Hello Enq, thank you for your feedback. I suppose i am just frightened. I dont recall sobriety since, well.I just don't! so to try to imagine what my life will be like past this hurdle, is slightly nerve racking. I know i dont need to go on, im sure everyone already is on the same level here.....or was! I think "what the heck is my problem???" because if i beat a 550 mg/day addiction to oxycontin, on my own, cold turkey, why cant i do this?.....There are so SO many underlying issues that i(and everyone else) don't address or even acknowledge, that a cover up seems like the best option, and sometimes the only option. I have a question though, i am bipolar, and since i started taking the meds i am supposed to take, i can control myself, think rational, and not be so compulsive and quick to make desicions. Is it more likely for people with bipolar or depression to be substance abusers? I somewhat researched this topic, but what is your opinion?
Hi Lisa,
I am really not sure of the answer to that question & am by no means an expert on any of this. I guess the only real advice, if you are on prescribed meds (as opposed to my situation where I was taking the fairly strong OTC stuff available here in the UK) and want to change your regime is to talk this through with your doc with particular focus on what you want to change & achieve.
I can imagine that regularly experiencing uncomfortable mood states might prompt some people to address these problems through mood altering chemicals but I guess it's all a matter of severity and learned response - I tend to suffer from mild depression, which I suspect is fairly common for most people at some times in their lives, but where many might just "tough it out" in this sort of case, my learned response is much more likely to suggest a chemical solution. I know therefore that I need to be very wary about giving this response credence in the future.
Please bear in mind I'm only talking about myself here - I can't advise you on a course of action one way or the other except to say, as with most decisions in life, get as much info on your options and their likely effects as possible so that you can make an informed decision on what to do - often your gut instinct is right but an objective check on your plan is never a bad idea.
As you say, if you've had the strength to change in the past then you'll have that strength again & as for the sobriety bit, for me part of the excitement is forgetting what it was like & experiencing it all again.
Best of luck with whatever course you steer, regards, enq.
I am really not sure of the answer to that question & am by no means an expert on any of this. I guess the only real advice, if you are on prescribed meds (as opposed to my situation where I was taking the fairly strong OTC stuff available here in the UK) and want to change your regime is to talk this through with your doc with particular focus on what you want to change & achieve.
I can imagine that regularly experiencing uncomfortable mood states might prompt some people to address these problems through mood altering chemicals but I guess it's all a matter of severity and learned response - I tend to suffer from mild depression, which I suspect is fairly common for most people at some times in their lives, but where many might just "tough it out" in this sort of case, my learned response is much more likely to suggest a chemical solution. I know therefore that I need to be very wary about giving this response credence in the future.
Please bear in mind I'm only talking about myself here - I can't advise you on a course of action one way or the other except to say, as with most decisions in life, get as much info on your options and their likely effects as possible so that you can make an informed decision on what to do - often your gut instinct is right but an objective check on your plan is never a bad idea.
As you say, if you've had the strength to change in the past then you'll have that strength again & as for the sobriety bit, for me part of the excitement is forgetting what it was like & experiencing it all again.
Best of luck with whatever course you steer, regards, enq.
That was very useful reading, Anon_w.
I've been taking codeine "by default". I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder about 10 years ago, after suffering for 5 years prior to that. I started on paroxetine and almost immediately was back to normal. I couldn't believe it and to this day am still sceptical of all the relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, traditional herbal and Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, exercise techniques, breathing techniques I learned over the prior 5 years. For me, they just didn't work.
All fine until late last year, when I began to suffer a relapse from anxiety and an onset of depression. Like Anon_w, I was in an industry where access to prescriptions drugs was easy. It didn't register with me immediately that my use of diazepam (Valium) had gone through the roof, and it was only after a few steady months of drinking excessively and experimenting with any prescription drug I could think of that might have a calming effect that I had a crash and was hospitalised. To my horror, I was categorised as a "multiple substance addict" and admitted to a D&A unit. It was only after I said I intended to discharge myself after medical advice that they agreed to transfer me to the psychiatric unit, where I spent a week in medication change-over and going cold turkey on everything else.
