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addicted to codeine

Posted , 4 users are following.

donna92180
donna92180

I have been taking codeine painkillers now for nearly 10 years it first started when i got prescribed for tention headaches now im taking 16 a day 4 every every 4 hours. Can anyone suggest any help please

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • AntMark
    AntMark donna92180

    Posted

    I know this is somewhat of a cliché these days, but the first thing you need to do is go to the doctor. They probably won't do much, as they never seem to, but they should most certainly take you off cocodomal tablets and substitute those with codeine phosphate tablets, but don't worry, your body will still be getting it's fix. Paracetamol is not what you're addicted too, but it is what is inevitably going to kill you, which i find ironic. 16 tablets ever 4 hours is giving you a dangerously high paracetamol intake which I'm more concerned about, and your doctor would be too.

    Your doctor will most likely tell you to take 8 codeine a day and drip one a week. I did it in 6 days, dropping one a day and I sometimes took up to 50 in a day! I'm quite impatient and didn't want to wait 8 weeks to wean down, so did my own plan daily.

    But I'd recommend strongly you drop one tablet a week, and have no more than 8 a day. 2 every 4 hours. But a great tip is to take 1 every two hours , which gives your body a steady flow of codeine which will help ease withdrawals.

    A typical day could involve taking tablets at the following intervals

    9am

    11am

    1pm

    3pm

    5pm

    7pm

    9pm

    11pm

    This takes you well into the night, cravings can peak. If you go to bed later, then try starting your plan at 10am, which will give you a tablet at midnight.

    DRINK LOTS OF WATER

    Very important part of recovery is hydration. I didn't believe it but water does really help ease achy joints during withdrawals. I had a pint of water with each tablet.

    Listen to music, and just enjoy yourself. Don't sit around thinking of the tablets and feeling sorry for yourself, tell yourself to get a grip (I did, it worked)

    It may not feel like it at the start, but you can come codeine free. Some people at first usually don't want to. They enjoy their habit and it's easier to stay as they are. I loved the stuff and the thought of not having them saddened me. But when I started to get pains and withdrawals, even while taking them, i knew enough was enough. The more you take, the more your body wants. Eventually, rendering the tablets completely useless as they just treat the pain that they caused you to have in the first place, going round and round in a circle.

    I'm happy to help you with this and construct a plan bases on your needs and patterns.

    • donna92180
      donna92180 AntMark

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply. I know where your coming from when you say go to my doctors but i know i can not, or should i say im to scared. Ive got a profesional job and it scares the gell out of me to have it on my records. Yesterday i had the best day ever i only took 5. 2 at 12pm and 3 at 4pm. Today i have taken none so far. Im not even taking them for the buzz anymore because i dont get one. Im constantly in pain with my head, which i know the tablets are causing to. Im normally watching the clock for my next dose but today i feel strong. Do u think its possible to just stop them and do a rattle or decrease first.
  • AntMark
    AntMark donna92180

    Posted

    Sorry I misread your intake, i thought you said 16 every 4 hours.

    16 a day is still incredibly high, it's 50% more than the daily reccomend amount and over ten years could have catastrophic damage on a liver. Hopefully you are ok, so it's time to get off these now before they do do any harm to your organs.

    • donna92180
      donna92180 AntMark

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply i know im been such a scary cat but i really dare not go to my docs. I have a proffes I did really well yesterday i only had 2 at 12pm and 3 at 4pm thats the least ive had in years. Ive woke up today and havnt even had 1 as yet. I dont take them for the buzz anymore because i dont get one. I take them for my headaches which are worse then ever. Do u think i could come off them completely or would you suggest knocking the dose down first.
    • AntMark
      AntMark donna92180

      Posted

      No Donna, i would strongly strongly advise not to stop cold turkey. The withdrawals are horrendous. Saying that, you beat the withdrawals quicker of course but it's just a painful and emotional turmoil going cold turkey. I would suggest weaning as it makes life so much easier.

      As long as you try and stick to 8 daily from now on then you need not go to the Drs and we can help you here. I will especially be here every step.

    • donna92180
      donna92180 AntMark

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice its so gd to talk to someone finally. My family know of my addiction but not how many i take. My partner hasnt got a clue, how he doesnt know ill never know. Well ive just taken 2 at 930 as the pain in my head was killing. Im going to go with your advice and start with 2 every 4 hours. 8 daily. Then when would u suggest to cut down again. Can i ask how long was you on them for
    • AntMark
      AntMark donna92180

      Posted

      Hi Donna.

