A need to finally quit co-codamol

Posted , 2 users are following.

Hi everyone

A few years ago I was taking 6 x 30mg co-codamol tablets per day. Why? stupidity, utter stupidity. I liked the buzz and spent a fortune buying them from dodgy web sites. What a prat eh?

Anyway, I realised it had to stop, tried cold turkey and thats when I realised that I was in the sh*t. I couldn't face owning up to my doctor so found an independant advice service. Over about 4 months I got down to 2 tablets, tapering very gradually. At that point my life got complicated in other ways and I have stayed at 2, and have ever since. 

Recently, I have become increasingly constipated and get back and lower abdominal pain which I believe is caused by the tablets. 

I have, today, taken 1.75 tablets with a view to a long long taper. I suffer from severe depression and I know that withdrawal makes this worse. 

I know that the dose doesn't sound much, but I am not in a good place mentally and I could do with your support, experiences and advice. 

I wish you all health and happiness,

Rog

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    You did very well to taper down BUT to be brutal 1.75 is 1.75 too much as you know.

    I am particularly concerned about your constipation and abdominal pain etc. You really, really do need to consult your dr with a view of a referral to a gastro enterologist who can impress the dangrs of codeine to you.

    Codeine slows the gut down and raws water away leading to consipation and other nasty side effects. Other opiates do this too of course

    I would drink plenty of water to get this toxin out of your body after getting the go ahead that it is safe to take fluids  from your GP.

    Remeber you have got this far so keep on going until  u get off this stuff for good..

     

    • Posted

      You  are very welcome Roger. I needed a lot of support whilst withtdrawing from prescribed co codamol then codeine on its own and yet was on 3 to 4 tablets a week!

      ?Been off this poison for over six montths now. Bowels returning to normal and no more headaches, throbbing pains in my eye, no more anorexia, severe anxiety, severe dpression, no more night sweats dencbnched in sweat or perspiation if you want to be posh!

      The things thathelped me are as follows.

      ?Support fromfriends, Samaritans, Crisis kline h just takkingthings through ver the phone. Drinking plentyof water, exercise just walking around thehousethen goingupand down the stairs. Avoiding staying in bed . Buildingupthe muscle tone.

      Eating healthily. Eliminating processed foods .

      Taking vitamins such as D3 and B12, magnesium, magnesium sprays.

      Hope this helps you too.

      Afetr stopping codeine it is very importantthat you do not take even a particle of this stuff ever again .

      Control the codeine and don't let it control you is what I as taught to hink, a mantra.

       

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.