After coming out of hospital I had no interest in alcohol. But new drugs, ineffective at controlling my anxiety and with horrible side effects and so sedating I had memory losses, meant I didn't leave the diazepam alone for long. I spiralled into severe depression which saw me hospitalised again after Christmas.
Retrospectively, I was not myself at all then, so it probably only suprised me that I ended up, back at work, with a nice little side habit of intravenous morphine. That's a little harder to hide, so I resigned after two months before there was enough evidence to fire me. Back into hospital, cold turkey on the morphine. It sounds hideous - but you'd never think to look at me that there was any problem.
And on to the same spiral of medications with more side effects than positive effects - not really a surprise that I ended up on codeine. Over the past few months I've taken 20 to 30 tablets a day (200-300mg codeine, 10-15g of paracetamol). Obviously, I knew this was a bad move (medically worse than the morphine although at least legal) but it's not such a decision when it's take it or jump off a bridge.
The point I am making is that often the drug being abused is due to an underlying problem. I easily went on to multiple substances, and just as easily came off - ONLY when my anxiety was managed. The problem I currently face is that phychiatrists seem to focus on the substance abuse - which I am not trying to lessen in any way - without seeming to acknowledge the desperation that drove many of us there in the first place.
I have realised that the only way I won't end up in my grave (I already have mildly abnormal liver biochemistry) is to go cold turkey on the codeine/paracetamol and to hope desperately that I can hang on for another month until I see a new psychiatrist (my current one is not keen on discussing my medications with me, which is extremely frustrating to someone trained in pharmacology). I hope that by eliminating any distracting factors we can work together to find a solution for my anxiety. The option of methadone was discussed, but on reading the brochure that explained it was "more addictive than heroin" and required daily presentation at the same pharmacy for dosing (I travel a lot for work), that was not an option.
So far I'm 24 hours in and experiencing severe bouts of anxiety - which was the reason for starting it, so it's difficult to determine if it's a true withdrawal symptom - but no other significant physical symptoms. If it's anything like morphine I hope that I can get past it without falling in a heap.
I've been taking codeine "by default". I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder about 10 years ago, after suffering for 5 years prior to that. I started on paroxetine and almost immediately was back to normal. I couldn't believe it and to this day am still sceptical of all the relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, traditional herbal and Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture, exercise techniques, breathing techniques I learned over the prior 5 years. For me, they just didn't work.
All fine until late last year, when I began to suffer a relapse from anxiety and an onset of depression. Like Anon_w, I was in an industry where access to prescriptions drugs was easy. It didn't register with me immediately that my use of diazepam (Valium) had gone through the roof, and it was only after a few steady months of drinking excessively and experimenting with any prescription drug I could think of that might have a calming effect that I had a crash and was hospitalised. To my horror, I was categorised as a "multiple substance addict" and admitted to a D&A unit. It was only after I said I intended to discharge myself after medical advice that they agreed to transfer me to the psychiatric unit, where I spent a week in medication change-over and going cold turkey on everything else.
After coming out of hospital I had no interest in alcohol. But new drugs, ineffective at controlling my anxiety and with horrible side effects and so sedating I had memory losses, meant I didn't leave the diazepam alone for long. I spiralled into severe depression which saw me hospitalised again after Christmas.
Retrospectively, I was not myself at all then, so it probably only suprised me that I ended up, back at work, with a nice little side habit of intravenous morphine. That's a little harder to hide, so I resigned after two months before there was enough evidence to fire me. Back into hospital, cold turkey on the morphine. It sounds hideous - but you'd never think to look at me that there was any problem.
And on to the same spiral of medications with more side effects than positive effects - not really a surprise that I ended up on codeine. Over the past few months I've taken 20 to 30 tablets a day (200-300mg codeine, 10-15g of paracetamol). Obviously, I knew this was a bad move (medically worse than the morphine although at least legal) but it's not such a decision when it's take it or jump off a bridge.
The point I am making is that often the drug being abused is due to an underlying problem. I easily went on to multiple substances, and just as easily came off - ONLY when my anxiety was managed. The problem I currently face is that phychiatrists seem to focus on the substance abuse - which I am not trying to lessen in any way - without seeming to acknowledge the desperation that drove many of us there in the first place.
