Codeine Withdrawal

[Sonya]

I recently (two weeks ago) had microscopic back surgery. Although the surgical procedure was successful, I believe I am now paying the BIG price for those "wonderful" little pills that "held me over" in the interim for the severe pre-op pain that I experienced as well as the short period of post-op pain that I endured. I was prescribed Tylenol#3, Lortab 7.5, Lortab 10 and Percocet and LOTS of it. I was legitimately in a GREAT deal of pain! The problem was, the more pain medication I took, the more I needed (and the more I TOOK). NOW, I don't HAVE anymore. I also have no legitimate NEED for the pain medication to ask my physician for. It's not that I "want" to take the pills - but my "body" is telling me otherwise. I can't sleep at night. I'm breaking out in sweats and chills simultaneously throughout the day AND night. I'm extremely irritable, depressed and cranky. I am convinced that these are the symptoms of codeine/hydrocodone withdrawal. WHAT do I do about this? I can't STAND it!!! I have three children to take care of (two of them are babies). I can't take care of myself now because I am "sick" so to speak. I have been completely honest with my husband about this. He agrees that this is probably withdrawal, I need to do "cold turkey" (what choice do I have anyway?) and tough it out for the next week or so. IS THIS WHAT I HAVE TO DO or SHOULD I INVOLVE MY PHYSICIAN WHO PRESCRIBED THESE NASTY DRUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE? Like I said, what choice do I have but to do "cold turkey" and SUFFER anyway? You're prescribed all these highly addictive pain medications pre and post operatively. Then you're "cut off." Two days ago, he told me that he was "concerned that I was becoming addicted to pain medication." I think we're way beyond "becoming." I had my husband tell him that we were already concerned about addiction and I had my husband ask him what the symptoms of addiction and withdrawal were. All he told him was "daily, ongoing use." That wasn't the answer I was looking for. I wanted to hear PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS! Should I call my physician back and tell him that I am SUFFERING here??? My husband and I like and respect my doctor SO VERY much. We're not angry nor do we hold him responsible for this. We just want help in getting me "back to normal." I am TERRIFIED that I am going to go back into a "withdrawal" state again today. The last time I had codeine was 5:00 PM yesterday and I have NO more resources to prescriptions. I WANT TO STOP TAKING PAIN MEDICATION NOW! Would you please give me some GOOD SOUND ADVICE RIGHT AWAY SO THAT I MAY GET MY LIFE BACK??????? Thank You SO MUCH and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! Sonya :-)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Cheriel]

Well, I've been taking Tylenol 3 for 2 years and didn't realize how addictive it was.  I've kind of had the "shakes" inside, not visible, but I feel like my nerves are hot and racing through my arms and my stomach has been off since I started to taper (cut them in half) 2 weeks ago.  I don't know how long this takes but went to an alternative doctor in Florida and he's giving me glutathione/B-12 IV's a couple of times.  This helps your liver which is toxified from all the acetominophen.  I read that a good B-complex and certain foods give you glutathione.  That's what you need to make.  You can take NAC and glutathione by capsules also, but take more vit. C than NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) to avoid stones.  Asparagus, broccoli, cantalope, wild-caught salmon, organic chicken (if you can get this stuff) and fruits.  There are a lot of foods which let you naturally make glutathione to detox your liver.  Your liver loves this stuff.  Get Suzy Cohen's book on "Drug Muggers" and see which supplements you need to replace the ones certain drugs "mug" or deplete.  OK, that's all I can think of.  Hope this helps.  I'm still on the edge so I'll write more if the IV's are helping.

[englishlady4]

that is fantastic well done you. how did u come off them just altogether or did u reduce day by day? im still in the process of reducing day by day and its so hard. have u got any advice and if you used anything to help you with the withdrawals i must say the restlessness is the worst for me by far. you should be so proud of yourself.

[DieM67]

Hi guys. Ive read through all the posts and feel for you all. I've been hooked on codeine tablets for around four years. I had noticed over the last couple of years how tired and old i felt & was never really sure if it was the tablets. I tried giving up a few times unsuccessfully. The longest i lasted was eight days. The withdrawals were the same as everyone else's including the sweats, depression and aching legs. This time however i've been clean 5 weeks & feel so much better in every way. I feel fit again, i'm sleeping pretty good, feeling very optimistic & want to get out and about. I started to feel the real benefit after 4 weeks so it may be different for others. I don't crave them and have no wish to return to them as i'd forgotten what it feels like to be alive and care for life (and people). I had four years in a half daze hating my life and it was down to those pesky painkillers, i realize that now. I am now eating healthier, getting out and about more and meditating to binaural beats. Listen guys, give time time (one day,hour or minute at a time)  There is hope. I wish you all well.