      Firstly, it is important that you try and visit your doctor regard the headaches if they don't subside after coming off the tablets. But yes, it probably is the cocodomal right now. It affects us differently.

      Usually you should drop down to 7 a day after week one and one a week and so on. Do this on Mondays, the start of a new week.

      If you don't feel ready to drop them don't, try Tuesday but it's important once you've dropped a tablet to not go back Abe ad it again as this will just keep you going round. There will be some withdrawals but by weaning you are dramatically decreasing them. Cold turkey would be much more severe.

      When you get down to 4 a day you can then half the tablets and spread them out do your getting s regular intake. When you get to 6 a day you could take 1 every 2 hours. But let's think of that when you get there. The important thing is to space them out regularly and you can do this by halving a tablet or taking less but at more regular intervals ;-)

      I was on them for s few years, I think about 3 or 4 but consumed s lot, s box wouldn't last long haha.

      It certainly helps telling people the situation, no one will think you're a crack head. I found telling my family was fine, no one seemed bothered which helped.They just left me to it as i did explain that it's no big deal and very common and easy to fix. Look at it that way, it's s very mild addiction in comparison and don't let it rule you. Those tablets are nothing and you'll be free of them soon enough

    • donna92180
      donna92180 AntMark

      Posted

      Well so far today ive had the best day i had 2 at 930 and 2 at 130 that is brill for me. Most of my family know and my parntner kind of knows somethings not quite right with me and pain killers but not the full extent of my addiction. Im guna kick this i know i am and it helps talking to people who have been in my shoes so thankyou for yr feed back. I really do appreciate it.
    • kelly35069
      kelly35069 donna92180

      Posted

      Ur doing really well. U can do it. Just think off the outcome from it no more chasing chemists. No more hiding tablets from ur partner. Not coumtimg hours down till u can take more x
    • donna92180
      donna92180 kelly35069

      Posted

      Thankyou so much u hit the nail on the head. I do all ov the above. Im feeling a bit ill today but theres no way im giving in now. Only upwards from now on. XxX
    • AntMark
      AntMark donna92180

      Posted

      You're doing great Donna. Post up if you run into trouble. I will check in with you on Sunday night before you drop your first tablet. If you're ready or haven't done so already xxx

      Remember, illness from withdrawals ate only phantom. They feel very real and essentially are. But they ate harmless and just tell yourself it's not are not real

    • donna92180
      donna92180 AntMark

      Posted

      Thankyou for your support ive done so gd i had 5 on sun 6 mon 8 tues and today ive only had 2. Im feeling a little ill 2day but im still fighting on and i am going to beat this. Thanks once again Antmark
    • donna92180
      donna92180

      Posted

      Hi there. Well had a brill week last week alot better then i thought i even went yesterday without any. So this is my week to drop to just 1 tab every 4 hours only if needed. Heres to a new Donna im hoping. Feeling very determined 😆
    • sari44512
      sari44512 AntMark

      Posted

      Hi Mark hope you don't mind me joining this thread. I was prescribed 224 diadrocodeine every 28 days until yesterday. My doctor (who is A locum n never met me before) refused my full prescription and gave me 100, told me to take one every six hours n to come back. I explained that its not possible as I lied and told him I take 8 per day at four hourly intervals when in fact I take between 12-15 per day. Naturally I was upset at thought of having come off these pills. Ive been on them 5 years and I told the doctor I'm prepared to drop one a week. He seem to think I can drop two a day this is totally not acceptable for me. I'm thinking of going back and admitting the amount am taking to get the taper plan I need. I've started today and going to try having 9 each day and drop by one per week. Do you think this would be ok? Hate the things they take over my life : (
  • sari44512
    sari44512 donna92180

    Posted

    Hi Donna I'm in more or less same position as you right now. I was recently cut down from 224 a month (supposedly 8 per day) to a 100 and my doctor told me he ain't giving me 224 a month no more and to go away and start taking one every 6 hours. I told him I can't do this but I'll start a taper of my own and will be back soon as my 100 won't last long. He doesn't know yet that really was taking up to 12-14 30mg diadracodeine a day. I'm going to have to come clean but in meantime I started a taper on Saturday of 9 per day and will try n drop one per week. I have spaced them out at 3x in morning and then 2 every four hours till 7pm. If you want to chat don't hesitate I am an addict been on them five years and really want get off them too. They evil. I hope you find courage to try reducing maybe we can help each other.: )
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