reclaim your life.  FIrst of all-you are not a bad person and you are NOT stupid....Addiction is a disease that gets the best of us...You are human.  Try not to focus on the past and look towards taking the steps to get your life back.  I am not familiar with this drug but am thinking it's an opiate?  There are many people on this site who have detoxed at home successfully (including me) and there are natural things and information we can give to make it more bearable.  Detox is hard-but if you see it as a positive step to taking your life back...and when all else fails pretend you have a really bad flu!  I promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Please keep posting and hang in there......Sending support....Lu
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