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co codamol addiction an withdrawals

Posted , 60 users are following.

debs6955
debs6955

ive been taking co codamols 30/500 for over 5 years the last three years taking 2 four times a day , my doc told me to take them regularly as im alergic to asprin and anti infamatories , i have two town and buldging discs in my lower back , anyway i have suffered terible tummy problems weight gain and dependancy while taking them , always thinking about when i can take the next dose , not even in pain dont know if i was in pian i just took them bcos i was told to to keep my pain down , ive jsut had a stint in hospital for tummy problems , and i think these tablets have added to them problems without a doubt , i feel i dont need these pills for pain now more for addiction and habbit , anyway cut a long story short i came out of hospital yesterday i had taken none was ok day 2 today sever cramps , diareah , flu like symptoms , awfull pain shakes , anyway i taken paracetamol to ease the pain didnt touch it so i took 1 dihidracodine 30mg withing mins the cramps stopped , havent needed anything else so i think im over the worse of the withdrawals , i wont ever be taking them again , i feel like ive just taken the lining off my stomach , why oh why do the docs prescribe these pills so easily , i made my own choice to come off these pills i dont even take any more than prescribed amount but still i have never experienced pain and cramps like that in my life !!! anyone had the same problems ??

5 likes, 243 replies

243 Replies

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  • Thomasgod3
    Thomasgod3 debs6955

    Posted

    Hi, im in the same position as u and stopped taking co codamol on sunday, today is Tuesday and I have the same symptoms but can I ask if you was emotional too,
    • anne85735
      anne85735 Thomasgod3

      Posted

      Hi Thomas...yes i was very emotional alos,,,crying ect..also i felt very  anxious...i am now on day 29...feeling better.....keep going youcan get through it......Anne
  • katyp
    katyp debs6955

    Posted

    Hi,

    I've just been reading through this forum having finally admitted my addiction to cocodamol. I've been taking it for years and each year when my repeat prescription was reviewed no one ever tried to take me off them.

    I'm probably scared more than anything, I'm nervous of the withdrawal I will now face, this is only day one.

    I know your posts are old but I'm hoping for some support on this....

    • Kezzalou
      Kezzalou katyp

      Posted

      Hi Katy,

      I wish you all the luck in the world, I was like you and had co-codamol on a repeat prescription that I ordered every month.

      I came off them at the end of January cold turkey and never looked back, I went to see my go as was taking them due to shoulder pain who investigated further, they did say about me going back on them but I stuck to my guns as me and my oh wanted to try for a baby, come end of April and 3 months clear I came off the pill and now I'm 17 weeks pregnant!

      My withdrawals for me wasn't too bad, expected them to be a lot worse than they were as I've been on them like 5-10 years. I had night sweats mainly and the need for wanting them soon dissappeared and I started to feel loads better, I've not bought any over the counter and cancelled them off my repeat prescription. Best thing I did. The withdrawals you might experience are different for everyone but in the end it's well worth it as the outcome gives you a great sense of pride.

      With the support of friends and family you can do it, maybe you could try keeping a journal on a day to day basis to track yourself and write every feeling down, this worked for me and to read back on it now I can't believe how reliant I was on them.

      Good luck and I hope you can do it xx

    • katyp
      katyp Kezzalou

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. Knowing I'm not the only one helps already! Huge congratulations to you and your other half, a new baby is amazing. I'm determined to do it, it's been put off for too long and reading posts from those who've managed it and are happier now they've kicked the habit is inspiring and makes me believe I can do it.

      I still can't get over how many people get themselves in this situation. But, soon, I'll be like you and back to my better self!

      K

      Xx

    • Kezzalou
      Kezzalou katyp

      Posted

      Thanks Katy.

      It's one of highly addictive drugs and because a lot of Drs prescribe it freely people don't realise, but once you do it it's deffo worth it.

      Maybe find a goal to work towards? Like I said mine was to have a baby it gave me an insentive, that deffo give you more of a push to stick to it :-)

      There's a lot of people out there in the same situation so you definitely are not alone. It's a lot of will power but as long as you stay determined you can do it, good luck! Xx

    • katyp
      katyp Kezzalou

      Posted

      Well, I'm still sticking to it. I'm hoping the worst is nearly over although to be fair, withdrawal hasn't been too bad yet. Really achy legs, painfully achy and I'm not sleeping brilliantly but I think that is because my legs hurt. So, at the moment I'm feeling ok about it. I'm quite ashamed I ended up like this but my husband is being really supportive.

