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

Hi Kerrie
I too have become addicted to these tablets after originally taking them for pain and being prescribed 200 per four weeks. Except three months on, 200 hundred last me about 9 days. I am taking 20 a day and am at my wits end. How are you doing now some time on? Did you get through it? I have felt so guilty about what I am doing and afraid how it is affecting me. I am even ordering now online to keep a good supply. I visit different chemists so that they don't question me about my usage and quantity ordering. What a mess! I spoke to someone today about it for the first time and they think I should go to the drug addiction clinic. Me, 49 years old and an addict. Then I think, when I come off these, what will I take for my ongoing pain? Let me know Kerrie how you are and how it was. Jan

Hi just wondered how your all doing ? Perfect angel I'm really pleased for you ! You was so brave to do what you did !! I'm really dependant on codeine I have been for almost 3 years I had them on prescription for gall bladder stones along with tramadol anyway I had surgery so that solved the problem of that pain but I became silly I was early 20s as the time Iv never smoked or I don't drink when I did drink I would end up so I'll from 1 alcopop there was no bloody incentive then when I had codein it used to make me feel drunk without the nasty side effect of alcohol I was chilled out happy confident and slept like a log . Only when I couldn't get a prescription anymore it became a problem I was told I was addictive By the Doctor and no chance . Witch led me to start asking friends that I knew had medical problems Id pretend I suffered the same lady troubles so they would kindly give me there spare 100. X 30/500 that would last me a week then Id be worrying where to go next . I Then called and asked to speak to different doctors make an appointment pretend I had pains in my lady area ireguakr bleeding ect it worked for a while I got prescriptions .. Until i was referered for a gynacolagist appt at the hospital I didn't attend of course made an appt for more tabs .. Was asked why I never went to it made an excuse i was scared had no support to go offered to set a next appt up for me I told them I will take prescription for now and ask friends if they will come to an appt with me before you send a referral . Of course this was getting it of hand so I stopped going i started reading online so co codimol over the counter is 8mg/500 then nurofeon plus is 12mg /200 so I was taking 4 x 12mg codein200 ibufeon and then 3 x 8/500 paracetamols everytime they wore of Id take more I didn't care if it hadn't been long enough eiether realised there's a codein in cough mixture brought that to chemists started to question me and began to recognise me and eventually found myself travelling around 5 or more different chemists to try and avoid them recognising me I would say there for my parter who has this .... Or me who has that .... Anyway it was gettin really out of control the amount I was taking probably 30 tablets the way I was taking 5 every time . Went to my doctors and told her she was supportive signed me off work as I worked full time and started to actually wrote me prescriptions of pure codein 100 a week Id see her every 2 weeks we would try to drop by 1 tablet each time to lower the withdrawal side effects this turned out to be a very long process around 7months and I was still signed off work and I was gettin to around just 4 tabs a day then everything went wrong I lost my job thru the sickness time and I fell off the wagon and took them I felt like my concentration wasn't tjere cause my brain was only thinking of codein when I took what I wanted I had no concentration issues . So obviously I felt to ashamed to see her as I failed and we had been doing this plan for ages I felt terrible I made a diff apt with another doctor again he doesn't seem to be like she was she would talk you through how many a day you should take she work out the exact amount you need this other doctor just writes me a prescription for 400 and says see you in 4 weeks I don't think he's actually bothered as he's been doing this for 3 months and consodering I'm supposed to be reducing he doesn't work out the amount to give me just gives me to many witch really isn't helping as more I have the more I end up having I'm not strong enough . Anyway Iv found out I'm pregnant and IIt wasn't planned at all Iv been with my partner 11 years we already have children together and he wasn't happy about the new baby so I was of course upset and when I'm upset I get really bad mental state and have no respect for myself o take tablets cause I don't care about myself and frankly of anything happened to me I think oh well they would be better off without me anyway . I ran out of tablets Monday as I hadn't seen doctor in about 6 weeks due to xmas and new year and it didn't help that I forgot I had an I owe you preacription from the pharmacy as he gives me 400 they can't dispense them all to me so I forgot about that slip with 36 on i ran out of tables scouring my old handbags coats jackets in my wardrobe on shelves looking in old medicine tubs looking on top of kitchen units I hate being like that found the slip I thought phew il collect them in morn until I read you have 28 days to pick up it had passed and I rang them they said no

