Not so much of a question but more advice to people giving up.
2 yrs ago i was prescribed 240mg of codeine a day to help with a back issue. As we all do at first i noticed and enjoyed the warm happy feeling they gave. After a while as with most of us who are being honest, it became more about the feeling than the pain killing. With the help of various doctors and a family member who was being prescirbed the same butnot using them i eneded up using around 700mg of codeiene phosphate a day.
I kept trying to give up but it wouldnt work, i just couldnt divide and spread the amounts on a reducing dose. 3 weeks ago i got laid off from work (A blessing in disguise) and thought nows the time to quit. I dropped immediately down to 300mg a day as this was just enough to get through the day with ltd withdrawl symptoms. This lasted 2-3 days, i then halfed my dose every day, and yes it was seriously uncomfortable. By the time i got down to 2 30mg pills twice a day i was feeling seriously rough, and read that Valium was good to stop the muscle pains, restless legs and aid sleep, which it did. I have to admit to being stuck on the 3 or 4 30mg pills a day along with 2 5mg of valium twice a day for about a week, which i think helped alot by stabilising me.
At the moment, im on 2 30mg codien a day and 5mg of valium at night, i feel very tired, uncomfortably horny, and need the toilet...alot.
My advice to those trying to do it, is get a loved one involved and hand them the pills, this is what i did and it helps, of course if your the sort of person whod grab your wife by the throat until she gave up what you wanted, this wont work, and will only cause problems (but thats probably for another forum).
DO NOT THINK THAT BECAUSE ONE PERSON HAS ONE LOAD OF SYMPTOMS, YOU WILL AS WELL, IN FACT PRE VALIUM, EVEN WHEN MY DOSE OF CODIENE WAS REDUCED 80% AND BEFORE I FOUND THIS FORUM ID BEEN SLEEPING (BROKENLY) 6-7HRS A NIGHT. I then read on here that most people couldnt sleep well for 3-4 weeks after their first major cut down/ stop. This is placebo and can be bad for progress as it makes your brain think this is normal.
More updates soon when i hope i can kick the last little bit, i have to say though, my physical addiction has reduced massively, today ive yet to get in contact with my doctor for my 14 pills a week, and havent had any for about 20hrs and yes i feel overly alert and sensative but no real pain or major withdrawls. 3 weeks ago, this wouldve been an entirely different story.
Good luck everyone, you can do it.