Afternoon All,
Thought I'd better write an update on my progress having just gone through a 3 day bank holiday weekend that would normally have found me knocking around the house either counting the time 'til the next handful of pills or drifting about on a marginal high just marking time.
The weekend (days 9 to 11 of withdrawal) was still fairly uncomfortable although as mentioned before its not always easy to recognise real symptoms as distinct from the self pity induced imaginary ones. Certainly sleep is becoming easier now and 6 hours sleep with only minor interruption is achievable. On reflection, 6 hours is probably sufficient sleep for me anyway, its just that with the way the codeine used to make me feel extremely tired, I've fooled myself into thinking I actually need to get 8 hours plus in to feel rested. %-)
Spent most of the weekend feeling lethargic and, when not outside or accompanying the wife on retail therapy (hers, not mine, can't abide trawling the shops for things I never knew I wanted) I could be found lolling around the house "resting" aching joints & muscles and bemoaning access to hundreds of channels of cr@p TV. Apparently, if you give in to it, codeine withdrawal even after a week can present as moaning git syndrome. 8-|
I'm pretty sure the lethargy I've been giving into is more a character trait than strict symptom - I felt as weak as a kitten when I could afford to just lie around the house but now I'm back at work some of the old vigour is returning.
Anyway, I'm not out of the woods yet - I still hear the little voice urging me to have a codeine or two >;) just to make the symptoms more manageable - the main thing is that I recognise this type of thought for what it is - the manifestation of a craving, and not a logical thought process.
Whatever else happens, I have absolutely no intention of putting myself through this again & I don't really want to lose the memory of the pain even though I am now beginning to "normalise" again.
I genuinely hope these posts give a little help to anyone suffering from the effects (either first or second hand) of codeine addiction and allow some recognition of the fact that it can be difficult (but by no means impossible with the right preparation & motivation) to kick this insidious, legalised, physically addictive habit.
Regards all, enq. :-)
Thought I'd better write an update on my progress having just gone through a 3 day bank holiday weekend that would normally have found me knocking around the house either counting the time 'til the next handful of pills or drifting about on a marginal high just marking time.
The weekend (days 9 to 11 of withdrawal) was still fairly uncomfortable although as mentioned before its not always easy to recognise real symptoms as distinct from the self pity induced imaginary ones. Certainly sleep is becoming easier now and 6 hours sleep with only minor interruption is achievable. On reflection, 6 hours is probably sufficient sleep for me anyway, its just that with the way the codeine used to make me feel extremely tired, I've fooled myself into thinking I actually need to get 8 hours plus in to feel rested. %-)
Spent most of the weekend feeling lethargic and, when not outside or accompanying the wife on retail therapy (hers, not mine, can't abide trawling the shops for things I never knew I wanted) I could be found lolling around the house "resting" aching joints & muscles and bemoaning access to hundreds of channels of cr@p TV. Apparently, if you give in to it, codeine withdrawal even after a week can present as moaning git syndrome. 8-|
I'm pretty sure the lethargy I've been giving into is more a character trait than strict symptom - I felt as weak as a kitten when I could afford to just lie around the house but now I'm back at work some of the old vigour is returning.
Anyway, I'm not out of the woods yet - I still hear the little voice urging me to have a codeine or two >;) just to make the symptoms more manageable - the main thing is that I recognise this type of thought for what it is - the manifestation of a craving, and not a logical thought process.
Whatever else happens, I have absolutely no intention of putting myself through this again & I don't really want to lose the memory of the pain even though I am now beginning to "normalise" again.
I genuinely hope these posts give a little help to anyone suffering from the effects (either first or second hand) of codeine addiction and allow some recognition of the fact that it can be difficult (but by no means impossible with the right preparation & motivation) to kick this insidious, legalised, physically addictive habit.
Regards all, enq. :-)
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Well, day 13 here - virtually two weeks & I've been feeling pretty good today - not quite "normal" but much nearer than in months (years even o.O ).
Actually getting back to enjoying life again makes the last couple of weeks worth it. Still need to deal with the aching back & legs & uninterrupted sleep (although a couple of paracetamol - nothing stronger - does the trick at night when I give in to insomnia in the small hours) but these are very minor issues compared with the problems taking the codeine was causing me.
At 2 weeks, I'm over the fear that I'll fall straight back onto the pills through habit or current addiction - the trick is now to make sure complacency does not set in & I don't let my guard down.
Partly why I'm banging the keyboard here is for a bit of self counselling, which in my case seems to involve putting some rational thought not so much into how I'm feeling but how I deal with how I'm feeling.
If I can get it down in print without sounding like a dribbling id**t on the re read then I'm reasonably happy that the thought process has been validated by some degree of objectivity which I could never achieve during the "buy pills binge pills" behaviour loop.
Once again, to anyone out there suffering through these sort of problems, the actual withdrawal, while uncomfortable is achieveable. The original underlying problems that caused the addiction may or may not be there - if they aren't then great, if they are then at least one is more alert, conscious & therefore able to deal with them positively & without acting the victim.
Regards All, enq.
Actually getting back to enjoying life again makes the last couple of weeks worth it. Still need to deal with the aching back & legs & uninterrupted sleep (although a couple of paracetamol - nothing stronger - does the trick at night when I give in to insomnia in the small hours) but these are very minor issues compared with the problems taking the codeine was causing me.
At 2 weeks, I'm over the fear that I'll fall straight back onto the pills through habit or current addiction - the trick is now to make sure complacency does not set in & I don't let my guard down.
