Withdrawal from codeine - cocodamol 30/500's - Day 2 of cold turkey!

I'm gonna start again this Friday. Clean break from codiene. I had originally planned for wed but got stress out at work. In total I'm only taken about 90 to 120 mg of codiene a day but i wanna stop cause at times I party and go to 200 mg of codeine. Did the total withdrawal before so I know what to expect. Saw a Counselor on Wed and he said just keep trying and you get there despite the slips. The paracetemol is the killer so I buy on the street DF 118's less damage to the liver but more scary when you do stop.

@ anna

thanks...almost their now, day 4 in a couple hours...feel sooooo much better already....taper down method works although i suffered for a few days b4 going cold turkey due to just cutting my dose to 4 tabs from 8 then to 3 in less than a week...so i was withdrawing then with insomnia etc..thats why i decided to just quit n get it over with.

the 3 days, particularly today (day 3 ) was worst...but its nearly 4 am here now - so in 4 hours im on day 4 ( or day 7 really if you count the withdrawals i suffered from fast reduction which didnt give me any or little effect from the pills )

 

So, this evening, no headaches, pains or aches, no nausea, tummy is almost back to normal as im keeping food in me, appetitie is back, had a cottage pie with chips n veg earlier and enjoyed it..almost licked the plate LOL..

my mind feels sharp again mentally and clear...i fell asleep after said meal about 7pm and awoke at 3am...so got a good nights sleep even though at unusual time LOL...but yeh, the worst is over now and i feel functional, even went to visit freinds for a coffee earlier and they commented on how much ''fresher' i looked, clear eyes and coulor to my face again, which was a great feeling.

 

So, im pretty sure ive cracked it now cos i feel happy and in no pain / discomfort at all really apart from a bit of tummy ache now n then which is perfectly normal and will go very soon.

I'll keep posting over next couple days just to make sure it is what it is lol.

 

@sunny jim

yeh your not really taking much co-codomol so your not gonna suffer as much as some people have on here.  The DFs..depending on strength (say a 30mg DF ) is twice as strong as one 30/500 co-codomol.  and are harder to come off...unless you cut the DFs completely, get down to a few co-codomols once a day on a fast reduction and as soon as you find yourself withdrawing n not sleeping like i did then just go for it man.

ty n get hold of some valium for a week...they really help with the whole effect, particularly sleep...i was taking 10mg valium in morning n evening first 2 days, on 3rd day only took one dose of 10 mig.....and now i dont need any as im into day 4 and feeling good..i suffered for a few days, so you will, but valium really helps.

drink plenty of water too..i was forcing 4 litres a day down me to flush my poisons out quicker - it works. and soup, i lived on soup for 5 days...cos thats all i could foce down me..but its hot and ives the body energy which t needs to speed recovery..not eating = longer recovery.

 

anyway will poat again layer.

never again will i take a codine or opiate based pill..terrible things.

Good luck sunny jim..stay strong , and be positive...its only a few days a illness then fine again as you know :-)

sorry not posted for day or so...internet issues.

anyway its been over a week now 8 days since i started a rapid withdrawal then cold turkey...and its all over  WOOT. WOOT, WOOT.....feel brand new again, the whole world looks different, brighter, i can hear the birds tweeting and singing, feel fresh when i wake up in mornings....hav a coffe n a ciggy and ready for day ahead and happy, god, i never realised how much those pills depress you without you even realising it...horrible pills.

i just feel so much more alert, fresh, talkative and energetic and its great.  And all through it...i never once had the cravings or urge to take those pills again, lucky on that part i guess.

now going through the day i feel alive and nothing feels like a chore anymore..wheras on those pills everything seemed a chore untill you took your next dose and they picked you up...nasty things they are.

 

life without pills is so much better..i love the feeling of being alert and in controll, not having to drag myself out of bed in the mornings and take a handfull of pills then sit round for an hour waiting for them to ''kick in'' so that i could function as a person.

 

all my emotions are back..another thing i never knew went 'missing''....but yeh im alert, chatty, happy, feel so much healthier and like a weight has lifted itself off my shoulders and the cloud of doom covering my brain is now replaced with sunshine...never ever will i take anything like that again..cant believe how quickly they get a grip of you and enslave you.

Im so glad i found this forum once i realised i had a problem.  Reading all the storys here gave me the resolve , the information and the 'what to expect' during withdrawals and it helped me a lot.

so i thank you all for posting, and wish everybody the best of luck in the same situation.

