Might be a codeine pro...

[PfizerFighter]

I don't think I've properly introduced myself in the community...I was addicted to codeine for nearly 2 years, and still relapse from time to time to this date. I find I can go a few weeks without, but my significant other takes strong painkillers for whatever reason (not sure if they are addicted, but I suspect so--always has them!!), then I start craving them because they are so close by.

Anyway, I've tended to seek any kind of narcotic painkiller, and I guess I have an addictive personality, because anything I dabble in, I tend to over-do it.

I was also flirting with crack and powder cocaine there for a while, but thank God (!) I forced myself to quit.

My parent is also addicted to codeine, and whenever I get a really bad headache, I am told that I don't need to suffer and that I should go to the ER and I could get the strong opiates. This does not make avoiding opiates easy for me, obviously, but I CAN avoid them. I have.

Anyway, I guess the area where I live is working to my advantage, because a lot of the doctors here are really averse to prescribing them. There are a few, of course, who are loose with the 'scripts, but I can't seem to find them (thankfully).

Anyway, I guess my contribution to this forum is my knowledge on how to quit codeine, since I've done it numerous times (supposed to be a joke, since I haven't successfully quit -- yet). I do know that if you tell your doctor, they will note that in your medical history, and it will be that much tougher to get the stuff you want. My theory, anyway.

Being from Canada, I can get the T1's from any pharmacy, and that really *****.

[PfizerFighter]

I know exactly what you mean! I am also like that, any type of pain pill is sweet. I knew it was getting ugly when I would plan my evenings around how long I would spend waiting in the ER (since I had a higher success rate of obtaining oxy's there). I would bring a book and read while I waited, and when it came time to see the doc, I would start racking my brain as to what I would say that would allow me to get some percs or whatever else they would give. Sometimes I would have to get an IV with like, medication for headaches, and when they had tried everything I would still say "I still have the headache" because I knew they would give up and just send me home with some pain pills.

They caught on, and I was told flat out that I would not be getting percs anymore. So, blessing in disguise? I think so. I wonder sometimes why some people are more inclined to abuse pain pills than others. Like, a person could have his legs pulverized and he takes all these oxy's, but when he's healed, he can just stop taking the oxy's!! It makes me jealous. Whereas, in my case, even like, 6 or 7 pain pills and I'm hooked.

[PfizerFighter]

Thanks, yes I know it's harder to quit if they are easy to get. It does not help when my parent calls and asks if I need more. I have not told them that I am addicted, I am not ready to yet. I took your advice and told tech at the pharmacy I go to not to sell me the T1's, since I am trying to stop taking them. She was actually really helpful! She said she would note on my file that I did it voluntarily (and wasn't "red flagged") so that in the future should I need any kind of narcotic pain medication, they will inquire further as to why. Esentially to make it tougher for me to buy them if I don't need them.

It actually feels pretty good! I'm not looking forward to the psychological withdrawals, but if I can quit benzos I feel like I can quit anything.

[ZJILLIAN]

I have been addicted to pain meds on and off for probably 40 years or so. I LOVE PAIN PILLS. Any kind. But now I want to really quit. Since I moved to Costa Rica (easy to get codeine without prescription) things have gotten out of control. It has been 2 years on about 300mg a day. In the States I have a built in control because of getting scrips, but here.....Anyhow, this is my 28th day without clean. The problem is not getting off but staying off. The longest I have stayed clean in the past 4 or 5 years has been for 3 months . In the States I had tried a number of things to make it harder to get them but as I came to love oxy I really didn't ever want to stop my source. I don't think I ever thought it was a problem really. I always functioned at a high level and nobody ever would have thought I was using. Well it has gotten bad and the depression deepened and life got chaotic and confusing. So now....I seriously need to stop. Thanks for sharing your story. This helps me a lot to hear other people.

[Astray]

Its much harder to quit and stay that way with easy access to the pills, I can relate to that.

You've got to tell your other partner/parent any one else who has them never to let you have any, locking them in box if need be. If you find yourself going the pharmacys if you are brave go in with a small picture of yourself with a note attached saying "do not issue this person any Codeine by their request" or similar.

Neither will make it impossible to get the stuff but anything that makes it harder will protect you from a moment of weakness. Codeine is a weaker opiate then some but its insidious and not easy to quit. It can be done though, I'm clean 23 days now after 10 years of abusing the stuff.