Partly why I'm banging the keyboard here is for a bit of self counselling, which in my case seems to involve putting some rational thought not so much into how I'm feeling but how I deal with how I'm feeling.
If I can get it down in print without sounding like a dribbling id**t on the re read then I'm reasonably happy that the thought process has been validated by some degree of objectivity which I could never achieve during the "buy pills binge pills" behaviour loop.
Once again, to anyone out there suffering through these sort of problems, the actual withdrawal, while uncomfortable is achieveable. The original underlying problems that caused the addiction may or may not be there - if they aren't then great, if they are then at least one is more alert, conscious & therefore able to deal with them positively & without acting the victim.
Regards All, enq.
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Day 14 Update.
Crikey, two weeks with no codeine – that didn’t seem likely or even possible 3 weeks ago. Had a solid, unbroken 5 hours sleep last night followed by a couple of hours napping & realised that, lack of sleep aside, I have felt more rested & refreshed this week than for a long time. I had forgotten what it felt like to want to get up as opposed to having to get up.
My support network is fairly limited (though no less effective for that) and is restricted mainly to my wife, who has been extremely understanding throughout this process. She has had to learn a lot, very quickly (as I suppose I have) about the pernicious nature of opiate addiction and the rather antisocial symptoms of withdrawal. I also let my parents know what was going on, partly because confession is good for the soul ( though please note: probably not in a legal context!) and partly because I wasn’t up to a pre arranged family gathering & felt I owed them an honest explanation.
Apart from that my social life outside of work is pretty simplistic and empty right now & the pill popping was always a solitary affair so there has been no need to make huge changes to my lifestyle in order to avoid circumstances that I would ordinarily blame for my inability to resist the temptations and pressures of a physical & psychological addiction.
That is not to say that my life has not changed – my increasing energy levels and return of mental functions will force through change by reason of necessity; Now that I’m more alert previous “activities” like staring at the TV, dozing on the settee or grimly battling my way through the latest version of GTA for the PC just does not hit the spot.
This, I guess, is where things start to get tricky – there are a lot of reasons why I or anyone else might revert to some sort of substance abuse (stress, depression, ill health, peer pressure) but one that I have always found easy to miss until it’s too late is boredom. At the moment my remedy is reading (which I always enjoyed but didn’t have the mental capacity to appreciate properly while popping pills) the only caveat being that I tried to read something upbeat or exciting during the early part of the withdrawal.
The next stage is to find something else to do in the evenings – now I’m into my early 40’s I’m not too interested in partying so it’s a matter of ranging around for another hobby. Who knows, maybe I’ll try knocking out that one novel that everyone has in them.
I’m racking my brains to think of a sign off that might impart a bit of wisdom & support to anyone else out there in a similar place to my own over the past year or so and I suppose “you are not alone in what you are going through” would sum it up.
If these posts help just one more person reclaim their life (or better still quit popping the pills before the problem burgeons into a show stopper) then I’m happy.
Regards to All, enq.
Crikey, two weeks with no codeine – that didn’t seem likely or even possible 3 weeks ago. Had a solid, unbroken 5 hours sleep last night followed by a couple of hours napping & realised that, lack of sleep aside, I have felt more rested & refreshed this week than for a long time. I had forgotten what it felt like to want to get up as opposed to having to get up.
My support network is fairly limited (though no less effective for that) and is restricted mainly to my wife, who has been extremely understanding throughout this process. She has had to learn a lot, very quickly (as I suppose I have) about the pernicious nature of opiate addiction and the rather antisocial symptoms of withdrawal. I also let my parents know what was going on, partly because confession is good for the soul ( though please note: probably not in a legal context!) and partly because I wasn’t up to a pre arranged family gathering & felt I owed them an honest explanation.
Apart from that my social life outside of work is pretty simplistic and empty right now & the pill popping was always a solitary affair so there has been no need to make huge changes to my lifestyle in order to avoid circumstances that I would ordinarily blame for my inability to resist the temptations and pressures of a physical & psychological addiction.
That is not to say that my life has not changed – my increasing energy levels and return of mental functions will force through change by reason of necessity; Now that I’m more alert previous “activities” like staring at the TV, dozing on the settee or grimly battling my way through the latest version of GTA for the PC just does not hit the spot.
This, I guess, is where things start to get tricky – there are a lot of reasons why I or anyone else might revert to some sort of substance abuse (stress, depression, ill health, peer pressure) but one that I have always found easy to miss until it’s too late is boredom. At the moment my remedy is reading (which I always enjoyed but didn’t have the mental capacity to appreciate properly while popping pills) the only caveat being that I tried to read something upbeat or exciting during the early part of the withdrawal.
The next stage is to find something else to do in the evenings – now I’m into my early 40’s I’m not too interested in partying so it’s a matter of ranging around for another hobby. Who knows, maybe I’ll try knocking out that one novel that everyone has in them.
I’m racking my brains to think of a sign off that might impart a bit of wisdom & support to anyone else out there in a similar place to my own over the past year or so and I suppose “you are not alone in what you are going through” would sum it up.
If these posts help just one more person reclaim their life (or better still quit popping the pills before the problem burgeons into a show stopper) then I’m happy.
Regards to All, enq.
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Okaaay, Day 15 which is also week 3 of no codeine.
Friday, so no work for me tomorrow :-D but can't see me getting up late as the insomnia, restless legs and back ache are still with me.
Main items on the agenda seem to be DIY related (I tend to follow suggestions and instructions rather than self motivate when it comes to home improvements) so its fingers crossed that I get through it quickly and without any more than the usual level of injury.