Life is so much better once you kick those pills its unreal........and it only takes a week or so to rid yaself of them.

 

I wake up feeling great now, even though its only been 8 days..it feels much longer..but guess thats the lack of sleep when your withdrawaing that drags the days out.

But, yeh, all good and happy and pill free, enjoying life with my 2 year old son again to the max.....happiness is important...dont let those pills take yours away...kick em..n youl feel like i do now.

 

Best of wishes to everybody, i'll always check this forum for people asking for info or whatever and will help anybody with a chat if needed.

 

regards

 

cain.

i am trying to get out of my addiction of co-codamol 30/500 and nitrazepam altogether.right now it's really very difficult. emotionally very stressed out as i couldn't tell anybody about this.i am not taking any interst in doing anything,even i don't want to get out. i realised this problem 4 years back.since then i am working on them.thera was a time when i used to buy them thru some sources cz my GP refused to give me as i finish them before they were due. i was takin 20 to 25 co-codamol 30/500 mgs everyday and 5 to 6 5 mgs of nitrazepm. i still remember the time when i was standing infront of GP surgery every Monday morning begging for more tablets. i still remember the taunting smile on the receptionist face when my doc refused to give me the tablets.i used to make falsae storeis and sometimes managed to get some. then one day i was being naerly insulted by the locum GP at the practice and that was the turning point. i tred very hard and now i am taking nearly 6 tablets of co-codamol 30/500 mgs plus 1 1/2 of nitrazepam. but withdrawls are awful.angry,agitated,sleeplessness, seeing the lost ones in my dreams and feeling like dying,thinking people are using me, stresssd out easily etc etc. but i am not giving up.

                         from today i am going to get down two mre tablets if co-codamol 30/500 mgs and ready for the ride cz of these i am on blood tansfusions.trust me. my body is not making iron and my hbs goes down.due to into;erance to iron i have to go for the blood transfusions after every 3 months. my main purpose to post this is warn people who are taking them on a regular basis,please stay away from them.tey are silent killer and enemy in disguise. i know thwy give you feel-good feeling but they are actullay dragging you towards the road to misery. i have a vey bautiful son and i am feeling so angry that i couldn't enjoy his childhjood because of this addiction. withdrawls are awful but the reward would be great. 

i use to take one 30/500mgs of co-codmol before my lunch at i p.m which i skipped and i am feeling weird.withdrawls are loss of appitite,headache,tearful,negative,don't want to do anything etc.there is my cousin's wedding in two days time and i don't want to go. 

i admire all those of you who are trying to kick this horrible addiction , i wish my boyfriend was as strong to rid himself of these tablets , his doc has cut the dose of codeine from 30 to 18 which is good if he does not take double the amount of tablets as his body is used to having 30/500mgs co-codamol tablets , i never new how much damage prescription drugs did to your body till i came across this forum , it has helped me understand a lot more about this addiction and be more understanding of it , think this forum has kept me and my boyfriend together so pleased i came across it , wish all of lots of luck with ridding yourselfs of these tablets

@ hopeful

 

stick with it pal, your doing well, i yself went through the 'feelings of total despair, anxiety and sleeplesness''..it really is  nasty...but its only fo few days then slowly you get better.....just dont give in man, take the pain, its only temporary and the feeling afterwards is awesome, it not only strengthens your character but puts you back on the race track rareing to go lol...

the emotional part is normal too...i had that as dose everybody else kicking this sh*t...'now im clean from them, when i look back, it's like i was in prison or something as i just never had motivation to do anything''.

but now its like a huge weight has been lifted and my motivation is back, getting up in the mornings n havin a coffee with radio on reading the newspaper, then doin a bit of work from home, nothing feels like 'a chore' anymore...its like im looking for something to do all the time with this new found energy.

Stick with it dude, you will get their, stay strong  keep reminding yourself its only illness for a short period but granted with rewards for long period afterwards.

good luck mate....dont let the bastards beat you.

 

cain

@ cain

thanks for all your support pal...but i'm feeling very restless with no energy although i didn't go cold turkey.just came from outside and there are pins and needles in my head,shivering...racing heart etc...big thanx again..just pray for my success cz i want to live don't want to die cz of these lethal tablets.they should be banned and GP should think before advising them to the patients.they are after the money and don't even think about the after effects of these tablets.they are silent killers.

