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cocodamol addiction

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i am 27 and since the age of 18 i have been taking them 30/500.i get them from my doctor every 2 weeks when.if i dont have any i cant get out of bed in the morning and i cant go out,im so moody and hate socialising,when ive got them im a totally different person im the happiest ever,im the life and soul of the party,i wont even go shopping if i dont take any cause i feel withdrawels and they are all i think about.its so sad cause i have 2 children,i take 12-16 a day and i take double the stated dose 4 at a time.im to scared to go the doctors and i dont feel strong enough to come off them myself.what can i do HELP!!

3 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • sandy98797
    sandy98797 Guest

    Posted

    I'am 69 years old . I have  severe fibromyalgia for 39* years.   15 years ago i was prescribed cocodomol  30/500, to help relieve the pain. It was not enough on it's own, So i was also prescribes butrans patches, and in recient years also tramadol. I dont care for taking pills, and dont have an addictive nature.  I kept strictly to the recommended dose, no more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Some 5 weeks ago i stopped cocodomol completely, Also the patches which i never liked anyway as they caused dreadful skin irritation i was always pulling them off. I dont care about stopping co-codomol, but since stopping i'am suffering cronic diarrhea,and pain. after eating and have lost weight. Is this withdrawal, and will it stop. I  had no idea co-codomol  was doing harm.  15 years is a long time. Please help.
    • Hassan666
      Hassan666 sandy98797

      Posted

      Yes this is typical withdrawl symptons they should stop withing a week, once you stop taking opioids, but tramadol is also an opioid. I would not completly stop taking medication without medical advice from a GP. You can do more damage than good. You needed a gradual dose reduction to avoid withdrawl symptons. Talk to your GP.
    • cathie43459
      cathie43459 sandy98797

      Posted

      I recently stopped taking Tylenol 3's ( called this in Canada; 300 mg ACET / 15 mg CAFF / 30 mg CODEINE combination; can get by prescription only in Canada ). I was taking 2 - 3X a day from Dec. 2013 - June 2014, then 2 once a day June 2014 - Aug. 30, 2014. I too have pain on my left side and discomfort after eating. My B.M.'s have been varied, sometimes soft and thin and at times close to diarrhea. I recently had an endoscopy and colonoscopy re. the difficulty after eating. This lead to a gastric emptying test and CT enterography was ordered.

      I AM NOT A DOCTOR but I have started my own investigation because my doctor says my symptoms are due to anxiety and / fibromyalgia, which is so far from the truth. He insists that Cymbalta will cure all my symptoms and I've agreed to try it. The pharmasist just told me it can help with withdrawl from paracetamol. I will let you know if it helps. I really don't want to take it because I'm very wary of the serotonin type med.'s and am suspiscious they may have caused the gastro symptoms.

      I know I am not seriously anxious and I know my physical symptoms over-ride fibromyalgia. For fibromyalgia you would have to ignore the pain after eating, stool in my vagina ( this wasn't my imagination and so gross, difficult to relay here ), the fact that I stopped breathing on one occassion, my extremely weak legs, continuous eye infections, yawning, burping, sighing, . . . foggy head.

      I have read that acetamenophen / codeine tablets can affect the gastro system, slow it down. "One study has suggested that acetaminophen may precipitate acute biliary pain and cholestasis ( bile cannot flow from the liver due to a medication ). The mechanism for this side effect may be related to inhibition of prostaglandin and alterations in the regulation of the shincter of Oddi." Look up "paracetamol toxicity" on Wikapedia.

      Have you had any other symptoms? I am also having numbness and tingling in my arms, legs, buttock and face investigated by a nuerologist. I am quite concerned that all the specilists are being influenced by comments made by various Dr.'s I've seen re. mental health issues which I do not have. I have all the symptoms of Gullian Barre syndrome or a related ailment. BUT PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT RELATED TO YOUR CONDITION. I AM MERELY SHARING THIS AS I HAVE BLOGGED ABOUT THIS IN PREVIOUS CHATS.

      Just sharing with you that I feel I am experiencing paracetamol toxicity and your stating about your pain after eating is the same thing I've been experiencing and I to have been on paracetamol but only for 8 months. However, I was on accutane in the past and this might have compromised my liver making the addition of the recent taking of paracetamol causing my inability to tolerate anymore assault on my liver ( ? ). ONCE AGAIN I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND AM SPECULATING.

      Any questions or concerns please ask. Can you describe your feelings / symptoms of fibromyalgia ? And if you could tell me if you are having any other symptoms re. paracetamol, that you suspect.