On the plus side, without being spaced on the pills I will be less clumsy than had been the case but on the downside will experience a higher level of pain if I do manage to drill into a finger / live electrical wire etc. Apart from that some planning for the future is now required, at least for this coming Summer.
Still a lot of new things to do or try that I've been meaning to get round to - lying in bed at 2am this morning I realised I had never flown an open cockpit biplane so that's one for the list and of course there is the ever popular getting fit past time, not something that I had really thought about previously but it might actually make me feel better and / or more tired.
There are also a whole host of things out there that it might be engaging to learn about either informally or by taking up a qualification of some sort which would certainly fill up the hours outside work when I tend to be prone to boredom.
Anyway, I hope to write a further update in a few days as I feel I've reached the point at which a daily update is no longer of benefit to me or anyone who reads it.
Please just remember that if I can quit the codeine pills and start enjoying a normal life within such a short space of time then it's achievable.
Everyone has their own reasons and underlying issues for taking the meds in the first place so everyone's method of coming off them should be tailored to suit their personal situation - as long as you want to stop, have a plan and arrange some support then there is no physical reason why you can't regain control of your life.
If the pills are messing up your life then they're not working for you & you deserve better than that.
Best wishes All, enq.
Friday, so no work for me tomorrow :-D but can't see me getting up late as the insomnia, restless legs and back ache are still with me.
Main items on the agenda seem to be DIY related (I tend to follow suggestions and instructions rather than self motivate when it comes to home improvements) so its fingers crossed that I get through it quickly and without any more than the usual level of injury.
On the plus side, without being spaced on the pills I will be less clumsy than had been the case but on the downside will experience a higher level of pain if I do manage to drill into a finger / live electrical wire etc. Apart from that some planning for the future is now required, at least for this coming Summer.
Still a lot of new things to do or try that I've been meaning to get round to - lying in bed at 2am this morning I realised I had never flown an open cockpit biplane so that's one for the list and of course there is the ever popular getting fit past time, not something that I had really thought about previously but it might actually make me feel better and / or more tired.
There are also a whole host of things out there that it might be engaging to learn about either informally or by taking up a qualification of some sort which would certainly fill up the hours outside work when I tend to be prone to boredom.
Anyway, I hope to write a further update in a few days as I feel I've reached the point at which a daily update is no longer of benefit to me or anyone who reads it.
Please just remember that if I can quit the codeine pills and start enjoying a normal life within such a short space of time then it's achievable.
Everyone has their own reasons and underlying issues for taking the meds in the first place so everyone's method of coming off them should be tailored to suit their personal situation - as long as you want to stop, have a plan and arrange some support then there is no physical reason why you can't regain control of your life.
If the pills are messing up your life then they're not working for you & you deserve better than that.
Best wishes All, enq.
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enq, hang in there, you are doing great, and your posts help me. Someone brought me a bottle from Canada and I started taking them for no reason at all. I went through the whole bottle of 200 just like that. And now I am suffering through withdrawal and am really happy I can't buy these pills here, because I feel just terrible. All the same symptoms mentioned above, plus crazy anxiety. I found this thread searching for codeine withdrawal. I will never touch this stuff again.
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Hello everyone...
We're new to this forum, in fact we've never used the internet for anything like this before, but it's good to know that so many other people have had the trouble with codeine addiction and have made such progress getting off it. Congrats to all it's not easy.
My Fiancee has been addicted to codeine for around four years now, at times using only a few Nurofen plus a day, but at peaks using 10-15 30mg dihydrocodeine tabs a day. Although managing to quit through her pregnancy last year, she's been using them again since before christmas, recently using morphine sulphate tabs as well (due to no codeine available).
She now really wants to quit completely, because ongoing health problems seem more and more to be related to use of opiates. This time though, she's really feeling the effects of withdrawal and so has consulted our local drug clinic. She is soon to see their GP, who will review her for presciption of Suboxone, which is what has been recommended by them and several of our friends.
We're hoping to find people who have withdrawn using Suboxone before, as we're not very clear on how long she should expect to stay on it for, and also wonder what else to expect.
Thanks to all who've posted on this thread, and best wishes to anyone else trying to clean up,
x Phil & Amy x
We're new to this forum, in fact we've never used the internet for anything like this before, but it's good to know that so many other people have had the trouble with codeine addiction and have made such progress getting off it. Congrats to all it's not easy.
My Fiancee has been addicted to codeine for around four years now, at times using only a few Nurofen plus a day, but at peaks using 10-15 30mg dihydrocodeine tabs a day. Although managing to quit through her pregnancy last year, she's been using them again since before christmas, recently using morphine sulphate tabs as well (due to no codeine available).
She now really wants to quit completely, because ongoing health problems seem more and more to be related to use of opiates. This time though, she's really feeling the effects of withdrawal and so has consulted our local drug clinic. She is soon to see their GP, who will review her for presciption of Suboxone, which is what has been recommended by them and several of our friends.
We're hoping to find people who have withdrawn using Suboxone before, as we're not very clear on how long she should expect to stay on it for, and also wonder what else to expect.
Thanks to all who've posted on this thread, and best wishes to anyone else trying to clean up,
x Phil & Amy x
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Hi All,
Day 19 now. Nearly three weeks without taking a pill or potion other than paracetamol. Every day seems to deliver an improvement on the previous one & now the fear that "I'm never going to feel right" is receding.
My only real gripe at the moment is that physical energy levels seem to be low, or at least that I seem to tire easily - this may be physical (I spend a large part of my life sitting or lying down & could do with losing a few pounds, well about 25 to be accurate), psychological (depression as a symptom of withdrawal can easily ally itself with lethargy) or just plain old laziness.