[englishlady4]

hi i am also addicted to codeine phosphate im a 28 year old single mum n ive been taking these horrid pills about 3 years. i can take upto 28 tablets per day at 30mg each i need to get off these things so today i have started trying to gently wean myself off ive only took 9x30 mgs so far which is less than half i would normally take. im sitting here now with stomache cramps restless legs sweating like i dont know what and the worst headache ever but i am determined to do this i need to for my son. if anyone has any suggestions on how i could make this easier then please let me know thanks

[Dubman1916]

Need to know if there is any way to stop these electric shocks through my body with Codein withdrawal . 9.5 years 750 mg Codein Phoshate daily statred on about 300 mg 700 for years now. 2nd nite c/t  I cant do it have no pills have to get script and wean off I feel thats best, thou Iv'e tried so many times, I just cant hack these shocks making me mastibate (excuse) for a little relief, terrible C T not  4 me the flu symtoms i can hack not the shocks and insomnia. If I could stop the shocks I would cary on detox no prob.

[mjh28]

hi all , i am in the same boat as the rest of you , i am addicted to codeine , i have to stop but the withdrawls after i few days are just so painfull , i don`t want to take anything anymore, its exspensive , takes over your hole life and is causing me exstreme fluid retention , my eyes are merky and i costantly feel uncomfortable but most importantly i am verry verry veryy well aware of the damage it can cause to u and ur body in the long run , i am a 28yr old mother of three from australia and 14mnths ago i accidently overdosed on mersyndol , i was taking it every night as i get chronic restless leg syndrome(rls) , after a long time of taking mersyndol , ( codeine , paracetemol, and anylgesic calmative ) i needed to take more and more just to get the effect of complete relaxation, 1 night when i was unable to sleep and becoming exstremely frustrated i just kept taking them until i felt stoned and all of a sudden verry ill , the next morning my youngr sister came around to visit and i couldnt move , she told me to get my *** in the car and raced me to the hospital , i never see her worried about me in any way but this day she was in tears saying , u look like your dead i`m so scared , i was vomiting blood and my liver had started to fail , i was admitted into the hospital in  my town and woke up 3weeks later in the intensive care unit in the transplant specialist hospital in the city , i had accute liver failure , my kidneys had stopped working and i had been on dialisis for 1 week straight , i had cheated death by a mear what they estimated was no more that 2hrs , because of my failing kidneys and liver the fluid in my body had nowhere to go so it flooded my brain and nearly snapped my spinal stem , i was put into a coma on life support for 17days an my left lung colapsed , i had a shunt put into my skull to drain the fluid away and my liver and kidneys slowly came around , i had to learn how to walk , talk and hold my own spoon again , it was the most horrific exsprience of my life , i could walk no more than 10metres at a time an was in physiotherapy three times a week for 5mnths ,..............................3 months ago i was helping my kids build a tree house out the backyard and i fell hitting my head and back on the concrete kirbing , i was in a lot of pain and went and got mersyndol to help with the pain , i live in a tiny town population bout 800 so we dont have chyropractors or even a dr fulltime at the hospital so , i ended up getting the same painkiller that near killed me just to releive the pain until i could travel over 24hrs to the city to get help , i had no intentions of using them long term and i beleived that i wouldnt get sucked into the trap of addiction .......i was wrong and cry nearly everyday privately as i let this ******* habbit win over me when i swore to myself it wouldnt , i`m frightened and angry with myself as i know what can happen , ive exsperienced the end and wish never to be in that situation again , in the intensive care unit i met 3 other people who had the same addiction and the nurses say its the cause of so many deaths at that hospital ............if anyone has any advice on easing withdrawl pains i`d be so gratefull of any advice , and those who have kicked the addiction , beware of ever using codeine again as it becomes habbit once more before you can bat an eyelid whether you swear ud never get into that trap again or not x