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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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  • jen26157
    jen26157 debs6955

    Posted

    I have fibromyalgia, spondylosis in neck. Anxiety depression.

    I'm on Co codamal as nothing else touches the pain. I've been on tramadol transformation for broken femur and on going problems , that made me so ill.

    When I was offered for this lot of pain I rejected it knowing the effects.

    I was given Diaz spam because the muscle spasms, again no thanks. Then tried gabapentin, pregabalin, amytriptyline, but felt so dreadful on them. Reading the is thread I do wonder if stopping the cocodamsl was making me think I was ill on other meds.

    It still is only thing that relaxes me so my muscles relax too. I take 2 at night. But stop when pains down.

    My anxiety is high, I again wonder if that's related.

    Thanks for posting

    • sharon46907
      sharon46907 jen26157

      Posted

      Jen I'm now on day 12 of cocodamol withdrawal, the headache has gone, I'm on codeine phosphate but only taking 2 in the morning and occasionally 2 through the day. I have check up at the doctor on Thursday morning as she said my iron and B12 was low. Can I ask you what age you are. The only thing that's happening to me now is wakening through the night with heaviness in my chest and sweating but I think I may be pre menopausal I am 46 and my monthlies have been over the place for a few months, I agree with the whole cocodamol making you relax that's what they have done for me I've now opted to a couple of glasses of wine at night which I know isn't the answer but it helps, are you in the UK, please write back x

    • jen26157
      jen26157 sharon46907

      Posted

      Yes UK, 46., alcohol makes me ill anxiety goes through roof. The fibromyalgia symptoms vary on a daily basis. And I came off mini pill months ago and all that has settled normal.

      I find I'm loosing weight. Not sure what part it's down to

    • sharon46907
      sharon46907 jen26157

      Posted

      I'm just near glasgow airport, your so right about the alcohol I've just been and did an hours workout and have told myself no alcohol today, hopefully that helps me calm down a little, I've heard that fibromyalgia is a terrible thing to have

  • Teresa_logie
    Teresa_logie debs6955

    Posted

    Hi debs i have been on solpadol 30/500mg paracetamol 500mg and codeine 30g. Iv been on them since feb last year. Iv had no problem taking them until i got my prescruption from boots chemist & instead of solpadole they gave me zapain tabs i thought doc had changed my tablets i been taken them for 6wks then stopped i was sick several times dry mouth weezing. Constipation severe splurts of pain in tummy every 5minz. Then on 2nd night i had the pains & then diarhoea that went on til late nxt night. I phoned my doc up and he said that i shouldnt of been on them. As they are for severe pain.i have modrate.i have very little cartlidge left in my left knee. And wear a knee brace. For 6yrs till i get op. As too young. The zapain tabs say do not takeif youve got asthma i have. And dont take if your taking meds for stomache probs again i am. And iv been getting my prescription out boots for ever. So iv stopped my cocodamol but side effects a horrible im restless cann sleep. Cramps.needing to use my inhalor more. But iv put my self off them given those tabs frightened me. So ill buy over counter tabs for myself for the pain.

  • alex48207
    alex48207 debs6955

    Posted

    Hi, I have same spine condition and fibromyalgia, CFS/me, and a few other conditions.Part of my pain control was taking 2x co-codamol 4x a day ( 30/500) for more than 5 years.I also had weight gain , mood swings, overall yuck pain feeling all the time.I decided to try and reduce them, then decided to see if I can manage without .... best thing I ever did, not only did I manage without ( just a week now) I feel much better mod wise and yuck pain wise not to mention better bowels. I'm guessing over time body got used to the meds but think docs should monitor much better with drugs than they do .

    • Teresa_logie
      Teresa_logie alex48207

      Posted

      Hi alex. Well the only pain killer im taking the now is paracetamol 500mg. For my knee theyre no brill but will have to do. I just buy over the counter ones doctor tried to give me another prescription for them but i dont want it. So i have my knee brace now but disny stop the sharp pain i get in grinding of knee cap & thats it ajusted up to highest it can go.doesnt work.i use ice packs 3/4 times a day coz knee killing me. Iv started a weight watchers class and cutting down on food. To help my knee bit though i dont think im fat. But if it woll ease abit ill try anything. Orthapedic in hosp said there wouldnt b point in giving me half knee as id be in soon after for full knee done. & its awful coz im gonna lose my wee job because i canny get operation the now. Its depressing. Im 49 this yr.and want to work. And have done all my life. Children all up. My work has 2 flytes of stairs to bathroom & i work 9hrs aday on my feet x moving around alot with half hour lunch x

  • bill_93286
    bill_93286 debs6955

    Posted

    I went to the doctors for backpain and asked for non-addictive pain killers. The doctor prescribed me codeine. I said aren't they habit forming? She said "you'll be fine". 5 years later I am taking 20 30mg daily! I have tried stopping and cutting down but cant stand it and now back up to 20 a day. 22 per day makes me feel ill. I cant understand how they can prescribe this with no accountability? I feel it is medical negligence on a worldwide scale?