Hopefull14 - I know you feel like sh*t now but stick with it. Are you tapering? trust me, it gets better, you'll go to hell and back but in a week or so you will be a new person. Imagine a life free of the pills. you can do it. Cain, well done mate xxx

@hopeful

 

hang in their buddy...it is a living hell doing the fast reduction the cold turkey.....i know how you feel, panic attacks, anxiety, depression...feel like your going mad and the usual aches, pains, restlesness along with all the other sh*t LOL...but man, stay strong, you know this is only short term, stay positive, drink lots of water...get some benzos (valium or temazipam ) to help with it over a week or so ....they really helped me.

whatever though, dont quit, cos you'l only be unhappy and a slave to the life they give you.

stay strong, you'l be better sooner than you feel you will, and its so much worth the pain, to feel the gain.  Good luck buddy, routing for you.

 

and yes, they should be banned i think, or at least 'full disclosure' on the perils of these pills should be explained before being handed out to unsuspecting patients. It's a disgrace.

 

@anna

thanks for messege.  Been feeling great for over a week now, back to normal bubbly self, work is coming in again keeping me buzy, nothing feels like a chore anymore - i just feel...like new lol..hard to exolain, but getting up in the morning and making a coffee without having to swallow a handfull of pills to 'feel normal' is such a buzz.....once ive woke up n put kettle on i feel fresh..hav a coffee, radio on..plan work for day...then off i go.  its great.

 

a week it took me...5 days were hell...but sooooo worth it. I was only hooked on them for 8 months though..so i feel for people that have been on them longer, but ya gotta get off these 'silent killers' people......google ''the silent addiction'' theirs plenty to read about seemingly harmless painkilers.

hang in therir people - and rid yourself of this horrible dependency...it really is worth the suffering.

For every single one of the previous posters who've been going through the hell of of withdrawal - and sharing honestly - thank you from the bottom of my heart. I've been taken OTC cocodamol for 3 years to help with CFS/ME pain. I'm very grateful for it - it has helped me function at work (and keep my P/T job). BUT no one warned me of the consequences of withdrawal. I had decided last Monday that I no longer needed this level of pain relief and stopped ... I had no idea what was happening to me - i thought I'd had a nervous breakdown/relapse of the ME (at it's height the pain would leave me immobile for days on end). Fortunately I've been on leave from work this last week and able to stay in bed, watch TV, just endure. It was only trawling through the internet in the early hours of this morning I discovered I had in fact been experiencing withdrawal. I'm lucky in that I rarely used the 30/500 tablets. Just the ones on sale at every chemist in town ... and not every day. I've been through enough this week to SO admire every single one of you - especially Perfect Angel, who called out into the darkness and sent out a beacon of hope to those of us who stumble onto this page. May you all find the courage to endure the short term pain (4 days and counting) for long term gain.

I too stumbled upon this site when searching for the little information there is about stopping co codamol. I hope this may help anyone in the same place as me. I had been taking co codamol for roughly 8 years as i have fibromyalgia and the pain is horrendous. At first it was the answer to my prayers but trust me it soon becomes your worst nightmare. I took 8 30/500 mg a day i was tempted to take more but resisted as i have a family and couldn't risk the dangers. As time went by my body became more tolerant to them and they did little to help the pain. In the last few months I realised all the tablets were doing was making me feel absolutely dreadful they literally seemed to steal away my soul. Mentally they made me feel empty, angry, anxious and apathetic and physically so awful too. Exhausted, irregular heartbeat and such an intense feeling of being unwell it is hard to describe.. A month ago I took my last tablet and haven't taken any since. I believed if i didn't stop they might kill me. The first couple of weeks were awful I won't lie. Headaches, body aching, sickness and stomach pains were the worst parts. The nights were long and restless with little sleep to soothe me. It would have been so easy to have taken some tablets to stop the dreadful withdrawal effects but I knew I was stronger than that and refused to give in. It has been over a month now since my last tablet . The physical withdrawl symptoms have gone but mentally it is still hard and each day I get through without them is a small victory. The advice I can give to anyone about to go on the same journey is take a multi vitamin, drink lots of water, exercise as best you can and eat a healthy diet but the best piece of advice is to believe in the strength you possess deep inside you and remember what sort of person you were before.

Hi everyone,

I see a lot of people reading about the shortage of information on codeiene withdrawal. I'm never sure if you are talking about "official" advise or general public advice.I do know from my own experience that there's a huge amount of information and experiences on sites like this, however there is very little official information. The official info you find tends to wrap up the withdrawal experience in a few short lines - and that's all there is to it really.