      I've set myself a goal and I know by Christmas I will be 100% myself again.

      Thank you for your ongoing support, it's surprising how much an online tool can help.

      Xx

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 katyp

      Posted

      Hi I am on day 3 now I feel like ur self admitting to this addiction has been my biggest problem now with this forum has helped me I abused coddies for years taking vast amounts of them finally I ve realised wot a mess I ve got myself into I first used them when I had a motorbike crash since then over 10 years I ve become very much dependate on them today day 3 not taking any still sweating flu symptoms stomach cramps very nervous but absolutely certain I will stop this addition now it's my time to do it thanx easy does it

  • sparrow-
    sparrow- debs6955

    Posted

    it was good to read through some of this thread as i couldnt understand what has been happening to me over the last few days but i think it must be withdrawal symptoms from co-codamol

    i've been a long term sufferer of restless legs syndrome (RLS), and tried so many things to make it stop or ease it down to a minimum.  i started off with natural stuff, and food, i tried things like iron, potassium, and magnesium (which do work for many people so it is certainly worth a try), but for me unfortunately they didn't help.  i have been taking ssri antidepressants long term (currently sertraline), so perhaps that has had an effect on my RLS.

    anyway, so after trying all sorts of things for RLS, i started looking into taking some kind of med to help.  i didn't like the look of the first line RLS treatments (which are dopamine agonists), because i read that in the long run they can actually make your RLS worse, so i didn't want to go down that road.  then i read about meds like benzo's (xanax, etc) and pain meds helping RLS sufferers.

    a few weeks ago, i checked in the medicine cupboard where i lived and noticed there was something in there called co-codamol, 30mg/500mg  (which someone who lives here in the past must have got on prescription for some reason). so i took one of the tablets (about an hour before bed), and that night, i didn't have RLS at all.  i was really pleased, so continued each night to just take one of the tablets.  then about 5 days later, i took one as usual before bed, but had some RLS again (not really intense, but it was there), so the following night i took 2 of the co-codamol instead (as it said on the box that it was ok to take two at once).  then for the next couple of weeks i continued doing this, taking just 2, one hour before bed, and i have not had any RLS at all.

    but then the problem, i noticed after a week or so of using co-codamol, just 2 of them at night,  i had very bad constipation.  if it was just mild constipation, i would have continued taking the co-codamol, but, because it was just too troublesome for me, i decided to stop taking the co-codamol and look into some other treatment for RLS.

    so, it's been about 3 days since i stopped taking co-codamol, and i fell like crap.  i  would say (along with some depression), mainly it is anxiety, really horrible anxiety like i used to get when i dont take ssri antidepressant meds.  the anxiety is worst in the morning, but luckily seems to ease as the day goes on.

    at first i thought maybe my sertraline i am taking isn't working anymore and have been worrying about that.  but now i'm thinking, perhaps i am simply going through co-codamol withdrawal?  reading through thsi forum at others experiences, i'm assuming you can get withdrawal from co-codamol even if you have only been taking 2 of the 30mg/500mg every 24 hours.

    so that's my story so far.  not feeling good today; i'm seeing my doctor in a couple of days, and will report back here on how i am doing and how things turn out.

    what i'm hoping for is that i am indeed experiencing co-codamol withdrawal, and that the sertraline i am taking is still working ok, and if it is co-codamol withdrawal, that is doesnt last too long (it's been a few days so far, i'm really hoping i'm not like this for months as it's very difficult.  i don't care what happens though, one thing for certainly is i'm never ever taking a co-codamol pill again, or anything containing codeine.   i believe some people do benefit from co-codamol though; some people don't get the constipation and withdrawal effects if they stop etc.

    i hope everyone here is doing well, and i will pop back again with an update (it's good to chat about this stuff isn't it, kind of just get it off your chest)

    thanks all, hope u all have a good day smile

    • sparrow-
      sparrow-

      Posted

      hi again all, one week has passed since my last post above, and i can report that i am ok now.  the problems i was having have all gone and im ok. my doctor said that i am sensitive to codeine and shouldnt take it again..  i agree with him, and i wont.

      best of luck to all....

