Aa
Codeine Addiction
Hi everyone and hope you are all doing well. I started using co-codamol a few years ago for bad migraines. I was going through a difficult time at work and of course the lovely feeling from the codeine helped and then I was addicted. The dose kept increasing until I was taking a huge amount (approx 30-40 of 30/500, or up to 60 (sometimes more) N+ a day).
I got my doctor to refer me to the Drugs and Alcohol Team and was put on subutex, I was doing well on it but the doctor I had was more interested in stats and the course was very time related and she reduced and took me off it long before I was ready. That was about a year ago or more.
Needless to say, I started taking it again and gradually the dose increased again to the same amount. A few months ago I had some blood tests done and was very anaemic, I'm on iron tablets to try and get my blood back up. The tablets are also now making me feel really ill, I had the camera down and my stomach is very irritated but luckily no ulcer.
I was referred back to D&A Team but the doctor wants me to have a few sessions with the therapist before starting a plan. She's reluctant to put me back on sub even though I know it will work. She is thinking about putting me on a reduction but not a pure codeine one, she's talking about me reducing what I'm taking gradually. This sounds great in theory but I've tried this myself loads of times and it hasn't worked, I reduce and then start using more again. I'm due to see the therapist this week and then the doctor in a few weeks again and I'm just hoping and praying that she puts me back on subutex or I don't know what I'm going to do.
I'm so sorry for waffling on but I feel totally lost. I keep taking these horrible tablets because I feel like crap if I don't but when I do take them I feel sick. I'm off work at the minute as I had a bad fall a month ago and cracked my ribs and fractured my hand. I was given tramadol for the pain which I took as instructed and had no problems.
Again I'm so very sorry for going on and on, it's just that nobody else knows about this except for my doctor so you lovely people are the only ones I can talk to. Any suggestions or help would be wonderful. I've decided that my only option really is to go CT so I've just taken the last few tablets I have and hopefully, God willing, will start CT tomorrow.
Thank you so much for listening.
I got my doctor to refer me to the Drugs and Alcohol Team and was put on subutex, I was doing well on it but the doctor I had was more interested in stats and the course was very time related and she reduced and took me off it long before I was ready. That was about a year ago or more.
Needless to say, I started taking it again and gradually the dose increased again to the same amount. A few months ago I had some blood tests done and was very anaemic, I'm on iron tablets to try and get my blood back up. The tablets are also now making me feel really ill, I had the camera down and my stomach is very irritated but luckily no ulcer.
I was referred back to D&A Team but the doctor wants me to have a few sessions with the therapist before starting a plan. She's reluctant to put me back on sub even though I know it will work. She is thinking about putting me on a reduction but not a pure codeine one, she's talking about me reducing what I'm taking gradually. This sounds great in theory but I've tried this myself loads of times and it hasn't worked, I reduce and then start using more again. I'm due to see the therapist this week and then the doctor in a few weeks again and I'm just hoping and praying that she puts me back on subutex or I don't know what I'm going to do.
I'm so sorry for waffling on but I feel totally lost. I keep taking these horrible tablets because I feel like crap if I don't but when I do take them I feel sick. I'm off work at the minute as I had a bad fall a month ago and cracked my ribs and fractured my hand. I was given tramadol for the pain which I took as instructed and had no problems.
Again I'm so very sorry for going on and on, it's just that nobody else knows about this except for my doctor so you lovely people are the only ones I can talk to. Any suggestions or help would be wonderful. I've decided that my only option really is to go CT so I've just taken the last few tablets I have and hopefully, God willing, will start CT tomorrow.
Thank you so much for listening.
You might not have managed it this time but at least you tried :)
It can be pretty horrible when you start to withdraw from codeine and as its so easily accessible from the Chemist/Pharmacist I used to mess it up every time!!
You still should be a little bit proud of yourself though, it's the beginning of the end of your addiction, you're doing something about it and one of these times it's going to work ;)
It's the way I look at it anyway hehe
It can be pretty horrible when you start to withdraw from codeine and as its so easily accessible from the Chemist/Pharmacist I used to mess it up every time!!
You still should be a little bit proud of yourself though, it's the beginning of the end of your addiction, you're doing something about it and one of these times it's going to work ;)
It's the way I look at it anyway hehe
Well, I managed to mess up today :( I took some nurofen plus a while ago and feel like crap. No buzz (which I don't get anymore anyway), just lethargic and tired with a headache so I need to try and remember that.
I've been looking for a local Narcotics Anonymous Group and have emailed them so hope to hear back soon.
I feel so stupid for giving in on day two and taking more pills but I have to try and put that behind me and move on.
Thanks for listening, it really means a lot.
Lots of love
Tina xxxx
I've been looking for a local Narcotics Anonymous Group and have emailed them so hope to hear back soon.
I feel so stupid for giving in on day two and taking more pills but I have to try and put that behind me and move on.
Thanks for listening, it really means a lot.
Lots of love
Tina xxxx
Hi again....
The withdrawels kinda start on day 2 getting worse as the day goes along and on the night of day 2 I get the restless leg syndrome were my legs itch like mad so its hard to sleep if not impossible, 1 or 2 co-codamols would stop that but it depends if you stop at just taking 2, I find that hard but I suppose thats why we're in this mess in the first place :s. Another person here recomends slow release tramadol to stop the wd's aswell (his Dr gave them to him, depends if you can get them, they're synthetic opioids and obv slow release so you generally dont get an addiction from them cuz there isnt much, if any, of a buzz)
On day 3 they are pretty horrible and thats usually when I start to faulter but I guess it depends on a few factors like weight, whats going on in your head etc etc.