Hi I know you posted this over a year ago and I really hope your codeine free. Before I post anything else would you mind letting me know if your ok to talk. Kind regards Tina

Good Morning All,

This will be only the 2nd time in my life I have ever posted anything on the internet, but I wanted to say to Perfect Angel, thank you. Last week at around day 4 of being cocodamol free I stumbled onto your posts, they saved my sanity. I recognised and related to everything you were feeling in them and your posts helped me see that everything would be alright, eventually. I have been taking 30/500 cocodamol for about 3 years, I was taking about 12 a day sometime less sometimes more. Over recent months I had noticed that I was running out of tablets before my repeat prescription and buying OTC products. Me and my husband are planning on trying to start a family this year so in the New Year I decided that I needed to get my body ready for this. I am 37 years old so an older hopeful mum and needed to get in shape. I started with stopping smoking, got on top of that quite quickly and remain smoke free. Then Feb came and I could see that I was going to run out of tablets before my prescription so decided Ok i will just stop taking them. I HAD NO IDEA what would happen to me. I had no idea what would happen to my body. I stopped on the 08/02/15, my last dose. I had no tabs in the house. Went to work on the Monday, all seemed ok, went to work on Tuesday, by lunch time I felt like a cold was coming on. My nose was running like never before and I was starting to ache. I got to the end of the day and went home, as the night progressed I felt worse and worse, I had tummy cramps, I was shivering, hot and cold sweats, every bone and muscle in my body hurt....FLU had landed big style so I thought. I got up for work the next day, day 3 of codeine free, NO WAY was I moving anywhere, my husband put me back to bed and phoned in sick for me. I could hardly move the paid was so bad. I eventually pulled myself out of the bed and to the couch. I could not keep still, sitting still hurt but I was exhausted so moving around all the time was hurting too. Around this time I started to think about taking a tablet, I searched the house from top to bottom, even though I knew there were none in the house. Then it hit me, did I have the flu or was this something to do with the tablets. Then I stumbled on your posts, OH MY, I saw it there and then clear as day, I was suffering from withdrawal. Day 5 i confided in a friend, that made me feel better, knowing that she would listen and help and because it was 'out' I felt better that I could beat it. The symptoms were still bad, the runny nose, sneezing and yawning were unbearable, it was constant. But the worse has been the aching and pain in my muscles, particulary my back (why I started taking them in the first place). I am still not sure if it is the original pain coming back or if it is solely from the painkillers??? Anyway day 6 arrived, Valentines Day, so far my husband does not know what is going on and I do not plan to ever tell him. He thinks I still have flu, but I felt a bit better so went to the effort for him and spoiled him rotten when he got in from work. Day 7 arrived and I felt even better, in fact i felt hungry for the first time and wanted breakfast from Mcdonalds. My husband being the lovely man he is saw this was the first time I had been hungry for a week and agreed we could have breakfast. I got into his vehicle and immediately notice 2 of my tablets in the cup holder AAAHHHHHH! I know i should have just binned them or told him not to let me have them but I didn't I thought one does won't hurt. When we got back from breakfast down the hatch they went. What a fool I was. I felt great, all the pains had gone, my nose had stopped running and i felt 'normal' even went out and pruned my fruit trees for a couple of hours. Then suddenly I was thrown back to feeling like I did on day 4, everything hurt so much more again, my nose was running and I felt rubbish all over again. It did not take me long to realise what I done to myself. Day 8 (now day 1 again!) ill again, no way I can drive to work, phone in sick again. Husband starting to get really worried and wanting me to go to the doctors. I really don't want to. I do not want this on my medical records. My repeat prescription has arrived.....i burnt it on my fire in a fit of rage, what have I done.......the right thing I know but the feeling of panic washing over me makes me just lie there in front of the fire and cry uncontrollably. Eventually I get a grip and realise that it will be fine, I just need to stay strong. I keep reminding myself that if I want a baby I cannot be taking this medication! Day 9, back to work I go, I am a mess, I look and feel horrid. I get in early and ask to speak to my boss. I explain what has been going on (crying), he is understanding to a degree but still expects me to be in the office working when really I just need a few more days, but I have managed to stay at work all day, up and down all day, cried in the loo a few times, my body still aches so badly. I have been taking ibuprofen and the odd lemsip to manage the symptoms, no other paracetamol than contained in the lemsip. Day 10, at work, can't cope with the pain and restlessness. Get up and walk out and go for a walk down by the river, go back, do this a few times in the day. THE PAIN OH THE PAIN IN MY BACK. I feel like I have run a marathon, i ache I am so stiff, help please.................Day 11 (today) woke up feeling refreshed, not so achy today or stiff. I can still feel it but it does feel like it is getting better. Tummy was a bit strange this morning again but manageable, still sneezing and yawning but not as much. Could this be the light at the end of tunnel that I am seeing??? To anyone who has successful stopped and stayed off these tablets I take my hat off to you. THIS IS HORRIBLE but i know that I will feel better and am no longer abusing my body. As well as the physical symptoms which are horrid. I was lucky in some ways, only 1 night of no sleep, I have been sleeping well throughout otherwise. The low and black feelings that come over you are horrid, my anxiety levels are through the roof, i keep reminding myself that I am fine, this is just my brain trying to get me to take codeine. I am so angry with myself for letting this happen, I was the one taking them but I did not for one second think that stopping taking them would cause this reaction. I had no idea, I just thought as they were a prescription drug that I could just stop taking them. I hope that you have managed to stay stong and kept off the pills, and if not that you are still trying to give them up. If I do slip (which I have no plans to do so) then I know that I have to immediately STOP again. I best go and do some work now as I am sat at my work computer posting this, naughty. Once again thank you to perfect angel and everyone else who has posted on here, you kept me company and kept me informed about what was happening to me, that made me feel that bit safer.