Anyway, I suppose I had better do something to combat this so it's off to the gym this afternoon (I have not set foot inside a gym since I left school, more moon cycles ago than a celestial tour de France).
This should be an interesting exercise though I intend to check on the availability of a defibrillator and suitably qualified first aiders before doing anything rash.
Glad to hear that the guest poster who swallowed the entire present from Canada is sworn off the stuff - if its difficult (& it is) coming off from a 200 pill jag just imagine how much less fun it is coming off a multi year habit at 8,500 pills a year plus (I just did the maths and frankly it's frightening) - you're as well to get off it as early as possible - it's never too late but conversely, never early enough.
Also good luck to Phil & Amy - I have no experience of suboxone but would imagine that everyone's experience is different anyway as so many symptoms of withdrawal have a psychological as well as physical aspect to them. Whatever method you choose, there is no substitute for the support of those around you and consideration of the reasons we feel we need to continue taking medication long past the point at which it would have been judicious to stop.
Once again, I genuinely hope that anyone out there reading this and thinking about escaping from a pill habit feels helped into taking that final decision to stop - its a few weeks of pain at worst but the upside is huge.
Regards all & best wishes, enq.
Day 19 now. Nearly three weeks without taking a pill or potion other than paracetamol. Every day seems to deliver an improvement on the previous one & now the fear that "I'm never going to feel right" is receding.
My only real gripe at the moment is that physical energy levels seem to be low, or at least that I seem to tire easily - this may be physical (I spend a large part of my life sitting or lying down & could do with losing a few pounds, well about 25 to be accurate), psychological (depression as a symptom of withdrawal can easily ally itself with lethargy) or just plain old laziness.
Anyway, I suppose I had better do something to combat this so it's off to the gym this afternoon (I have not set foot inside a gym since I left school, more moon cycles ago than a celestial tour de France).
This should be an interesting exercise though I intend to check on the availability of a defibrillator and suitably qualified first aiders before doing anything rash.
Glad to hear that the guest poster who swallowed the entire present from Canada is sworn off the stuff - if its difficult (& it is) coming off from a 200 pill jag just imagine how much less fun it is coming off a multi year habit at 8,500 pills a year plus (I just did the maths and frankly it's frightening) - you're as well to get off it as early as possible - it's never too late but conversely, never early enough.
Also good luck to Phil & Amy - I have no experience of suboxone but would imagine that everyone's experience is different anyway as so many symptoms of withdrawal have a psychological as well as physical aspect to them. Whatever method you choose, there is no substitute for the support of those around you and consideration of the reasons we feel we need to continue taking medication long past the point at which it would have been judicious to stop.
Once again, I genuinely hope that anyone out there reading this and thinking about escaping from a pill habit feels helped into taking that final decision to stop - its a few weeks of pain at worst but the upside is huge.
Regards all & best wishes, enq.
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Hi all.
I have been reading through so many forums looking for help for codeine addiction and was suprised to see I was not alone.
I had been using OTC tylenol for about 10 years but never really even admitted it to myself. No one else knew. I didn't realize how negatively my life was changing. I was not happy with anything in life. I hated my job, I was avoiding, and ultimately losing alll my friends. I had a bout with cancer about 2 years ago. I had an injury at work last year.
But worst of all, my relationship of seven years just ended because of my mood/attitude in life.
I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem. To little to late? I don't know.
I stopped cold turkey the day I moved out- a month ago. The only withdrawal I have is anxiety/deppresion. very severe. It just won't let up. I feel like it's never going to let up.
I thought maybe it's not the best time to quit with everything else that was going on but I have to do this. I've ruined enough of my life.
Having to start a new life in this state is impossible. When not at work, I lock myself up at home.
I hope this feeling doesn't last much longer.
I have been reading through so many forums looking for help for codeine addiction and was suprised to see I was not alone.
I had been using OTC tylenol for about 10 years but never really even admitted it to myself. No one else knew. I didn't realize how negatively my life was changing. I was not happy with anything in life. I hated my job, I was avoiding, and ultimately losing alll my friends. I had a bout with cancer about 2 years ago. I had an injury at work last year.
But worst of all, my relationship of seven years just ended because of my mood/attitude in life.
I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem. To little to late? I don't know.
I stopped cold turkey the day I moved out- a month ago. The only withdrawal I have is anxiety/deppresion. very severe. It just won't let up. I feel like it's never going to let up.
I thought maybe it's not the best time to quit with everything else that was going on but I have to do this. I've ruined enough of my life.
Having to start a new life in this state is impossible. When not at work, I lock myself up at home.
I hope this feeling doesn't last much longer.
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that is stupid, u probably heard him wrong and if not hes terrible and probably is a dodgey operator. if someone is taking 50 even after ten weeks they are still taking 17-18 pills a week. thats not fighting addiction. you'd relapse straight away because ur still getting nearly asmuch as usual! u have to go throught withdrawals and mentally fight it urself with ur own mental power. if u dnt or cant then its u telling urself that. because you can. alot of ppl go through alot more and u will go through alot more without a choice in it if u continue to ruin ur insides with a drug. i have been addicted taking atleast 70 a week and i stopped. i felt sick, dizzy, tired, headaches constantly and not to mention MOODSWINGS OF DEATH! my partner nearly left me till i confessed to her what was going on... (do this first anyone else dont let them think ur jst being an ass for no reason. i learnt the hard way) anyway it went away and u hardly even notice all of a sudden ur good and feeling even better than wen u were feeling that codeine floaty-ness. the 10% method is for half arsed ppl who dont really want to quit but think they should do "something" kind of like ppl who go buy fat free products but buy twice asmuch as usual and dont understand why they arent losing weight. COLD TURKEY or very low dose but i dont see the point. ur trying to teach ur body it cant have the substance anymore. putting more in jst tell the system its still available and ur body will push even harder on u to gain more!
sorry for short hand and probably bad construction but its 4am and i had to say something after reading that last post
sorry for short hand and probably bad construction but its 4am and i had to say something after reading that last post
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Hi everyone..I'm new here, 50 yrs old (next week) and thought I would tell you about my experiences with coming off of Codeine.