  • sophie31413
    sophie31413 debs6955

    Posted

    Hi

    I know this post has been going for sometime I'm hoping someone sees this and can offer some advice.

    I've been addicted to cocodomol for a few years now. It started off when I had an ectopic pregnancy and the GP prescribed 30/500. As this was a temporary condition I was taken off them and ever since I have been jumping from pharmacy to pharmacy buying 8/500's.

    Most days 6 tablets wouldn't do anything so it would go in to 10 or 12. Every now and again I would come off them as it scares me the damage I am doing to my insides but never enough to stop them for good.

    This time I have stopped and the symptoms are 10 times worse than ever. I usually get the diaorrhea and cramps but I've never experienced the muscle ache. This time it seems to have targeted my womb area. I'm not exaggerating I never remember any of my children being born to be this sore.

    I am so tempted to go and take a few tablets but after going through this for 1 full day now (might not seen that long to some but seems very long to me) I'm just looking someone to tell me

    1 are these pains normal?

    2 can cocodomol upset adhesions (I have these from my ectopic pregnancy and it feels like they're on fire at the minute)

    3 will these symptoms pass cause at the minute I feel like jumping off the nearest mountain.

    Thank you in advance for anyone willing to advise. I hate this to sound the way it does but I'm glad to see other people like me.

    Sophie xx

  • Lish118
    Lish118 debs6955

    Posted

    I was in a car crash and had severe whiplash and torn all my muscle in my shoulder back and right side of my body, they prescribed me co-codomol and now I'm going through the stage of withdrawal symptoms right this second as I'm typing .. I've got severe shakes and  diarrhoea and cramps and I took my self of them and now I get this I know how you feel! Doctors shouldn't prescribe these tablets!

    • charlie27137
      charlie27137 Lish118

      Posted

      Hi I was in similar situation but with motorbike crash I ve been addicted to co codamol for many years but recently hve been trying to stop them with some success this time I am on my 4 day without any feel pretty much the same as u but hve really sore head gd luck easy does it
  • jean04219
    jean04219 debs6955

    Posted

    Am the same but two year ago aye was diagnosed with cervical cancer and the doctors put me on painkillers I get 224 a month and I take them like they were sweets and sometimes a would buy some of folk ave stopped buying them don’t worry but my stomach is in constant cramps a cant even move but it’s sore a terrified to say to my family as I hate hospitals and doctors plus for two years know a cant sleep a hole night in my bed with the thought of something is wrong with me or it’s been a big dream but then you realise it’s not so I reach for more tablets but recently I gave them to my husband to give me and I think I have cut down big time so could this be the cramps plus ave been taking stuff for wind and the runs could this be doing something as I don’t know my family have said I have lost so much weight cause of it yesterday is the first day I eat something nothing big but it was something I don’t get monthly cycles as I don’t have a whome as it was took out 12 years ago during birth but seriously should I go get help with this and how could I get weight back on a feel like a look like a freak like this am looking for help 
  • sheila66311
    sheila66311 debs6955

    Posted

    Am having same problem myself. It is preferred to ease off them by reducing dose over a period of time ( shorter the better ) rather than just stop taking them. I am trying to stop after taking them for over 20 years and find that sleeping is almost impossible. Any comments would be gratefully received.
  • samantha42003
    samantha42003 debs6955

    Posted

    I am lying in bed thinking how did i become so ill last 5 days, 12 months ago i started taking Cocodamol 30/500 due to having Sciatica only thing that helped me sleep, i picked something up of the floor last wk felt my back click thought what have i done, went to bed that night completely forgot to take pills it was like can sciatica pain clear over night. The next couple nights no pills woke up with immense headache pain sweats shivers and shakes delirious in bed 3 whole days put it down to severe flu, its while im lying here now thinking why was i so ill googled withdrawal cocodamol gob smacked reading all your posts nevee again am i taking these pills wanted to share this im 100% thats why ive been so ill
  • ym17909
    ym17909 debs6955

    Posted

    This is my first post and I am happy(??) to find that others also have issues with this drug. My GP prescribed 30/500 some ago for severe pain related to various health issues. I also take anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, other regular painkillers plus tranqs for sleep disorder. I have been taking 10/12 co-cods every night almost for six months, plus some nights have had to go up from this. But I have completely stopped them now following such bad constipation that almost needed a&e admission. But now I can’t sleep, just feel completely numb and can feel my old MH issues returning. When does life start to work again after sudden withdrawal?

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