THANKS XXXXX

I have seen so many people having different types of addiction but in this forum I have found different stories with struggeling people. Very appreciable.

I started taking Codeine for my chronic headaches, then with prolonged use, i got addicted, I would take sometimes more than 32 tablets a day. One time I had (what I believed), paracetamol poisoning, so it was the one time that I decided to stop, I’ve gone through very tough withdrawal for a month, then I turned to Subutex, it gave me relief from withdrawal and suppressed my craving.

After 3 months of Subutex, I stopped cold turkey and went through hellish subutex withdrawal for 3-4 weeks. Now after a month, the Codeine craving came back, I relapsed once since.

Today it's been day 9 off relapse Codeine, i don't have acute withdrawal as my relapse only lasted a week, but i made a mistake and i took Tramadol, which i believe rests my healing body i brain, so i think i must go off all opiates, and look for other pain medications.

Day 2 .... I am 36 year old female and I've been hooked on the 30/500 cocods for about 3 years taking the mex dose of 8 tabs aday every day spacing the dose between 3-4 hours. It's been 24 hours since I've taken my last two. I've got the s*** ts big time and am feeling nauseous. I know the symptoms will get worse during the day but Im also feeling positive that I'm gonna do this no matter what it takes. I'm fed up of these ruling my life I'm now gonna get some control back. I will never ever touch another cocod in my life. In the past I have managed to cut down to 4 a day but then it always creeps back up . I hate the aches and pains that are associated with the withdrawals they are the worst symptom to cope with.  I will keep you posted and I would appreciate any tips to cope with this dreaded withdrawal

Day 2 it's been 34 hours since my last dose and I was getting pretty bad so took some ibuprofen which really helped. I'm getting bad hot and cold shivers and tummy is really sore . Feeling sickly which comes in waves but I'm managing it. Been out to buy some vitamin tabs cos I heard it's recommended to take them . I've been drinking lots of water which should help to flush them out of my system. I got bad diarrhea sorry for being graphic but it's really getting to me. Still feeling positive so I've got rid of all the friggin tablets . This means no more in the house and I'm feeling quite pleased with myself . 

Hii, i hope you're hunging there, the withdrawal symptoms are painful, but it's really worth the pain to finally be clean and healthy. I used to take 32 tablets a day, then stopped cold turket.
The first few days are the worst, after the first week things get better, just keep up the good work. Stay away from all mind-altering drugs, especially opiates like Tramadol ... etc, but also sleeping-pill and alocohol, in my experience, they just prolonge the withdrawal and prevent the brain from healing. Good luck.