  • charlie27137
    charlie27137 debs6955

    Posted

    Hi I ve just been reading some ur experiences n symptoms I ve hve been abusing co codamol for many years I hve not taken any today hope to stay with it this forum has been most helpful
  • sharon46907
    sharon46907 debs6955

    Posted

    Can you please tell me if you suffered really bad headaches coming off, I have been taking in excess of 10 a day for around 15 months, I've had no 30/500 since Saturday I'm feeling awful want to cry constantly and my head is thinping

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 sharon46907

      Posted

      Hi I can't really say I ve terrible headaches yes I ve suffered flu symptoms with sore headaches also I can completely agree with ur emotional state I am up n down all over the place very unstable n nervous I find it difficult to accept it got myself into such mess with these pills plz hang in there ur a doing the right thing I find it difficult but I must stop this is am so addicted to them gd luck

    • sharon46907
      sharon46907 charlie27137

      Posted

      Thanks for replying. My head feels like it's going to explode. I've not eaten since 7 don't feel like eating, have been drinking loads of water, I have taken paracetamol but it's not moving the headache. My husband has no idea and he's told me to phone the doctor or go to the hospital but I don't want him finding out. I'm in a state of despair.

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 sharon46907

      Posted

      I feel for ur despair being in similar situation u must try n eat something I managed scamble egg eventually my wife knew something was wrong so we trying to sort it out its a major issue now , which to be fair she is probably rite I hve to accept the level of addiction most days I took 20-30 co codamol both from my GP n chemist which I went to great lengths to hide plz try n eat even the smallest of food stay strong gd luck
    • sharon46907
      sharon46907 charlie27137

      Posted

      I've just come home early from work and then of my husband he said he knew as he seen the signs as I'd gone through this 10 years ago. I've just managed a banana will try something later as this may ease the headache. I can deal with the other symptoms just not the pounding headache, I'm going to miss work tomorrow and get an appointment with the doctor see what they can do, I just need something to get rid of the headache, I feel like cutting my head off, did you say you've experienced the headaches coming off, I don't remember the headaches 10 years ago and I'm worrying it's something more serious, I'm hoping and praying it passes quickly, hope you feel better soon also. Thanks for chatting.

    • sharon46907
      sharon46907

      Posted

      I always took around 10 at a time no wonder I'm feeling the way I am, I've been so silly, I'm sitting at home sobbing my eyes out one because I've let everyone down, and 2 because of the headache, just want it to go away, can't imagine having another day like today, my husband works night shift so I'm here during the night myself, I'll just have to deal with it. Not sure what the doctor will do tomorrow, other than lecture me but there's got to be something he can do to help. Thanks so much for talking to me, are you in the UK

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 sharon46907

      Posted

      Yes I did but not as severe as ur self hopefully it will pass or ease before ur appointment I am only day 6 myself so thank you for helping as I am feeling a bit on my own at present but I will ride the storm I don't know if u wish to chatting more ? Gd luck

    • sharon46907
      sharon46907 charlie27137

      Posted

      Thank you so much I do so hope you succeed I wish I was in day 6, not sure what I face from the doctor tomorrow. I am hoping the headache eases I can deal with the sweats which will no doubt come tonight. When I had this problem 10 years ago I never got the headaches but over the weekend I've had 16 Solpadeine Plus and 30 syndol which is probably why I've had so much headache,I've also had the runs today despite only drinking water. I've put some bread out and a boiled egg, hopefully eating something will help a little, thank you again, did you say you were in the UK I am just near Glasgow.

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 sharon46907

      Posted

      I can't believe that I am jist outside Glasgow in clydebank I am at my daughters jist now text u later

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 sharon46907

      Posted

      Hi I feel the same how could I get myself into this mess I put down alcohol n took up co codamol for ten years I shud know beta I am ashamed to be in this state the headaches will pass sure of it I am usually constipated so to go naturally is a relief I ve known for years I had issues with coddies but wud never face up to it now I hve to be honest with me this site has been such a help jist to know I am not alone but to chat with someone from my area seems to be such a strange twist
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