I have realised that the only way I won't end up in my grave (I already have mildly abnormal liver biochemistry) is to go cold turkey on the codeine/paracetamol and to hope desperately that I can hang on for another month until I see a new psychiatrist (my current one is not keen on discussing my medications with me, which is extremely frustrating to someone trained in pharmacology). I hope that by eliminating any distracting factors we can work together to find a solution for my anxiety. The option of methadone was discussed, but on reading the brochure that explained it was "more addictive than heroin" and required daily presentation at the same pharmacy for dosing (I travel a lot for work), that was not an option.
So far I'm 24 hours in and experiencing severe bouts of anxiety - which was the reason for starting it, so it's difficult to determine if it's a true withdrawal symptom - but no other significant physical symptoms. If it's anything like morphine I hope that I can get past it without falling in a heap.
I was a morphine addict until Feb. 2009 for about 4 years. And i am sure codeine is similar. I finally won over my addiction one day when i said to myself : Stay on this and i'm going to die - get off of this and i'm going to live. So once i MADE UP MY MIND it was not that big a deal to quit. To make it easier on myself i timed each pill then i got a pill splitter and stretched it out further and further until i finally was at such a low dose i just stopped all together. The symptoms were still a b***h even with this method but by keeping the mindset and sticking with the 'program' i managed to win. I was taking 3x60 mg. pills daily so then i realized it was 6o mg every 8 hours so i split the pills and took half a pill every 5 hours at first then half a pill at six etc etc you get the idea. Extending it one hour and then splitting them again and then going to my doctor and getting 30 mg pills and splitting them and timing them very strictly. It's amazing how your body knows and responds with all them crappy symptoms when you keep extending the duration without them. But i am so glad to be free of them now - just tell yourself : I AM THE BOSS and I AM GOING TO KICK THE sh*t out of these little bastards trying to run my life and you will win !
hi , im a codeine addict, i used 2 take atleast 30 in one sitting just for recreaction, however it did happen innocently enough when i found out how much codeine was in what we call here in oz panadeine forte so i went shopping and done my maths and bought my supplies over time the wanting 2 get high, decreased and my need 2 not get sick increased, i was at my worst taking 72 12.8 mg doses of the stuff in one sitting.The withdrawl was terrible, and i can only imagine what the pain is like for others on stronger meds, what i wanna say this is my sixth time at getting clean and its hard man but for all those that are failing miserably with the naseua and the cramps, the fevers, and the sleeplessness is to get a prescription of valium, it puts you to sleep totally and u'll find its alot easier 2 cope with the withdrawl, as im typing im still withdrawing, but this is my 5th day clean and id rather feel like this than have 2 go through it again, hopefully none of you will fail as miserably as i have but you should really seek medical advice, cos od'ing on these substances is horrible.Afterwards you really need 2 get some type of counselling so that you can be cured of your affliction.Just remember that addiction is a bonafide illness, and that your not weird or strange for your problem,and u can be helped if you want it
Not sure how old this is but I totally know what you're going through! It's my story all over again, wow! You HAVE to stop!.....For me the anxiety was the worst of it all. I've been to re-hab 3x and have delt with this sh*t and chasing withdrwal for over ten years so listen......I would go to a doctor and be HONEST so they can help the proper way, who cares what they think, this is your health!
1. Clonidine .5 mg's 2x a day for the chills and cold sweats
2. Clonazeapam for the anxiety. I say this type of bezo because it lasts long, like 8-12hrs and relaxes you and let's you sleep. I would also grab some valerian root to help with this too.
3. Ibruphine 600's for and aches
This cocktail works and once the aches get better stop the pills completely accept the Clonazepam because the depression and anxiety last for a few weeks maybe 6-7 weeks until your seratonin levels get back to normal.
X.
1. Clonidine .5 mg's 2x a day for the chills and cold sweats
2. Clonazeapam for the anxiety. I say this type of bezo because it lasts long, like 8-12hrs and relaxes you and let's you sleep. I would also grab some valerian root to help with this too.