I was first put on Solpadol (30/500) 6 years ago after a left ulcer developed - to start with I couldn't even tolerate 1 tablet without being violently sick then gradually over the years I was able to increase the dose and here I was 6 years later on 5 x 30mgs Codeine Phosphate plus 1 x 15mgs Codeine Phosphate and 2 Co-Codamol (8/500) 6 TIMES A DAY!!
2 Weeks agao I decided that I had to do something, I went to my GP and cried my eyes out as my life had become long days of permanent tiredness and depression and I was spending the best part of everyday in bed... My GP referred me to a clinic dealing in people addicted to prescription drugs and I can honestly tell you that the last 4 days have been the worst of my life but I am finally on my way to be opiate free...!! I was asked to come off the codeine last Tuesday 14th July 09 at 2pm in the afternoon... then the next morning I went to the clinic at 9am (I was 'crawling the walls'!) where I was tested to make sure I was in withdrawal (sweating/pulse and Blood pressure readings/runny nose/eyes etc..etc..) then I was given my first dose of 4mgs 'Subutex' (buprenorphine) - I couldn't believe it! within 5 mins all my withdrawals had disappeared! It was fantastic! then 1 hour later they gave me another 4 mgs - 15 mins later I felt awful! totally 'spaced out' drunk and nauseous, I then came home and slept.... then the next day they started me off on 8mgs intending to give me 16 mgs after an hour but again I felt like a zombie.. I was so drunk i couldn't even stand up straight so the Doctor decided not to give me anymore and he sent me home asking me to return today at 9am. I got there this morning with only minor withdrawals (nothing uncomfortable) and it was decided that I would be started off on 4mgs then I would go home and return to the clinic at 4pm this afternoon where I would be given another 4 mgs , this I duly did and I can promise you that I feel absolutely great! Okay I still feel a bit disorientated and 'drunk' but no where near how I did when I started the treatment on Wednesday morning.....I will now 'dose myself' over the weekend (4mgs in the morn and 4mgs in the late afternoon) then I will return to the clinic on Monday 20/7 to see how I have got on...the dose may need 'tweaking' a bit but I'm sure they will sort that out.
Don't ever suffer in silence whilst getting off this terrible drug! there is help out there and ever town has some sort of clinic similar to the one I go to where they will help you all they can. This clinic also deals with heroin/crack/coke addicts and to see the difference in them during the short time I have been attending is amazing.... I am just so thankful that this sort of clinic exists as I don't think my body would have taken anymore Codeine abuse...
If you look up the word 'Subutex' on google etc... you can read all about it.... go-on make that appointment with your GP - I promise you won't regret it xx
I was first put on Solpadol (30/500) 6 years ago after a left ulcer developed - to start with I couldn't even tolerate 1 tablet without being violently sick then gradually over the years I was able to increase the dose and here I was 6 years later on 5 x 30mgs Codeine Phosphate plus 1 x 15mgs Codeine Phosphate and 2 Co-Codamol (8/500) 6 TIMES A DAY!!
2 Weeks agao I decided that I had to do something, I went to my GP and cried my eyes out as my life had become long days of permanent tiredness and depression and I was spending the best part of everyday in bed... My GP referred me to a clinic dealing in people addicted to prescription drugs and I can honestly tell you that the last 4 days have been the worst of my life but I am finally on my way to be opiate free...!! I was asked to come off the codeine last Tuesday 14th July 09 at 2pm in the afternoon... then the next morning I went to the clinic at 9am (I was 'crawling the walls'!) where I was tested to make sure I was in withdrawal (sweating/pulse and Blood pressure readings/runny nose/eyes etc..etc..) then I was given my first dose of 4mgs 'Subutex' (buprenorphine) - I couldn't believe it! within 5 mins all my withdrawals had disappeared! It was fantastic! then 1 hour later they gave me another 4 mgs - 15 mins later I felt awful! totally 'spaced out' drunk and nauseous, I then came home and slept.... then the next day they started me off on 8mgs intending to give me 16 mgs after an hour but again I felt like a zombie.. I was so drunk i couldn't even stand up straight so the Doctor decided not to give me anymore and he sent me home asking me to return today at 9am. I got there this morning with only minor withdrawals (nothing uncomfortable) and it was decided that I would be started off on 4mgs then I would go home and return to the clinic at 4pm this afternoon where I would be given another 4 mgs , this I duly did and I can promise you that I feel absolutely great! Okay I still feel a bit disorientated and 'drunk' but no where near how I did when I started the treatment on Wednesday morning.....I will now 'dose myself' over the weekend (4mgs in the morn and 4mgs in the late afternoon) then I will return to the clinic on Monday 20/7 to see how I have got on...the dose may need 'tweaking' a bit but I'm sure they will sort that out.