Good luck again, you can do it :)
The withdrawels kinda start on day 2 getting worse as the day goes along and on the night of day 2 I get the restless leg syndrome were my legs itch like mad so its hard to sleep if not impossible, 1 or 2 co-codamols would stop that but it depends if you stop at just taking 2, I find that hard but I suppose thats why we're in this mess in the first place :s. Another person here recomends slow release tramadol to stop the wd's aswell (his Dr gave them to him, depends if you can get them, they're synthetic opioids and obv slow release so you generally dont get an addiction from them cuz there isnt much, if any, of a buzz)
On day 3 they are pretty horrible and thats usually when I start to faulter but I guess it depends on a few factors like weight, whats going on in your head etc etc.
Good luck again, you can do it :)
hi
Thank you so much for your reply, I'll have a look at the thread you started. Weirdly i haven't had any withdrawals so far but it's scary waiting for them to start. how soon did you notice them?
Thank you so much for your reply, I'll have a look at the thread you started. Weirdly i haven't had any withdrawals so far but it's scary waiting for them to start. how soon did you notice them?
I just realised that you have started you cold turkey today...... One of the best remedies I have heard of for codeine withdrawel is loperamide, its in anti diarrhea tablets, what I understand from what ive heard is that its an opiate but it doesnt cross the barrier in the brain that will give you the nice warm fuzzy feeling that you get, so it just works with the WD's... google it and let me know how you get on if you think it may work for you.
Hi Eternity73,
I am in exactly the same boat as you at the moment, have been using rediculous amounts of Nurofen Plus for years now, I started a thread a few days ago here http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/Nurofen-Plus-Strikes-Again/show/2112335 ,
Ive never had any medical help with it, I went to the Dr once and they called me stupid and put me on anti-depressants!
I hear good things about Subutex but apparently its very hard to get off of as a drug in itself.
Yesterday I went to an appointment at a place called ADDACTION, they have offered me a 24 hour opiate detox program to rid my body of it all so that I can then give up with no withdrawels, also as a service user I am allowed to have accupuncture, help with housing etc etc all for free.
Im not sure its available in Northern Ireland but its worth a look so check out their site http://www.addaction.org.uk
There are so many unknown Nurofen plus and codeine abusers in the UK, I dont think people realise the immensity of the problem, there are chemists every were so its so easy to get hold of and very very hard not to go and buy some once the wd's set in :(
I know that you will get through it, I know we both will with time and the right people, us choosing this site/forum was one of the first best steps we could have chosen as there is so many understanding people here :)
You can do it, keep posting and I will too, if we see each other slowly beating this thing then maybe it will motivate us both to win :)
Take care and hope to hear from you soon.
I am in exactly the same boat as you at the moment, have been using rediculous amounts of Nurofen Plus for years now, I started a thread a few days ago here http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/Nurofen-Plus-Strikes-Again/show/2112335 ,
Ive never had any medical help with it, I went to the Dr once and they called me stupid and put me on anti-depressants!
I hear good things about Subutex but apparently its very hard to get off of as a drug in itself.
Yesterday I went to an appointment at a place called ADDACTION, they have offered me a 24 hour opiate detox program to rid my body of it all so that I can then give up with no withdrawels, also as a service user I am allowed to have accupuncture, help with housing etc etc all for free.
Im not sure its available in Northern Ireland but its worth a look so check out their site http://www.addaction.org.uk
There are so many unknown Nurofen plus and codeine abusers in the UK, I dont think people realise the immensity of the problem, there are chemists every were so its so easy to get hold of and very very hard not to go and buy some once the wd's set in :(
I know that you will get through it, I know we both will with time and the right people, us choosing this site/forum was one of the first best steps we could have chosen as there is so many understanding people here :)
You can do it, keep posting and I will too, if we see each other slowly beating this thing then maybe it will motivate us both to win :)
Take care and hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for your comments and support. Well today is the first day of CT. I had some codeine last night and it's only early afternoon so no real effects yet but I'm not kidding myself that they will kick in. I just hope I can handle it when it does start properly. Any suggestions or support would be very welcome.
Thank you xxx
Thank you xxx
Hi
Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it. I live in Northern Ireland and there aren't many options for rehab here, plus my family don't know about my addiction. The doctor at the Addiction Clinic is very strict re subutex and will only prescribe it for a short time and the detox is quite quick. So to be honest I feel that my only option is CT, I just hope I have the strength to do it. I just want to be my old self again :(
Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it. I live in Northern Ireland and there aren't many options for rehab here, plus my family don't know about my addiction. The doctor at the Addiction Clinic is very strict re subutex and will only prescribe it for a short time and the detox is quite quick. So to be honest I feel that my only option is CT, I just hope I have the strength to do it. I just want to be my old self again :(
Hi there- Tapering works great but only with someone to support you and hand out the requisite number of pills every day. If you have someone to help you it would be much better than going back on Subutex.
Or you can stick with cold turkey, push through a few unpleasant days and come out on the other side of this! Use your therapist for guidance...you need help to recover so be open and honest.
Or you can stick with cold turkey, push through a few unpleasant days and come out on the other side of this! Use your therapist for guidance...you need help to recover so be open and honest.
Hi there and welcome. Sorry there aren't more people around right. It is kind of slow sometimes. Is there a way that you can get into an in patient rehab and just get the withdrawal over with? Are you wanting to get completely clean or are you wanting to be on sub long term? Anyway, just sending you best wishes and hope for the future because You can beat this and live a clean and good and happy life. The pills tell you that you can't but it is a lie.
Keep posting and let us know how you are.
Keep posting and let us know how you are.
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