3. Ibruphine 600's for and aches
This cocktail works and once the aches get better stop the pills completely accept the Clonazepam because the depression and anxiety last for a few weeks maybe 6-7 weeks until your seratonin levels get back to normal.
X.
going through the sleeplessness and aches and anxiety right now, threatened to kill myself 2morro and set my sister on fire wtf why do i have to feel this way i get no releif until i get my codiene tablets for my back, on valium and robaxin and my anti-psycotics aswell i rattle when i walk too..my whole excistance yes not life... is being in my bed not going out except to docs apps.. i have no life...i merely exsist to just be alive so i dont upset anyone..where do i go what do i do ..no-one has the answer..docs arent interested im just another number oh forgot to mention im on sleeping tabs too haha ,i know i have a mental illness but i have no idea what is normal any more i dont trust my husband as i think hes trying to make stay alive cause he has a business to run ..i know he's not like that but the paranoia is terrible ..why cant i just die if thats what i want ??????
MY legs my legs omg this pain/non pain phantom cramps in my legs RLS omg does it end!
Why is Tylenol #1 with 8 mg codeine legal without a prescription in Canada?
Just a thought, folks like me that don't have the will power on their own might ought to consider an NA meeting. Just a suggestion that helped me clean up off opiates for nearly 5 years.
Hey mate, I'm going through the exact same thing, and I feel your pain!!! I have drowned me body in codeine for 3 years now (200mg/per day). I felt the exact same way as u did, seeing boxes and boxes of empty codeine packets and feeling sick to my stomach not being able to kick the habbit! It's good to no I'm not the only one. I'm currently in my second week of completely cutting off from codeine intake. My advice (or what I've done) I'd go to the chemist and buy a 2day rapid detox. The day you decide to quit start that and drink a lot of water. You still get the aching muscles and headaches etc but the detox speeds up the rate your body gets rid of the toxins (causeing the Zmuscle pain) in my second week now I still slightly suffer from muscle spasms but nowhere near as bad. About a year ago I tried to quit by stepping down off it week by week which worked for me and is also another option ( I know you said you've been doing that) but I've found that just by completely cutting it off your withdrawals will be sevear for about 3-4 days but then not too bad at all after that. The hardest thing is not ever taking them again because after the first time I quit I got severe migranes and thought i would take a couple and then before I knew it I was taking 6-8 every morning for breakfast again. One other piece of advice i have is to get yourself a natural relaxent or something to help u sleep because I'm still suffering from slight insomnia. I hope this helps u a little and good luck with it.
To be honest I'm kind of surprised as hell that you even felt any signs of withdrawal because the codeine doses you've been using are VERY low, comparing them to my 750mg/day of pure codeine kinda makes me sh*t my pants because of the seriousness of my awaiting withdrawal :'(
oh I forgot heres also a way to make your withdrawal ALMOST painless: (honest, many of my friends were through this before)
try recuding your codeine/opiate dose by 15%/each week while also using some benzodiazepine/nonbenzodiazepine (they're mostly anxiety and sleep medication, might also be abusable, though nowhere near codeine), long acting ones are the most preferred just don't use them longer than 2 weeks (although you won't develop an addiction until one month of constant using)
try recuding your codeine/opiate dose by 15%/each week while also using some benzodiazepine/nonbenzodiazepine (they're mostly anxiety and sleep medication, might also be abusable, though nowhere near codeine), long acting ones are the most preferred just don't use them longer than 2 weeks (although you won't develop an addiction until one month of constant using)
Thanks heaps guys, I thought I was going mad with the strange feelings, I have been on tramal, panadine forte for about 10 years at times more than others. I thought that i was different and could handle it all, but no, so thanks for letting me know that what is happening is ok (forth day in) and it will work out. Thanks again, and for those who are still trying, Don't give up, life's too short for this c**p, you can do it!
I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but if you aren't a sketchy looking teenager coming in alone, the emergency at your local hospital will help your with your addiction no matter how light if it is affecting your life.(I myself was in this very same spot recently, albeit my codeine addiction was far more severe)