I'm addicted to co-codamol

[mizzu]

I started taking co-codamol several years ago for a leg injury. When I first took the painkillers, I felt absolutely amazing. I have always suffered from nerves and anxiety and found that the drugs made me feel so relaxed and took away all of my worries. Since then, I have been going to my doctor on and off, trying to get co-codamol and making any sort of excuse I could to get them. If my doctor wouldn't prescribe them, I would go to another doctor. If that doctor refused, I would go to the Emergency Room and claim that I'd just injured myself. I've been creating all sorts of fake injuries in an attempt to get the meds. I only take two a day, but it worries me because when I reach a certain point in the evening, I automatically go to the bathroom and take them, almost at the same time every night. I turn the tap on so my partner can't hear me opening the packet, and sneak into the kitchen to get a glass of water.  I am about to run out, and am already thinking of how I can get some more pills. I'm quite worried about this now. My moods have definitely changed. I get so irritable and moody over nothing, and often snap at people. The thing is, when I take the pills, I don't care about anything anymore, and my body just turns to jelly. I've become so addicted to this wonderful feeling, and am concerned that I won't be able to live without it.  Has anyone else experienced this?

[Friend1973]

Dear All,
I'm not one to post on theses site but felt I had to to let you no it is possible to get away from the addiction to cocodamol!
I pulled a muscle very badly under my rib a year and a half ago and was perscribed cocodamol and tramadol, it was the only pain killer that took the edge off the pain! I also loved the feeling it gave me!
I recovered and was ok but any niggle of pain any where else or period pains I opted to take cocodamol because in the back of my mind I knew I would get pain relief and also that lovely buzz as a side affect. I was gradually taking them more and more frequently.
A couple months later I pulled a muscle in my neck which was terrible because it caused headaches!
Again I was prescribed the strong cocodamol for it! I took them every day and when I ran out I asked for a repeat pescription 3 or 4 times(doctors never asked any questions)
I started to feel embarassed keep going back so I opted to to get over the counter cocodamol which I had to take 4 in the morning to get the desired affect and by dinner time I was taking 4 more! the feeling was just enough for that buzz and relaxation.
For other reasons I was in hospital and had a dye test in my abdomen and it has shown I have liver damage( pretty obvious how that happened)
I still took the meds knowing this was actually destroying my body!
The need for that buzz was on my mind constently.
I have recently decided to come off and the way I did it was ween yourself off!!! I dont know about you but the thought of never taken them again was scary!! I halved what I was taking for a few days and then half it again and and so on. One morning I tried without! you do get that awful pressure head ache especially in the evening( the pain subsided by itself) but it does get better everyday I promise!  Im no expert but I am on my 4th Day completely cocodamol free and it is feeling better and better everyday AND CAN NOT BELIVE IM LIVING WITHOUT THEM.( 4th day I hear someone scoff! ) but anyone who's in this position knows its like conquering a mountain) I'ts tough cause it gets to that certain point in the day when you know the urge for that buzz, but I dont want to spoil it now! 4 days now and soon it will be 4 weeks! Good Luck and be strong it is possible!
A Friend
xxx

[micheleTX]

Go Friend!!  You sound like youre doing great, keep up the good work!!  and nobody I know here scoffs at anyone, so don worry bout that,  God Bless!!

[Friend1973]

Hi
And thx for the encouragement! still going stong here, its sun 7th and this is day six for me! I nearly gave in yesterday because i had a slight hang over from an aunts birthday party and i normally take the tabs (the hang over would still be there but i got that nice buzz to concentrate on)
But i thought self inflicted so just put up with it, and im surprised that pain goes on its own slowly without taking any meds.
Thx again Michele
A Friend

[morganave]

could you tell me what you mean by "boots", is that like a slum  area or drug area?
I have never heard that term before.
Thanks

[Cody77]

Boots is a name of a chain of pharmacies in the UK. I get mine from there.

[penguin_of_life]

Not sure how I ended up in this situation, and am full of shame, but I have an addiction to co-codamol which I am finding it difficult to deal with. Can't get out of bed in the morning without it, or deal with any work or relationship problems, without taking a tablet. For someone who has been depressed most of their adult life, the high I get is the first real relief I've had from despondency and self-loathing.

But now it's out of hand. I am going cold turkey this week (this is day 3), as reducing doesn't seem to work and the quantities just creep up again. But the thought of living without the sense of peace I get from this drug is barely tolerable, and I sometimes think of suicide. Anti-depressants don't really touch my mental health issues, and cause other problems (lack of enthusiasm for life, weight gain, tiredness etc).