Nurofen Plus Addiction

[bluerandom]

I've been taking up to 30 a time 4 times per day for nearly 2 years. These pills are a combination of ibuprofen 200mg and codeine phosphate 12.8mg.  I am aware of the seriousness of taking this much ibuprofen.  I mainly take the pills during the working week and then take very little on the weekend, just enough to stop the bad withdrawal symptoms.

I started taking the pills when I developed foot pain from working on my feet all day and back pain.  I was amazed... the pain dissolved and if I took a couple extra pills the euphoria made my day seem easier and stress free.

I have tried to stop cold turkey numerous times.  The last time, 2 days ago, I went through absolute hell and had to take time off work.  Night sweats, nightmares, constant liquid diahorrea, cramping, depression, pain all over... it was terrible... That went on for three days and guess what the only way to stop the symptoms was?  You guessed it! I took some pills. Almost instantly the pain stopped and so did the diahorrea.  And so now, back on the pills I can go back to work!

I've just bought a house with my partner and don't want to lose my job, I hate feeling like this.  I'm going to go try seeing a Doctor one more time.  I tried once before and his suggestion was to "Stop, just stop".  That was really frustrating.  

I have actually gotten to over a week with no pills and I find work and the pain unbearable and I quickly go back to the pills!

Any suggestions guys?  Mainly just sharing my story with like-minded individuals.

[Hatethisnuro]

Hey I'm new on here and can so relate to you.

I have been taking 32 tablets every day for 3 years

I tried ct many times but my busy work life made this extremely impossible and after much research I'm not doing a lowering dosage by myself I started taking 8 tablets 4 times aday and decided to lower 1 tablet a week in each does so I took the next week 7 tablets 4 times a day for a week then 6 tablets a day for a week, I'm going to be down to 5 tablets 4 times a day and I feel fine , your mind plays tricks thinking it needs to go back up but you don't it's just were u have mentally been used to taking them for so long.

No with drawers what so ever so far and  aiming to be clean in 5 weeks

Good luck to you

[groundhog_day]

Hello mate, I guess you must be in australia or the uk? I'm in australia and like you addicted to nurofen plus, avalilable over the counter here, and I take about 24- 30 per day, though have been up to 48 per day at times. Been on it for approx 4 years, tired stopping dozens of times, both serious and half hearted attempts. Heartbreaking to keep failing. I have also developed a lot of health issues, apart from just overall feeling lousy, such as bleeding gastric ulcers and swollen legs because of kidney stress. And my docotor too said to just stop. Ha, if it were that easy! I have a history of addiction and successful recovery too, and then got in  trouble with these buggers, and seem stuck. So that is my story, and if you wish to message me, please do so, its good to meet someone here on the same doc.

Now as to you:

I'm not sure what you have done, but these would be my suggestions:
The amount you are on is huge (up to 120 per day if I understand correctly) so the first thing would be to get a gastroscopy to check for ulcers and blood test to check for kidney function. I resisted this until pains in stomach got severe and I was in daily fear of a perforated ulcer, and I finally admitted the addiction, they found ten ulcers and gave me brilliant medication to fix it.

Can you take a week or two off work to detox? there are many chemist remedies that help a bit with symptoms, I can give you the australian equivalents that are suggested here, and with support and encouragement, it can be done.
Have you heard of suboxone (buprenorphine here in australia) - it is a substitution therapy that simultaneously block opiate receptors (so you can't get high off any drugs you take) but also has an opiate effect (so that you don't have to experience hanging out). People find a dose they stabilise on, then have to taper off that.

Aftercare is crucial. Most people can't just stop the drug and go back to normal usual life. We use because it fulfills a need of some kind, or allows us to avoid facing an issur, or something (even just pure habit) - and aftercare is needed to overcome that. Relapse rate is higher without after care.

Please keep posting here, it is such a great forum with welcoming, kind people. I hope to hear from you - maybe we could be detox buddies, since we are on the same stuff...Despite all that great advice I gave above (lol) I have yet to get clean myself, and I am frightened at how quickly the weeks and years are flying by.

[beachcomber4you]

The only way to detox in a safe way  is in the hospital . You might not want to hear that, but it's the truth.
I was in detox 4 five days and came out feeling good. was on pills for 9 months.I'am still feeling very exhausted,short of breath and shaking a little. I've got my life back again now that I have detoxed. It's not an easy thing to do ,but I know you can if you really want to. good Luck and GOD BLESS YOU IN JESUS NAME A-MEN!!!!!







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[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

You need to treat the codeine just as any other narcotic. Look at the right hand side of page. Find the Thomas Recipe and the Amino Acid protocol. Then try and follow them. Keep reading the posts here. Knowledge is power with this. Learn as much as you can. Best of luck to you. Stay strong. It must be really hard to have otc access to the codeine. You can do it, though =