For those of you who are [thinking about] weaning yourself off or going cold turkey them I imagine you want to know loads of info, particularly those who are in the first 3 days of cold turkey. And this is probably because you're going insane and don't believe you'll ever get to a stage of feeling better - so you just need answers and reassurances that everything is going to be ok.

I've been taking solphadol 30/500 for 10 years - I only realised this last year when I thought about it. It really hit me hard. How the hell have I got mysefl into this situation? And I've tried to stop about 10 times in the past 3 years. The few times I've managed it I've felt great so now I'm trying to learn to stay off them. This time though I'm determined because I now understand the hidden effects they've been having on my life.

I'm currently on day 3 - its not so bad becasue I know what to expect now. I also know how to prepare mentally and know what to do during the day.

To come off codeine is pretty much the saem for everyone. You might be one of the extreme few who finds it easy or one of those who find it very hard. If you are currently cold turkeying and under 5 days then I'm sure you'll be thinking "I'm one of those extreme people who suffer really bad" ha ha. And I totally understand why you will be thining that. But believe me its normal.

The thing that gets me is this post was originally written 5 years ago and I've been reading it for years to help me through my withdrawals. I often wonder what the person is doing now and if they managed to keep off it.

Anyway I wanted to share my process for coming off it... one thing I can tell you is that it is slighty different each time. So I'll provide as much info as I can - try them all. If they work then great. If they don't then try something else.

Now the first and most important thing before you start... you are going to go through a pretty shitty time.If you go into this hoping for an easy time then it will beat you.Even if the first 2 days are not too bad don't start thinking that its a doddle - you need to reach the end before you safely say you are through.

OK the process takes between 3 and 7 days. I know that isn't going to help some of you. So I will say 5 days on average.Believe me though when you get to day 5 - whether you are a fast detoxer or a slow detoxer - then you've already beaten it.Why the hell would you givein after 5 days?!!! I'm not saying it is over but you'll understand when you get to this stage.

The next most important thing you need to know is that you will know when you have beat it because you will get a feeling of euphoria at some point. You know that nice feeling you've had in the past after taking a dose of codeine? Well you will get a similar feeling, albeit milder and it usually only lasts for a few minutes. That's when you brain has discovered that it needs to produce the various chemicals itself, rather than relying on the pills. This doesn't mean you are over it but it does mean that you have peaked in your withdrawal and its all down hill from here. You'll still have more detoxing to do but this is the key, and this is what you should be looking for.I get it every time and so do the people I know who have experienced withdrawal.

The final point is that once you have detoxed and the codeine is out of your system then you still have the longer term issues to deal with. For example: the reasons why you got hooked in the first place - there's usually a reson for it. So just be aware that you'll need to get used to coming home from your daily routine and getting bored. After 2 weeks you'll have got used to it.Also your brain needs more time to learn to produce the right chemical balance again - don't worry about this. It'll happen when it happens. The best approach here is to have a life - a bit of excercise, see your friends, eat well, rest, etc. In a month it'll feel like a different era in your life. Be aware you need to push yourself a little here - and I mean a little. If you aren't ready for the world yet then chill out at home with a few films, bookes, etc. and heal yourself. Don't try and rush this. Just buzz off the fact that you are doing it / have done it. You will be a completely better andhapier person in a couple of months time.

OK... so to start the detox. I never start in the morning. I always take my last dose about 5pm the day before I start. That way when you wake up you are already in detox mode. This will give you a head start.

I deally you won't have to work or have any commitments for the next 3 days - or 5 days if you can.

There are three ways to do this...

1. wean off slowly - big risk here because you only need a weak moment and you're back onthem. Don't kid youself!! but if you want to try this then make a plan and stick to it no matter what. Do it over 4 weeks but you must see progress every day or two.2. wean off quickly - save 4 tablets of your usual strength and have ONE tablet ONLY when you absolutely must. Remember the longer you can resist to take one then more you'll have later down the line. You will know if you are taking them for the wrong reasons. Are you serious about quitting or not?!3. cold turkey - what else can I say about this other than you will wish you tried option 1 or 2!! But this is best in my opinion if you want a quick turnaround in your life.

I tend to go with option 2. Its basically cold turkey but I know when I can't sleep (I have work in the morning) then I take one about 2am and it helps. Don't be tempted to take another though - it won't work. I know I have 4 tablets so I make them last. It only takes the edge off and I don't feel as if I cheated.

