codeine withdrawal symptoms

[jim1840]

came off codeine cold turkey after taking 17 18 tablets daily for 3 years30mg.  cold turkey from 14th sept. 2010 been to hell and back.  Wanted to die.sweats violent headaches diarrhoea cold hot sweats legs aching not knowing where to put them in bed weakness bad stomach cramp pains couldnt walk or stand for long....it now 24 days later and feeeling much better but feet still tingle and have slight headache and feeling weak but can cope.  Was admitted to hospital 16th sept, they couldny help me really, had to stay cold turkey....James

[jim1840]

Thanks so much for your letter, it was and still is a great comfort to know that I am not on my own.   Its now 33 days since I began cold turkey.  My main concern is the headaches I am still experiencing.  They are not as bad as before obviously but get in the way of me having a feeling of happiness and abandonment,  I still feel very weak and walk only a couple of hundred yards before being tired out and having to sit on a bench in the park. When will I feel my usual self again?  For 35 years I was a professional entertainer.  A tenor working as supporting act to most of the great entertainers here in England in the late 60's 70's and 80's during summer seaons at Blackpool Opera house and north pier theatres etc.  I retired from show bizz at 49 yeras of age and took up playing pro piano in the restaurants, clubs then teaching piano for ten years until 60.  Flown cessnas airoplanes, been 100ft down the adriatic sea with a couple of tanks on my back.  Dived for shipwrecks when in my 40's at Oban in Scotland...Experienced most things in life but now.....Having difficulty doing simple things, no energy, little enthusiasm, my legs still tingle, headachers, bad concentration, and some palpitations.......all because of those damn codeines Christine......We are all such willing fools when first we subscribe to such disasterous and distructive elements of codeine aren't we?......It should be band...Good to hear from you, regards Jim

[jim1840]

To figroll.....Thanks for letter....Come off the bloody things as soon as poss.  You will go through hell but after 10 days or so you will begin to feel a bit normal.  Youll sweat and your legs will ache like hell, not knowing where to put them in bed.  Diarrhoea, hot cold sweats, absolute weakness, no appetite....the lot....Its very hard but worth it figroll believe me.....No pain no gain.......Do as I am doing when you are well....write to the general medical council about these killers and how easily docs prescribe them and what the do to us...ruin our once peaxceful lives......GMC address is 178 Great Portland street London, W1W 5JE....their tel no. is 0845 3573456...Good luck....If you need any advice or just want to shout and scream, you know where I am....regards jim1840

[figroll]

i cant agree enough i started taking co codamal for a traped nearve and at the time was going through a really stressfull time in my life even after i had my traped nearve fixed the doctor keep prescibing co codamal i took more and more they made me feel relaxed and good for the first time in years i am at a point now were i take 20 a day and find it incredible the doctor still gives them to me without question knowing how addictive they are i am not completly blameless i put them in my mouth but i think the doctors have got a lot to answer for i am now gonna start detox on monday with subutex really want to feel normal again i should have new better i have two teenage boys to look after it doesnt matter what age or circumstances you are in these tablets should be banned and i will be behind you 100 percent good luck

[jim1840]

Thanks to all for your comments, good to know someone cares......After 26 days now I still feel so weak walking only short distances in the park, having to sit down on a bench every 100 yards or so...Have read on internet that a woman got over withdrawal after only 2 weeks after taking thirty 30mg codeines daily for 11 years. I wiill never ever  in my life take another codeine, tramadol or any other addictive medication....heavy thumping, missing beats heart palpitations are also a regular occurrence....I am 70 years of age and should have known better.   I was a bloody fool to take them in the first place...Definitely there should be sticter regs when docs supply these KILLERS on prescription so easily to their patients ! ! !....I am writing to the GMC about this and sending printed articles from the internet of 100's of people like us who have had to do cold turkey...I wanted to die, it was that bad and I think the GMC should damnwell know this ! ! !....thanks to all for your support and good luck to anyone just starting cold turkey, keep it up, you will go through hell but will get better and free from codeine....from Jim1840

[iwannabefree]

Hi Jim Ive just entered my 9th day clean after going cold turkey for codeine and I was taking about the same amount of codeine as you were, about 500mg a day and also for 3 years or maybe a bit more, not sure because I tend to lose track of the years. I made an attempt 10 and a half days ago but after a day and a half my doctor got alarmed when he found my blood pressure skyrocketed to 189/110 which he explained is within the realms of a full on stroke. He told me that was way too much codeine to go C/T on and that I had to take a small dose of codeine and then taper off until I was way down in mg. He also gave me 100mg injection of tramadol and also zanex. He then promptly rang an ambulance and told me I could still have a stroke and that the hospital needed to monitor me. I went in the ambulance and arrived at the hospital. Because the hospital was packed they had me in a cubicle waiting for hours. I couldnt lie there still. I ended up panicking and escaping outside and then walked home, as I live not far from the hospital. When I got home I took 4 codeine and laid down on my bed. It wasnt enough after going so long but it took the edge off and I think took my blood pressure down a bit. I spent that entire night between a howling heap on the floor because I was so upset with myself,and I decided right then I would start again c/t and I would find a way to help the BP, and reading everything I could find online about how to make detox at home easier. I found nothing easy, but I did find that hot baths helped and loads of them. Even now I am still taking the hottest bath I can endue at night before I go to bed, and I dont go until I am exhausted. I am still only getting about an hour a nights sleep, but Im not dying from it. I just make sure Ive got lots of good music to listen to and some good movies and also some comfort food. This seems to make the nights a bit more endurable. I also recommend walking as much as you can. I am going to rejoin my local gym, but for now I am just walking around the suburb I live in every day. I am spending about 2-3 hours walking every day. I had to really force myself to at first because I felt so weak I thought I would pass out when I first started but by the time I get home every day now from my walk I am feeling good and the weakness has gone. Its a great way to build up the endorphins and it seems to last for hours. The other thing you need to do is start taking a good multivitamin every morning. Your body has gone through a stressful and rigorous time and like after any long debilitating illness you need to build your body back up again. Also if you click on the health link at the top right hand side of this page you will find a couple of items regarding diet and what to eat after the post detox. I also second the ibprofen for the headaches. This seems to be a definate side effect with codeine especially. I have a constant headache but it is slowly getting better or maybe more manageable. I know it will eventually go when my strength comes back, so the important thing now for both of us I think is to really concentrate on that walking every day and look into using that addictive personality of yours focusing on a healthy diet. Hope this all helps............Christine

[mission1man]

I have been through cold turkey withdrawal before, its really tough. All opiates are basically the same in w/d. You will continue to feel better slowly, and you wont die. The depression is the worst though. your blood pressure is probably still high, doc may give you meds for that. take ibuprophen- will help w/ aches and pains. but most of all get up, get out and walk or any thing to get your endorphens working again. doc should have tapered you down from the pills over time, but maybe he didnt trust you w/ them.