co codamol addiction an withdrawals

Unfortunately at the moment I’m up to taking 3 tablets sometimes up to 4 times in a day...Need to try and talk to the Doc me thinks..

At times I suffer from great pain (arthritic hips) and the 3 tablets 30/500 takes it off a little, but I must admit to taking them at times even when I’m not in pain or little pain....

Thanks for the advice and info...

PJ

Just to provide a small warning which you may wish to heed or may not. I've just come out of hospital due to the withdrawels caused by Tramadol. Trust me, I went the exact route as you, starting with co-codamol, stopped all pain killers for two weeks and had nasty withdrawels from the co-codamol, the runs, nausia, restless legs and trouble sleeping, but this pales in comparison to tramadol withdrawel!!

Tramadol became a controlled substance in june in the UK and has basically stopped being prescribed in the US due to its side effects and withdrawels. Trust me, do one search of google on 'tramadol withdrawel' and you will see what i mean. People who have been addicted to heroin have stated they found it harder to withdraw from than that! Tramadol plays with the seretonin and other neuro transmitters in your brain as well as the opiate receptors, despite being classed as a synthetic opiate.

When I withdrew from Tramadol I turned suicidal (never ever have I experienced that before) undescribable deppression (you will hear that alot from people withdrawing from tramadol) I had restless legs, vision problems, had a seizure (tramadol induced) and developed a stutter. I have spent 3 weeks in the neurology department in hospital and am getting better, still struggling with this incredible deppression, never known anything like this and hope it clears soon!

Please read around tramadol withdrawel online and don't just take my word for it. If you feel its benefits outweigh the risks for you then please continue to take it. However after my experience and the countless others available to see online I promised myself I would highlight this to others where I could, I would not wish what I've been through on my most reveered of enemies!

The stuff it poison and it's being realised hence being controlled strictly of late by governments around the world.

I hope this helps.

Take care

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/coming-off-tramadol-175502

I was wondering if you could offer me some advice- my mum takes co-codamol and she takes 10 a day when shes only meant to take 8. She also takes Neurofen Plus with these, which also has codiene in it, she knows she isn't allowed to take them together but she does anyway. Last christmas she had a codiene withdrawal and she became very restless, emotional and angry. I have no idea what to do, she says she is not being "bullied" into making an appointment at the doctors. She also takes codiene linctus. What kind of support did you receieve? Can I offer my mum some support? I'm so scared for her. Also, 5 months ago she took an accidental overdose and I;m so scared she will do it again, although this time she may not recover.

Thank you for reading this, any advice will be great

Obviously I'm not a clinician but I'll be happy to offer advice where I can.

How old are you roughly (I'm in my mid 20's) and how old is your mother as I feel this quite important to understand what your interactions and positions may be like?

Co-codamol I found to be highly addictive, with a constant thought of maybe that extra tablet above and beyond my maximum dosage, otherwise I'd be taking my tablets like clockwork, often thinking forward to the next dosage. It sounds as if your mum may have a similar issue and be using them to stiffle and underlying problem, such as depression or anxiety, she may be simply overwhelmed by life at the moment.

Why did your mum start taking the tablets initially, for what condition?

It is important not to overtly pressure your mum, as this can often lead to backlash...I have a natural personality like this, I'm a stubborn lad haha Sadly you wont be able to stop your mum taking these until she is herself ready, so maybe helping her and yourself discover the underlying problem would be a start. Maybe just an honest conversation and explaining that you are upset would be a start. I always find that emotions of being upset strike a cord more than anger or pressure, you need to be working in harmony, not against. This is where your mums 'bullied' comment comes into play in my humble opionion.

NO-ONE LIKES TO THINK THEY'RE AN ADDICT!

I had no support coming off of co-codamol unfortunately, I had to ride it out for 2 weeks but was then placed on tramadol (1 million times worse than co-codamol in my view, do not let your mum get hold of this stuff). In the two weeks I suffered the runs, flu like symptoms, aches & pains, extreme sadness mixed with explosive anger at stages, along with ultra sensitivity to light and noise.....not to mention the restless leg syndrome and lack of sleep. All these are enough to drive you mad.

During the above phase it is important to maintain maximum hydration, intake potassium for restless leg syndrome and to consume a good multi vitamin and some forms of healthy food, if not too much. I would let diarreah run it's course for 24-36 hours and then put a stop to it with mild ammounts of immodium if it continues, as for a short while it serves a natural purpose of cleansing the body but can then become an issue to health if it continues. Probably above and beyond all of the aforementioned is the support of a loved one during this, I suffered several panic attacks and this can be enough to make anyone relapse if they dont have anyone to hold them and reassure them during this process. If this is yourself and no stage show extreme emotions of any spectrum other than love, stability and reassurance is key.

Depending on your age and location I would also consider contacting some support groups such as the samaritans or FRANK and asking their advice also.

I admire your love for your mum and your own personal courage, for family are often what keep people on this earth when all else seems desilate and you are in your darkest hours of need, I certainly feel that way.

Please do reply with answers to my above questions also, this will be of interest. Also do not neglect yourself during this process, no. 1 needs care too.

All the best

My experience is extremely similar to yours cliffdog, except it happened the other way around for me. I was told I have a fractured spine around 6 years ago, my gp prescribed Tramadol. Jeez, what a total nightmare! They made me feel depressed, very depressed, so I did the worst thing I could have possibly done, I stopped taking them. Bad mistake! Went from depressed to totally suicidal, never experienced anything so horrendous. Managed to be given good advice at the time that reassured me that it was the withdrawal symptoms and so stuck it out and after about 3 weeks the symptoms wore off, thank the lord.

Went back to my gp, he then prescribed co-codamol 30/500 which I took for around 3 years (8 per day), downgraded to the 15/500 strength around 3 years ago as the pain did get better and they were ok, been taking these just 'as-and-when required', usually 2 to 4 per day. But lately been having quite bad stomach pains lately so decided 2 weeks ago to stop taking them altogether, didn't renew my subscription. Wow, even only taking them irregularly, had exactly the symptoms you describe, constant diarrhea, nausea, irritable legs, can't sleep properly, and still the stomach pains. And my back is flippin murder again now!