Does it always have to be a problem??

[gibsonplayer]

Hi all, Anytime I mention to anybody that I take codeine the 1st thing they say is.. Oh.. you need to get off that, it will mess up your life.. Why do I need to get off it? I like being on it.. Without it I am tired all of the time and unable to work at all, I just sit there unable to concentrate (brain fog) for a few hours and then fall asleep and repeat.. When I've had codeine, I can stay awake all day, I can focus, I've got energy.. My addiction (I call it that because I'm well aware that I would go into withdrawal if I didn't get any) so to speak isn't out of control, I'm not on a downward spiral.. I've been on the same dose of 120mg a day of codeine for 6 years.. I don't need more, I don't run out, my prescription sees me through till it's renewed each and every month.

My codeine was never prescribed for pain, it was prescribed because I told the doctor what it was doing for me and he was plenty pleased that something was doing something! because he'd prescribed every pill you can think of and I kept returning month after month for 3 years because things weren't getting any better (usually because I ended up feeling out of it and like a zombie) with whatever he had given me. I had a serious knock to the head followed by a stroke as a result of this head injury and I was only 22 at the time.. I had slurred speech, couldn't remember where I was going or what the way back was, couldn't concentrate couldn't think, a feeling of a lump developed in my right eye and vision was very strange.. I lost the ability to mentally picture things, even memories, If I tried to visualize anything at all, all I could see was flashing colors and random images of things that had nothing to do with the memory I was attempting to imagine. After a year the physical damage had healed apart from the right eye but the mental damage remained and so started my quest for mental clarity which I am still in search of today. I spent 3 years living with these mental issues before I discovered that codeine seriously improved things.. I know there is bound to be something else out there which can improve things even more but I am just happy I found something that made a difference.

So, the point of this post is just to point out that not all addictions are bad, some improve your life.. The addiction part is the trade off..

[gibsonplayer]

Trust me, it makes things so much clearer for me.. I googled it and it says... Opioid analgesics can impair mental function and can cause blurred vision and dizziness. So I understand your response.

Which I might add is exactly how I was before I started taking it.. I had blurred vision, dizziness and extreme brain fog..  I can't explain how it manages to cancel these symptoms out.. It's like 2 negatives turning into a positive.

[Devonlee]

I think if its working well and you are following the prescription and its okay with ur dr then its okay. The problem happens when u start taking more and more....it affects ur life negatively....ur getting it on the internet or streets, It sounds like u have a condition and its being treated. Sounds fine to me. Ur right that as soon as u say u are on pain meds people freak out and think ur an addict. That isnt always the case. I think being an addict means u r misusing ur medecine or ur taking medecine that isnt prescribed to u. Just because u take meds everyday doesnt automatically make u an addict that needs help.

[IBKleen]

You've got a doctor prescribing Codeine for mental clarity? That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one. But, it is your choice so good luck with that.

[gibsonplayer]

Seriously? Was that codeine mixed with something else? or just plain codeine on its own as that's what I get, just plain codeine tablets as the 30/500 para type didn't agree with me and I asked for codeine without anything added.

[narla]

I would keep a check on your liver,I ended up with liver damage due to codeine,do you drink alcohol as well,as that would be a double whammy to your liver.

Get a yearly liver enzyme test.  

[ImDONENoMore]

I think only you can know if it's a problem.  If you feel good about the pain management program you have in place with your Dr., than it's not anyone's place to make judgement of your situation.

Good luck to you.