Don't ever suffer in silence whilst getting off this terrible drug! there is help out there and ever town has some sort of clinic similar to the one I go to where they will help you all they can. This clinic also deals with heroin/crack/coke addicts and to see the difference in them during the short time I have been attending is amazing.... I am just so thankful that this sort of clinic exists as I don't think my body would have taken anymore Codeine abuse...
If you look up the word 'Subutex' on google etc... you can read all about it.... go-on make that appointment with your GP - I promise you won't regret it xx
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hey i am addicted to codeine, i have a good friend who is trying to help me get off of them, the problem is i am only 17, i have been taking them since i was 13/14. At first it started off as something to get me on a "buzz" but now i cannot stop. I need them to regulate my sleeping patterns i need them to feel "normal"
I would love to get off of them, but i donot want to tell anycase my family finds out, i know it will kill them emotionally.
Has anyone got any ideas? It would greatfully appreciated
Cheers
I would love to get off of them, but i donot want to tell anycase my family finds out, i know it will kill them emotionally.
Has anyone got any ideas? It would greatfully appreciated
Cheers
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I was addicted to Tylenol 1's, taking 2-4 to start every couple hours with back to back doses in the mornings....At the highest peak of the addiction i was taking 10x10 a day plus, and i decided recently with my wife that we were going to quit...for a short time some time ago i recieved percocet and oxycotin 10mg for a accident that I was in. I noticed during this time that i was not taking tylenol as much or did not feel such a urge for them. I went to a dealer and purchased 16 oxy 10mg for 2 people...so 8 days total. We went through such frustration to decide if we were going to quit slowly or if we were going to just END THE ADDICTION..
We decided to just end it, and take 1 10mg oxy @ 8pm each night, now the oxy are time released so it does last between 8-12 hours in some cases ( I do not recommend taking the drug) however I do want to tell you what helped me.
Its 1 am and this is technically day 11 for us.. We would spend about $200+ per month to beat the addiction and it was tough, strong withdrawls for 3 days.. Pain Pain Pain in the joints, especially knees and Elbows for myself, liquid sh**s, cold like symptoms.. Since not being on the oxy 10mg we have experienced some minor discomfort, however nothing even close to any day upto now..
I am done for good, I highly recommend quitting for everyone, i know that it is hard, and i know that the thought if it creates a fear inside of you...if you are working at a full time job, or even if you have children and a family at home that you want to keep the addiction away from.. Try and book some time off, find a babysitter, take a weeks leave.....I know its not easy but its worth it for your health and your wallet.
I live in Ontario Canada.
We decided to just end it, and take 1 10mg oxy @ 8pm each night, now the oxy are time released so it does last between 8-12 hours in some cases ( I do not recommend taking the drug) however I do want to tell you what helped me.
Its 1 am and this is technically day 11 for us.. We would spend about $200+ per month to beat the addiction and it was tough, strong withdrawls for 3 days.. Pain Pain Pain in the joints, especially knees and Elbows for myself, liquid sh**s, cold like symptoms.. Since not being on the oxy 10mg we have experienced some minor discomfort, however nothing even close to any day upto now..
I am done for good, I highly recommend quitting for everyone, i know that it is hard, and i know that the thought if it creates a fear inside of you...if you are working at a full time job, or even if you have children and a family at home that you want to keep the addiction away from.. Try and book some time off, find a babysitter, take a weeks leave.....I know its not easy but its worth it for your health and your wallet.
I live in Ontario Canada.
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hiya my name is chrissy. I have had a codeine addiction for over 2 years. I cannot ween myself off codeine, i love them too much.
At first i was taking the normal 8 a day and then it has increased to 50 a day. I've been through one withdrawal in hospital and it lasted about 5 days for me. They gave me asprin/ibuprofen and one sleeping tablet at nite. If i woke up they gave me another sleeper. I didnt want to get hooked on valium for sleeping so i only took it when i needed it. At home i have natural remedies that can aid my sleep, but if its too hard i will take a valium or two. I am addicted to drugs and i cannot have the whole bottle at home, unless someone can dispense them to me at home, i will get one or two each day from the pharmacy.
THE TRUTH IS, I WASN'T READY TO STOP USING CODEINE. After being clean for 6 mths, i had some pain and thought i could have a few, a year later i am on 50 a day. I've tried detox, hospital and now they are suggesting going onto suboxone/subutex for a short period. (Replacement drug therapy is good if you dont want to go thru the withdrawals by yourself. Also, its all monitored by medical staff and you get a dose each day from the chemist for about $5-7 AUD. It's an easy drug to start and to finish. I have plenty of options to chose from).
Last time, the worst of the withdrawals hit me on the 3rd and 4th days, i remember having a headache, sleeplessness and some body pains. Like i said (above) this was easily taken care of in hospital. On the 5th day i felt fine and ready to go home.
I AM READY TO STOP USING NOW, I AM SICK OF VISITING THE CHEMIST EVERYDAY AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.
My dosage is twice as much since the first and last time i went into a medical detox unit, and i think i'm either brave or crazy for trying it at home but i'm so sick of drugs and chemists and medical staff.
I took the last codeine tablets yesterday. It's now 24 hrs later and so far so good. To fight the sleeplessness i will take valerian (natural) and lavender oil burner, lavender on my pillow, warm milk with honey and hot baths with muscle relaxant. The headaches and aches in my legs - i find tough but the ibuprofen/asprin helps alot with this, so does a warm bath etc. It's only 5 days of withdrawals for me, like having the flu, if it gets too much i will see my doctor immediately for something a little stronger to help with the withdrawals. If i do use other drugs like valium etc, I will only use them for the withdrawal period.