I don't want to go in to lots of detail about what to expect - there's loads of info on here already and they describe it all down to a tee.This pain and restlessness is exactly what is going to happen to you.

I've tried the gym, viatmins, saunas, excercise, etc. It never speeds it up ut does kinda make you feel better for a while.You just need to chill as much as possible and expect to go through bad times, especially at night. This is what makes the detox that killer. Loads of people say hot baths really help. Never done it myself though.

Get a peice of paper next to your bed and mark out the hours for 5 days... so 1 to 120 hours.Mark every hour that passes and even put a number representing how you feel. All you have to do is get to 120.When times are very hard just keep looking at the hours - all you need to do is get to 120. The middle bit will be a killer but please trust your body... it knows what to do. That's teh best bit of advice I can give you when you are sat there at 5am after another restless night and no sleep. 2 or 3 bad nights you sould expect... which you should expect after the first or second day.

If you know to expect this then you ned to keep reminding yourself of it every time you try and find an excuse to break the detox.It is only temporary. he more pain you go through the nearer you are to that feeling when you know your brain has finally decided it can't trick you any more and it gives in and starts to produce the 'natural' feel good chemicals.

Water definately helps. People generally ignore this bit... water helps. You won't realise this until you've detoxed a few times. Its always a shorter detox with water - I'd say it takes 12 hours off your detox. Don't go daft though... just drink 4 to 8 pints. For me it always eases the pain a little.And what harm does taking vitamins do for you? So take them - you never know it might help speed up the detox.

I also use sleepeze - a natural sleeping pill. But the trick for me is to take it when its 2am and I know I'm struggling to get some sleep. Half the time it doesn't work but half the time it does.

I always know I've peaked when I get my first proper sleep. The next day you will feel fantastic. BUT beware, if you are like me, the next night its a bad night again. But I always know the worst is over. Remember the detox is for 5 days... the rest can take 2 to 4 weeks ust to get a routine back. After you've detoxed do al the right things to help get you body back to a healthy state. If Ihave the energy I do a hard workout and stay up very late - hopefully when I get to bed I am fast to sleep.

Well reader if you have got this far then chances are you are going through the same journey as 1,000s of people before you... feel good that you have started it. Believe me deciding to detox moves you 50% of the way through this whole process... and becasue you are currently detoxing then yo're more than 50%.Hopefully you'll have your hour chart, and if you have decided to keep back 4 pills - just for emergencies - then this time next week you will be writing your experiences and advice on this web site. A week feels like a life time when you are detoxing. But my god when you look back on that week the feeling you get is undescribeable!! What an achievement you will feel. And people notice how much frsher and healthier you look - you seem happier people wil say. And it will probably inspire you to go on and do something else to improve yourself.

Final word... if you are like me and you are reading this site becasue it is the early hours of the morning and you've had no sleep again, you feel so depressed and alone, worrying about your liver and kidney, etc. etc. please remember I have been there. So many other people have been there. And we all feel for you and are all behind you 100% in getting you back to a great life. Youcan do it... what's a few days of pain. Accept the pain and know that you will get through this. Your experience is normal and the same as everyone before you.

I will keep my eye on this page and answer any questions you may have... good luck.

Coddy

 

 

 

 

Coddy/Cain and everyone else, I've done a very slow detox and am only taking bout 15 mgs codeine and 15 mgs of Hydrocodeine (1/2 of a DF 118) down from an average of 90 mgs to 120 mgs a day. It was hard to sleep so I took Dalmane at night. Now for the next week I'll drop the Hydrocodeine in the evening. That way me thinks my body and mind will not notice it so much. I've been on the Solphadeine (8 tabs a day) for 14 years but for the last 4 years got into the DF 118 tabs which can be bought anywhere in Dublin. For anyone else the first thing I noticed was going to the Loo alot and then the confusion and at night no sleep without Dalmane 30 mg. Coddy is right after 5 to 7 days its all clear that I know from Last April when I first stopped. And it was brilliant but last October I started again. I went to a consellor and I just talked about all the stuff that came up Anger Fear and stuff that happened in the past. I'm gonna go now and will stay in touch but it is a very cunningly deceiptive addiction.

Hi, read your comments and they really help, im goin to do option 2 as of tomorow morning (cold turkey) ive tried so mant times to come off these cocodamol and with the sleepless nights stomach pains, flu symtoms i end up taking them again, ive got valium to help me buy the next few days so i really to hope i do it this time :(