Co codamol addiction how do I tapper off? X

Thanks so much for ur reply !

So like take 5 for a week

Then 4 for a week?

And so on until I'm down to 1?

Ok I will get some vitamins and take them daily .

Only had 3 today and I don't feel good at all so shoulf I take another 1 or 2 b4 bed ?

Thanks so much & well done for doing that! Xxx

Hi. Well when I say down to 1 I mean until you don't need anymore. Its a mental journey as well has a physical one. From 1to half of one and so on.

Not feeling too good after only a few hours. That's your mental side of it saying hang on we normally have more. You will find your body will increase in pain sensitivity. That's the body saying there you see we need it. Fight that feeling. Don't take them tonight if you think you can hold out until tomorrow. Try just taking 3 again like today! See if you can put up with the not feeling great? If not then start your tapering down by 1a week tomorrow. Here for you if you need us Mark

Ok cool thanks so much !!

Much appreciated

I took 1 more tonight so that's 4 in total today.

Tomoz I will take 2 in morn 2 afternoon and 1 at night. And do that for a week then I will cut out the 1 in afternoon week after.

I will keep in touch! Thanks again xx

1 day at a time !

How long were u taking co codamol for before u stopped ? And do u ever take 1 if needed now or is that u off them ?

Today I slept until 1 so that's how not felt I needed My extra 2. Test will be working days to get through as from tomoz. Xx

OK sweet... sounds like a plan. You have to be happy with how you approach it. And you have a plan now. Thats fantastic.

I was taking a mix of coco in the beginning. After awhile they started to make me throw up. That was the paracetamol in them. So went on to N + around 3 years or so I was on them. Chemists knew my face. Asked my son to get them for me one week... knew that was my low point. Decided it was time to stop. That was over a month ago now. I don't ever want to go back on them for pain relieve. Told my GP I was addicted to them and to put that on my file.. I bet there is a massive red flag comes up when someone looks at my notes now lol. I would rather take regular pain killers now. Then risk having to go through that again. Mark x

Thats amazing what u done! Especially telling the doctor coz thats like well now u can't get them! That scares me I'm so not there yet lol.

1 month clean of them is amazing ! Well done!!! I can't wait to live my life of not clock watching when I take my next dose to feel

" Normal " again.

Well here's hoping I can do this

Thanks for help I will keep u posted !

U should be so proud of yourself coming off them and now helping others !😇

Thanks so much. I will do. Just need to stay strong xx

Hey Drew, been a while. How's things going with you? I've gone nowhere fast but trying again this week. Carla your story sounds very similar to mine. I keep trying to taper down but then they just creep up again! This week I am going to join a class and really get into being fit and active. When I work out I get a kick out of the endorphins released. That's the answer. Problem is with me if I get out of being healthy I drink more wine each night, then I smoke more, then I feel rank for work the next day so I take N+ all day to get thru it. So I must break my cycle. Today I'm going to miss my mid morning dose, blitz my house and join a fitness class. Keep checking in Carla, I will too Xxx

Hiya Jencs. Thanks for asking. I am still around and I am going to try cold turkey. I know if I taper that I will let it creep up again. Getting fit and breaking your routine sounds like a great plan. I hope you manage to do it. x Drew

Hey, thanka for ur reply. Well done thats great what u are doing !

I just hope I can do the same! I'm cutting 1tablet a week out. Si far it's the 1 at night .

So I'm taking 2 in morn, 2 afternoon 1 at night then I will cut out 1 in afternoon god knows how I will cope with that but will try. Xx

Well done Teresa and I can see that Carla is benefitting from your story. A pharmacist queried me the other day. I felt so small. He said he saw me last week. I had to lie and say it wasn't me. I feel so ashamed and travel miles to get the NP. Last year, another pharmacist refused point blank. There was quite a queue in the shop and I felt so small. I long for the day when this is over x Drew

Hi Drew,

I feel for you. Its so embrassing having to answer awkard questions to put up with stares from strangers and to be refused point blank how bad. The pharmacist should have taken you to one side and asked if you were ok and if you needed help, its clear to most professionals that theses are addicted they can spot us a mile oo, they see us often enough to know, it would be nice if they tried to help.

That is one of the main reasons i want to give up. I have been questiuoned so many times im fed up with feeling like a criminal. 

You guys on here are all so supportive, we can all beat this addiction in our own way and on our own terms.

 

Hi Carla.

Thanks, its not easy but im hoping to be painkiller free by xmas will be worth it. I just want to go back to being myself. I have been snappy with family and friends, moody, ive had no sense of humor. In the first few months of taking co-codamol i was buzzing and life and soul but that all changes and by then you are already addicted.

It is just so bloody hard. I wish i could just stop. I find my hardest part of the day is 5pm as i use to take 3 tabs but at the moment im taking 1 and i feel it, i feel as though i have no energy and i am very quite and withdrawn. I do feel some of this is all in my head.

On a plus side it has started to notivce that i have not had to visit many pharmacies and am few £ better off this week 

I am wondering even when i am completly free of painkillers will i still crave them. 

Can anyone who is codeine free tell me if you still ever crave the drug or how you feel towards it after you have quit?

Ur doing great !

I'm due my normal 2 the now but I'm only going to take 1. I've had to lye in bed for a bit and calm down as feeling panicky just now.

Yes by Xmas I hope to be too !

We can do it with each others support xxx

Hey all. I remember feeling panicky too. The anxiety tabs helped.. I remember reading somewhere that feel good endorphins are the key here.. and well the only way I could think of to release some of those is to.. well give yourself a treat if you know what I mean.😀😀. X

Hahaha. Lmao lol xx

Hi Teresa. I get the impression that we are all pretty respectable people here. There is noting worse than being questioned by a pharmacist. It makes you feel so small. The one who refused point blank did it in front of other customers. I wanted the ground to open up. We can't go on living our lives like thgis. Good luck to you and everyone else x Drew

That worries me too. I am looking forward to being free but wonder whether I will crave it. Originally I was buzzing. Not any more. I don't know whether anyone else has noticed this but I find I have no passion. I don't listen to music any more. I don't notice a pretty face. I don't feel excited by anything. It's like I am dead on an emotional level. I'm sure codeine does this. It takes away the fun in life x Drew

Hope you don't feel too panicky Carla. It's natural but don't let that beat you x Drew

Ha Ha. Whatever it takes to relax you :-)

Hi Drew,

I thought it was just me but i dont get excited no more, i use to love reading and i just cant be bothered no more would rather sit in front of tv all day. I have to really push myself to do my housework and i use to be so house proud. I lack any sense of humor what so ever and they only way i can describe it is what you mentioned you feel so dead. It must be the codeine.

Hi Carla,

Hope you are keeping well and still staying strong.

Just wanted to see if you were still staying strong and make sure you are feeling well?

You can do this.

I really understand Teresa. I have lost my passion and fire. I don't listen to music anymore. I don't read much. I feel no love or emotion. I used to be passionate and loving. It is like I am dead inside. This is the awful effect of codeine x Drew