I have plenty of support, and i ask alot of questions, wanting to stop and self honesty are the keys to recovery and freedom.
If we don't succeed at first, try and try again, take care of YOU ! Chrissy from Australia xox :)
At first i was taking the normal 8 a day and then it has increased to 50 a day. I've been through one withdrawal in hospital and it lasted about 5 days for me. They gave me asprin/ibuprofen and one sleeping tablet at nite. If i woke up they gave me another sleeper. I didnt want to get hooked on valium for sleeping so i only took it when i needed it. At home i have natural remedies that can aid my sleep, but if its too hard i will take a valium or two. I am addicted to drugs and i cannot have the whole bottle at home, unless someone can dispense them to me at home, i will get one or two each day from the pharmacy.
THE TRUTH IS, I WASN'T READY TO STOP USING CODEINE. After being clean for 6 mths, i had some pain and thought i could have a few, a year later i am on 50 a day. I've tried detox, hospital and now they are suggesting going onto suboxone/subutex for a short period. (Replacement drug therapy is good if you dont want to go thru the withdrawals by yourself. Also, its all monitored by medical staff and you get a dose each day from the chemist for about $5-7 AUD. It's an easy drug to start and to finish. I have plenty of options to chose from).
Last time, the worst of the withdrawals hit me on the 3rd and 4th days, i remember having a headache, sleeplessness and some body pains. Like i said (above) this was easily taken care of in hospital. On the 5th day i felt fine and ready to go home.
I AM READY TO STOP USING NOW, I AM SICK OF VISITING THE CHEMIST EVERYDAY AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.
My dosage is twice as much since the first and last time i went into a medical detox unit, and i think i'm either brave or crazy for trying it at home but i'm so sick of drugs and chemists and medical staff.
I took the last codeine tablets yesterday. It's now 24 hrs later and so far so good. To fight the sleeplessness i will take valerian (natural) and lavender oil burner, lavender on my pillow, warm milk with honey and hot baths with muscle relaxant. The headaches and aches in my legs - i find tough but the ibuprofen/asprin helps alot with this, so does a warm bath etc. It's only 5 days of withdrawals for me, like having the flu, if it gets too much i will see my doctor immediately for something a little stronger to help with the withdrawals. If i do use other drugs like valium etc, I will only use them for the withdrawal period.
I have plenty of support, and i ask alot of questions, wanting to stop and self honesty are the keys to recovery and freedom.
If we don't succeed at first, try and try again, take care of YOU ! Chrissy from Australia xox :)
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Thanks to everyone in this thread! I had a monster of a codeine addiction. I was taking up to 2560mg of codeine a day until six weeks ago. I'd spend hours every day driving around pharmacies throught the county and buying 32-packs of co-codamol. I'd extract the codeine, and get through 10 packets of the damn things (320 tablets!) on a 'good' night.
I'd been addicted for about 2 1/2 years. I had been prescribed the stronger co-codamol (30mg of codeine) a few times for arthritis, and had discovered that they made me feel pretty good, especially taken with a few glasses of wine. About 3 1/2 years ago, a number of bad things happened to me: a bereavement, relationship trouble, family trouble, and eventually I lost my job. At this point I started drink too much, and for some stupid, self-destructive reason, I thought that taking codeine would be a good idea. I had read about how to extract the codeine from the co-codamol tablets, and so I tried it.
Doses of about 85mg three times a night quickly became 110mg every two hours (3 packs of co-codamol split into 7 doses). Soon it was 110mg every hour, and eventually it was 330mg at the start of the night, and 220mg every 30-40 minutes. I don't know why I chose those dose sizes. I think I do know why I took lots of 'smaller' doses instead of fewer large doses. I was scared of potentially overdosing, for one. It took quite a lot of time and effort to every physically separate the co-codamol into the paracetamol and codeine. And it echoed the way that I drink alcohol. For I was also drinking fairly heavily.
I got to the place I guess all addicts get to eventually. I was only taking the drug to try to get rid of the crappy withdrawal symptoms, the anxiety, the agitation, the sweating. As much as a I tried, I hadly got much of a high any more, just a plateau of 'feeling normal'. That's how people feel who don't take drugs, I read. Someone badly addicted to opiates like codeine mostly takes the medicine just to feel 'normal', but stopping the drugs would make them feel that way all the time.
I have no idea how I didn't kill myself. I never even passed out to such an extent that my girlfriend (a drink and drug tee-totaller, thank God) didn't just think I had dozed off. I was generally alert enough to pass for a bit drunk, at worst, most of the time.
She never even knew about me taking the codeine, although we lived together the whole time, which still amazes me. I still haven't told her, or anyone else. I passed the withdrawal off as 'flu.
In any case, I decided to quit about six weeks ago. After getting and then losing another job. After running out of all the money I could get. After being told that I was to be evicted from my flat for non-payment of rent. After my family started avoiding me and my requests for 'loans'. After finally seeing that it may be too late to save my relationship (the jury's very much still out on that one, by the way).
I was terrified about the withdrawal. I had been taking ridiculous amount of codeine, and I knew I was not in for an easy ride. Having read what people here had to say, I at least knew it was something I could get through. I was only a few days. I just made up my mind to think of it as a really bad dose of the 'flu, and as I had no funds to buy more co-codamol anyway, it was not something I had a choice in. And I wanted to feel normal again. Not the fake feeling of normalcy that I got when I'd taken enough codeine to mask the withdrawal symptoms for a while, but real, enduring normality.
