What wd symptoms can I expect if I go ct off of codeine?

[Quince30]

Hi this is my first post.  I am sure that I am addicted to codeine.  I have had migraines for the past 20 years as a result of pregnancy and have slowly increased my use from occasional to everyday.

I take 8 panadeine extra (500mg paracetamol/acetaminophen w/ 15mg codeine) everyday.  I have been prescribed panadeine forte (30mg codeine) in the past but have weaned myself off of those through using the lower dose panadeine extra.

I would like to go ct off of the panadeine extra but I am scared of wd.  What can I expect and what are the best ways to deal with it?  

Thanks in advance, Q

[Quince30]

Thanks Krissy! I appreciate your kind words.  

[Krissy_123]

Have you tried acupuncture? Sometimes things we least expect to work,sometimes do. And yes I'm not sure why your doc would prescribe that for migraines? Advil would probably work better than codeine. I remember codiene use to actually give me a migraine (yet I still took it) ha e you tried excedrin? I haven't but I heard itz good. Hang in there,it's a slow time right now on the forum,but people will hopefully be checking in soon. Hopefully someone else will have some info on migraine and what they do/did to help them. And don't be scared of the w/d's,yes they are sucky but it's just a short period of your life,then you'll be free of them evil little pills. Also opiates can actually start to cause pain after a long period of taking them,so once you're off for awhile you can reevaluate your pain and you never know,it might be somewhat better.

[Quince30]

Also, even though my liver and kidney function are ok now, I know I can't expect that to always be the case.  

I am scared. :-(

[Quince30]

Thanks for the information.  I'm quite nervous about it, but I do need to get off of this cycle of pill popping. I want my life back.

As I have frequent migraines my specialist suggested taking aspirin and paracetamol/acetaminophen 3 times a day. I am worried because I know the p/a is bad for internal organs.  I don't understand why she'd suggest this course especially since I have almost constant headaches.  

I'll be seeing a neurologist soon and I'm hoping he can give me a better solution.  Also imagrin doesn't work for me.

p.s.I recently had my liver and kidney function checked and it was all ok.  

[Krissy_123]

Also that's a lot of acetaminophen,your liver won't be doing to well if you carry on down this road,and our tolerance always gets higher and higher. I started on Tylenol 1's then tylenol 3's then onto the oxycodone before I finally quit over 11 years later.

[Krissy_123]

The withdrawls are pretty well the exact opposite of the side effects of opiates. Plus some symptoms. Instead of constipation you will experience the  severe opposite. Instead of lethargy you'll have insomnia. Instead of euphoria you'll feel anxiety and deppresion. Also restless legs syndrome (rls) this is in most cases,but remember everyone is different. I'm not saying you'll get all of these symptoms. I did,but I was also on oxycodone. I did also have then many years ago off of Tylenol 3's. What you can do to keep as comfortable as you're able to get Imodium for the tummy issues, drink LOTS of fluid so you don't dehydrate. Epsom salts in a warm bath helps with the rls,you might have a loss of appetite,so try things that are light on your tummy. Soup broths,bananas also helps with the rls because of the potassium. Lots of funny movies helps past the time,and will make you smile. Like I said you may feel anxious and depression. Try (even though you probably won't want to) getting outside and going for a little walk. The fresh air and exercise is really good through detox. The more you just lay around the worse you will feel and the longer it takes to recover. Now w/d's lengths are different for everyone. The physical symptoms can last anywhere from 5 days to a couple weeks. But don't think about that,just take each hour as it comes. If you're having a bad time get on here and talk to us. Keep us posted. Krissy :)