Very bad Panafen/Nurofen Plus addiction, want to get clean

[danielw85]

I have been taking Nurofen Plus/Panafen Plus (ibuprofen 200mg, codeine 12.8mg) since 2007 after I had some back problems. My problem only worsened when I ruptured my L4/L5 discs after an accident and my pill popping habit increased every week from then on. I'm now on close to 75 - 90 tablets a day (I buy a 75 pack everyday) after turning down my Doctor's prescription pain killers (ibuprofen 200mg, codeine 30m) because I feared that my addiction would only get worse with that! Turned out much, much worse than I expected none the less after going from 24 a day, to 48 then eventually 75, I would become more and more tolerant to the effects of the pain killer as time went on.

Now, this is getting ridiculous and I am incredibly embarrassed and ashamed to tell anyone about my hidden addiction (only my family and my girlfriend really know what's up). It has gotten to the point where if I don't have any pain killers by 2pm - 3pm, I start to get the shakes then eventually diarrhea, headaches, restlessness and depression. Three months ago, I weighed a healthy 100kgs (220 lbs.) (I am 6' 4", in my early 20's and have been constantly active in mixed martial arts and football since I was a teenager, have had to give up both since my back injury) and now I only weigh 87kgs (191 lbs., have lost 29 lbs. so far). After taking so many tablets, I usually vomit on cue very late every second night and am always constipated, I have stopped drinking socially (usually vomit after two beers) and stopped eating anything even remotely hot or/and spicy.

I am looking for a good taper down plan, or something like it. I do not want to go cold turkey as I know I won't be able to handle it properly. Need some advice please, any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

[worried878]

oh..i see u r taking the type with ibuprophen..which is better but still massive doses.  I am sure ur stomach is upset from all of this.  Have u tried any aftercare?  At that dose, if u taper, u will most likely need assist from a friend or someone who understands.  U can do this alone,,,,but u gotta stay strong (o:

[worried878]

Way too much tylenol and your liver is getting cremated.  Possibly why u get sick.  2000 mgs of tylenol is the max daily dose to avoid liver compromise.  A taper can help if you can stick to it.  I am guessing u r n canada where u can get these over the counter?  The health pages on this forum have some great taper articles.  Many need to hand the pills to a friend to dose out daily to stick to a taper.  Picking a quit day is essesntial.  It would be great if u can talk to you doctor..  Codeine is a weaker narcotic than what most take here....it is the tylenol content that will burn you at this dose
be safe and keep posting

[brinny88]

Hi my partner is addicted to panefen plus at his worse was at 4 packs of 30 a day so 120 pills a day we have been stuggling to get off them for the last two years after his first tripp to hospital wheni got him to get checked for heart burn doctor rang and said get to hospital because his red cell count was at 58 and it spose to be at 120 he had blood transfution then again a couple of months later as he had a seizure due to a tramadol as a substitute and again having a blood transfution and with unreadable iron levels with 3 girls i admit its sometimes easier to let him have them than fight and deal with his temper towards me and the kids we are at one pack a day sometimes 2 with one day a week without he has finally come to realisr he cant continue just wondering how you got of the last bit it seems the hardest thank you for you time and any help you are able to give

[Tamki960]

Hi danielw85,
I can totally understand where you are coming from, I have been where you are worse.  I had been taking panafen plus for a back injury but I also became addicted to it.  I was taking it close to 6 years, and this year I have been hospitalised a few times.  The first time they thought I had a stroke as I couldnt move my left arm, hand or leg, anyway they did blood tests at the hospital and found out my potassium was 1.5 when it should be 3.8.  The same things  happened again a couple of months later when I came home I went back to taking the panafen up to 80 per day, the third time I was rushed into hospital with a perferated ulcer and they said if they hadnt of got to me when they did I wouldn't be here today.  They had to cut me open and virtually wash all my organs as there was that much poison in my body that  my stomach had swollen like I was 9 months pregnant all with in about 20 minutes.  I know all of this is due to my addiction to panafen plus, only my immediate family know this as I am to ashamed to tell anyone else, but please please try to give up, is really not worth it.  It will be a struggle, as even now I still have days when I would love to take some, but I know I cant, if I want to be here to see my kids grow up.  If you ever need to chat and ask any questions please feel free, if I can help one person get of these tablets it will be worth it.

[missy992]

i would speak to the doctor and possibly a psychiatrist to get to the root of your addiction.Probably an ultrasound of your stomach is a good idea also because prolonged use can cause stomach ulcers.I wish you all the best and respect you for admitting your addiction good luck

[Darkone24]

I have been taking 26 Panafen Plus with 3 - 4 Panadeine Forte (Paracetamol 500mg and 30mg Codeine) every day for approximately the last 7 years, and am very much still alive, and looking for alternatives and a way to ease back. Bad leg injury and back damage  with constant migraines (not due to tablets) does not make this easy but I have been able at times to go cold turkey for about two weeks but lost 18 kg in those 2 weeks, could not eat, sweats, headaches and just when it started to maybe feel better the urge took over again. All I can say is try to reduce your intake by just one tablet every time you take them. Then two days later drop another one, and so on until you get down to about say 10 each time, but try to not take more than three times a day, it is not easy but you must try, it will eventually kill me, you and most everyone who does take so many dies. I have reduced down to "just" 2 lots of 26 per day, once pretty much as soon as I wake up 10am and once again at 7pm.

[Pennylessbroke]

danielw85 I know where you are at, I found your note here on the net while looking for a way for me to get off my 75 plus tablets per day that I also supplement with 15 to 20 phenergan 25mg tablets. I live in a small city and after five years (and god knows how much money) I am progresivly being turned away from the approx. 30 chemists that are here as they see through my reasons for needing these products. I am scared of what will happen if I go cold turkey but know I cannot keep doing this. How did you tell your family and how did they react?

[peaceinknowing]

If your PCP was able to write you out prescriptions for this great amount of narcotic pain killers, then he should step up to the plate and assist you with the problem you're having with the pills he was writing you for so frequently. I hope this helps, and please keep posting to let us know about everything.

[NautyOne]

That is a huge and seriously dangerous.  Not only the codeine but the acetaminophen, or Ibuprofen amounts are extreme.  Your body is obviously telling you enough is enough....vomiting, constipation, and weight loss is not good.  I'm sorry, but you need to see a doctor.  I too couldn't even give you taper advice.

Please come clean and talk to your doctor.

Luv,
Nauty.........  

[peaceinknowing]

I have honestly never heard of someone taking up to 90 pills a day that are a narcotic pain killer without being deceased. Is this really possible?

[danielw85]

I was wondering if there is anything out there that I can get prescribed for my codeine de-tox, adding it all up I'm probably taking over 900mg of codeine a day.

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

I would not even know where to begin to tell you how to taper from that large of an amount, and especially since you are losing weight and getting sick.

I have to suggest that you speak with your doctor and get honest. Let him/her put you on a taper schedule and also recommend something for the vomiting.

Best of luck and I hope you make it to the other side.