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Codeine cold turkey

Posted , 3 users are following.

emadams87
emadams87

I’ve been addicted to Codeine for 4 years after giving birth taking approx 10 tablets a day. 

Im on my 4th day without using them, I’m sick as a dog so have been taking some paracetamol for relief. ??

Early mornings are the hardest for me, every morning is a struggle when I get up as it was the first thing I did, I’ve been feeling very dizzy too ??

2 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • brianthesnail
    brianthesnail emadams87

    Posted

    Hi there 

           you shouldnt just stop taking them ... codeine is metabolised to morphine in the liver and thus when stopping will give you "cold turkey" type symptoms 

           i can understand you wanting to stop but this has to be done gradual ...and luckily 10 tablets a day isnt as severe as some ive seen ....

           reducing by 1 tab per week should stave off any withdrawl and will allow both your body and brain to adjust ... and any side effects such as diarrhoea can be sorted with imodium and stomach cramps with buscopan ...both these are avalible over the counter without a prescription ...

          paracetamol wont help much and your liver needs time to get better after long term ( as co-codamol contains paracetamol ) 

          you could ask your doctor for help,however guidelines in the uk say you would be refered to a drug team and they are instructed to place you on a methadone program ... this is counter productive as methadone is significantly more potent and would create alot more problems ..

          so a slow taper ( 1 x tablet per week ) would be better and would be quicker getting you back to your normal self ..

          i wish you all the best 

    • emadams87
      emadams87 brianthesnail

      Posted

      Thanks so much for this I had started this over Christmas and seems to be going ok just a couple of tablets a week, the mornings are so much easier once you get those initial couple out the way.

      Thanks so much for the advice 

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