Thank you for the reply... I'm still going strong it's been 38 hours since my last tablets and I'm doing ok. I don't drink alcohol so that's one less thing to worry about. I haven't taken any ibuprofen because I'm coping ok for now . 32 tablets is a lot to take in one day so congrats to you for your achievement . I'm worried about the damage I've done to my liver over the years and I think that's the reason I became so determined to go cold turkey an never touch them again. My kids deserve better than having mum on drugs. I feel so ashamed and angry with myself for getting into this mess. But hey onwards and upwards ... To be honest I'm worried about tomorrow and how bad it'll be cos I feel I've had a good day today ... My tummy is still feeling rather sore but I've managed to eat a meal which is good . I feel restless every four to five hours which is the time I used to take the tablets and I'm hoping thus will pass .. Sorry for rambling on .... Will keep you posted.

Day 3 last dose was 59 hours ago . I've had a hard day with the nausea and runs. Took some ibuprofen at 4 pm to ease the aches and pains which really helped. The shivers are getting worse so am wrapped up nice and warm. There's been times where I've wondered if I can stick it out cos the symptoms are really bad but this seems to last a little while. remaining positive is key and reminding myself that it won't last forever. I'm now giving it another 36 hours and I should start to improve . Thank god I'm sleeping ok although it takes longer to dose of because of itching and restless legs. I feel nauseas especially after eating . Water is essential to help flush out the toxins a lot quicker so I've been drinking like no ones business cos I'm on the loo anyway !!! Lol. Putting feelings and experience down actually helps and at the same time I'm hoping it will encourage others who are going through the same thing. I've been talking to my mate a lot about it and she's really understanding and supportive. 

I know the symptoms are terrible, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. I'm 40 days off Codeine and i've never felt that good in years. So it's worth it. For diarrhea, Loperamide should help. Exercise also helps with mood and sleep, although it's difficult to find motivation to exercise during withdrawal. Drinking water should help, although i'm not a big fan. For me, restless legs and hot-cold sensations were the worst, and if you're lucky enough to find sleep, that helps a lot. It's also important to understand that sometimes symptoms come and go in waves, which means you may feel good today, and bad tomorrow. But it gets better with time.
Good luck.

Day 4 can't believe I'm on day 4 .. it's been 74 hours since and Iv started having these sneezing fits. I've got work today so in gonna take ibuprofen before the aches and pains get real bad. Slept ok last night thank god I think because these symptoms leave me feeling exhausted. So that's defo a plus getting the sleep. Don't miss the codeine one bit ... However yesterday was a bad day and was really having second thoughts.... It's all really mixed up right now in terms of feelings but trying to focus on the positives. The blogs on here are really inspirational and puts things into perspective so thank you all for support comments and feed back ...  Thank you so much

Been to work dressed like an Eskimo ..looked really stupid all wrapped up when the weather is real nice but I don't care I was absolutely frozen . Tried really hard to focus but the shivers are a nightmare right now. Doing ok on the whole no aches or pains cos of the ibuprofen so defo recommend it . As each hour passes I'm celebrating being codeine free and I never thought I would say this!! Looking forward to day 5 !

Well done Sarah :) I'm on day 6 of cold turkey after 4 years of this stuff so I feel your pain (literally). Woke up feeling great today although sleep was intermittent. I slept okay but woke up a couple times in that crappy state that means you can't get comfortable. I found the best way to fight that and get back to sleep is by breathing as you would if meditating (my GP got me doing it to help with ADHD). I find that concentrating on taking slow deep breaths gets me right back to sleep again. There's a great app called Calm that is brilliant for meditation. Believe me, I was a total sceptic but it helps loads with anxiety. The waves of symptoms come and go but generally it's a few hours feeling normal (if I keep busy) and then an hour or two of feeling hot/cold, anxious and like I want to tense every muscle in my body. It's weird because it's like your muscles ache but it doesn't really hurt (if that makes sense?). My way of shaking this off for a bit is to have a nice bath. It's awesome when actually in the tub, it makes my muscles feel normal again. Anyway - on the plus side, it's getting better and easier each day, also my appetite has shot through the roof (seriously I had like, 3 breakfasts today) which is amazing as I was eating nothing for days before :) Good luck to you and everyone else on this rocky road. (ps. Imodium is your friend ;) ).