The withdrawal was bad, but not nearly as bad as I had feared. It was pretty similar to most of the accounts here. After after about five days of pretty unpleasant agitation, flu'-like symptoms, and sweating, I was feeling a hell of a lot better. I was most scared about what people said about it getting worse for four days. The first two days were pretty crappy. I don't know how I got though, as I have rather weak willpower. I think if I'd had any money, I might have cracked. But I didn't find the third and fourth days to be all that much worse. Still pretty miserable, but by that time, the fact that I'd come that far, and that I was closer to the end of the acute withdrawal period than the start, gave me a lot of extra willpower. At least I never have to do this again, I though: As crappy as the later days were, I could see the finish line, and I could look back on the previous days, and though whole addiction mess, and know I would never have to go through it again.
It's all been getting better from there (other than a few days of a hellish restless nervy feeling in my arms in the second week). Most of the withdrawal had gone in a week, but I know I not quite full recovered yet. Nearly, though! And I'm feeling pretty 'normal'. Better than I did when I was high on the codeine, anyway. The urge to use again is still there, and sometime strong, but it'll fade. Could I now get really high again? Maybe. Would it destroy what's left of my life? Oh hell yes.
Best wishes to everyone, F.
I'd been addicted for about 2 1/2 years. I had been prescribed the stronger co-codamol (30mg of codeine) a few times for arthritis, and had discovered that they made me feel pretty good, especially taken with a few glasses of wine. About 3 1/2 years ago, a number of bad things happened to me: a bereavement, relationship trouble, family trouble, and eventually I lost my job. At this point I started drink too much, and for some stupid, self-destructive reason, I thought that taking codeine would be a good idea. I had read about how to extract the codeine from the co-codamol tablets, and so I tried it.
Doses of about 85mg three times a night quickly became 110mg every two hours (3 packs of co-codamol split into 7 doses). Soon it was 110mg every hour, and eventually it was 330mg at the start of the night, and 220mg every 30-40 minutes. I don't know why I chose those dose sizes. I think I do know why I took lots of 'smaller' doses instead of fewer large doses. I was scared of potentially overdosing, for one. It took quite a lot of time and effort to every physically separate the co-codamol into the paracetamol and codeine. And it echoed the way that I drink alcohol. For I was also drinking fairly heavily.
I got to the place I guess all addicts get to eventually. I was only taking the drug to try to get rid of the crappy withdrawal symptoms, the anxiety, the agitation, the sweating. As much as a I tried, I hadly got much of a high any more, just a plateau of 'feeling normal'. That's how people feel who don't take drugs, I read. Someone badly addicted to opiates like codeine mostly takes the medicine just to feel 'normal', but stopping the drugs would make them feel that way all the time.
I have no idea how I didn't kill myself. I never even passed out to such an extent that my girlfriend (a drink and drug tee-totaller, thank God) didn't just think I had dozed off. I was generally alert enough to pass for a bit drunk, at worst, most of the time.
She never even knew about me taking the codeine, although we lived together the whole time, which still amazes me. I still haven't told her, or anyone else. I passed the withdrawal off as 'flu.
In any case, I decided to quit about six weeks ago. After getting and then losing another job. After running out of all the money I could get. After being told that I was to be evicted from my flat for non-payment of rent. After my family started avoiding me and my requests for 'loans'. After finally seeing that it may be too late to save my relationship (the jury's very much still out on that one, by the way).
I was terrified about the withdrawal. I had been taking ridiculous amount of codeine, and I knew I was not in for an easy ride. Having read what people here had to say, I at least knew it was something I could get through. I was only a few days. I just made up my mind to think of it as a really bad dose of the 'flu, and as I had no funds to buy more co-codamol anyway, it was not something I had a choice in. And I wanted to feel normal again. Not the fake feeling of normalcy that I got when I'd taken enough codeine to mask the withdrawal symptoms for a while, but real, enduring normality.
The withdrawal was bad, but not nearly as bad as I had feared. It was pretty similar to most of the accounts here. After after about five days of pretty unpleasant agitation, flu'-like symptoms, and sweating, I was feeling a hell of a lot better. I was most scared about what people said about it getting worse for four days. The first two days were pretty crappy. I don't know how I got though, as I have rather weak willpower. I think if I'd had any money, I might have cracked. But I didn't find the third and fourth days to be all that much worse. Still pretty miserable, but by that time, the fact that I'd come that far, and that I was closer to the end of the acute withdrawal period than the start, gave me a lot of extra willpower. At least I never have to do this again, I though: As crappy as the later days were, I could see the finish line, and I could look back on the previous days, and though whole addiction mess, and know I would never have to go through it again.
It's all been getting better from there (other than a few days of a hellish restless nervy feeling in my arms in the second week). Most of the withdrawal had gone in a week, but I know I not quite full recovered yet. Nearly, though! And I'm feeling pretty 'normal'. Better than I did when I was high on the codeine, anyway. The urge to use again is still there, and sometime strong, but it'll fade. Could I now get really high again? Maybe. Would it destroy what's left of my life? Oh hell yes.
Best wishes to everyone, F.
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Same deal here. I got addicted to about 30 nurofen plus per day. Like most ppl here I didn't want to drag the medical profession/family in on this one, so i opted to go it ( ie cold turkey) alone. It was a pita, but its do-able (at least from 30 N+ a day it is). I just told ppl that i had the flu. After about 5 days i felt heaps better and after a week i felt nearly normal.
I'd suggest being careful about taking more of them later on, even for 'legitimate' reasons. Its all too easy to slide back into it.
charlie
I'd suggest being careful about taking more of them later on, even for 'legitimate' reasons. Its all too easy to slide back into it.
charlie
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