      Wishing you well soon : )

      Cathie 43459

  • Hassan666
    Hassan666 Guest

    Posted

    Eveyone's bodies are diffrent, the mass of the body matters to work out the LD/50 lethal dose, unless you're underwieght or have liver/kidney problems or drink alclohol on top. It is unlikly you would have dmanged your liver, you'd have known about it if you had. Scondly, you're talking alot of paracetomal, that can poitnetally damage your liver/kidneys etc. I am in a similar situation, I take maximum 9 to 10 tablets a day, 30/500mg. I get a supply of 100 tablets from my GP occionally with Valium (Diazipam) so I take like 2X5mg Valuims day and 9 to 10 Co-Codomoals. 

     

    I usually take my 100 tablet batch, and if I run out I don't go back for me, I let the withdrawal symptoms kick in, for me I get painful cramps and diareaa when I stop taking them, this last for about 72 hours and it is pretty much hell. I am psycologically pretty tough (I was trained like that in the Pakistani Army/ Anti-Psyops/Special Services Group (SSG)). Basically you need to reduce your doseage of paracetomal you can go to your doctor and only get codeine or best of all simply admit your problem. It seems like you're on batches of 100 which would usually runout every-two weeks (if taking a maximum just below the maximum dose) so it seems you're not going back to your GP sooner than expected, so I suspect he/she has no clue. Don't play with paracetomal. Or opiads if you don't really know what you're doing they can be lethal.

    I can function without them, I am trained to block out emotion and pain, I can run 25 miles in soft sand in extreme pain, but not everyone is the same. 

    See your GP and tell him/her exactly what is going on, get help. Overdosing isn't a good idea.

    Hope things workout for you.

    • cathie43459
      cathie43459 Hassan666

      Posted

      Caring for you. You may think your body is stronger than it is. I would like to caution you. I was only on paracetamol with codeine ( 30 / 300 ) for 8 months, I took one Valium and I stopped breathing, respiratory arrest for 10 - 15 seconds, very scary. Also, not good to ignore or be tough and accept the gastro related symptoms you are having. You may end up with nuerological damage to your gastro system from what I've been learning, upon investigating this subject. Long term use of this drug can lead to complications which can kill you ( which you do say in the end you understand ). I would try to live without paracetamol with codeine PERIOD. IT IS DANGEROUS ! ! Sharing my experience.

      Also, you say you would know about it if you had damaged your liver. I have read that liver damage does not present symptoms until it may be too late.

      WISHING YOU WELL : )

      Cathie 43459

  • derekdc
    derekdc Guest

    Posted

    Hi I'm Derek..I've got exactly the same feelings as you..its all I think about morning till night..I take 3 every 3 hours..I time it in my head constantly..sad...I know..as I'm writing this i know I'll be in all day tomorrow no matter what as i have none..mail me if you'd like to talk about it in more detail..could help us? ?? Much love Derek smile
  • robert_1
    robert_1 Guest

    Posted

    Hi derek what a state we have got ourselves into with this terrible addiction Im still hooked on 10-16 a day First thing I think about in the morning My doctor knows HE MUST I have cut down slightly because he put me on tablet form instead of soluable ( full of salt ) I dont know what form you take but that might help Are you on 30/500 ? If so try cutting down to 8/500 you can buy them and there a good standby if you feel bad I do know how you feel I wont suggest you seek help cause I wont myself Or mabey your stronger than me Anyway good luck Keep well and keep in touch ROBERT
  • bree85
    bree85 Guest

    Posted

    Co-codamol is a compound painkiller that contains paracetemol and potent codeine that is in the same family as heroin and morphine. This is what makes co -codamol highly addictive and dangerous
  • roxanne84602
    roxanne84602 Guest

    Posted

    Darling plz don't just stop taking them u could end up having Seizures..let me tell u about my best mate... he was an alcoholic, he was Jaundice and we started to relize he was not a well man and maybe drinking more then he let on to everyone. . He started to cough up blood and was in alot of pain.he was in and out of hospital his kidney n liver was slowly given up on him..big shock to him so he gave up drinking got the help he needs to be around for his son 9 he is..then the pains started he got prescribed co-codamol 500 mil.. he was taking 100 every two week.. he started to cough up blood got water tension and blown up his legs double the size..he died a week after his 31 birthday. . They should never of gave someone with a bad liver or kidney them Nasty tables. .Please go for help they are soo dangerous and ark to have a check up to see if they done any damage. . Good luck..anyone out there please Stop taking them..don't take them they kill people

  • claire26500
    claire26500 Guest

    Posted

    I know how you feel. I was given them for my chronic abdominal pain and endometriosis. As soon as I get up I take them and time every four hours. If I don't have any I'm so irritated sad

  • keith_48216
    keith_48216 Guest

    Posted

    Hi,, is 03.44hrs and I'm lying here wide awake after another failed attempt to get some sleep. I have been taking 8 to 10 30/500's for 12 years and am trying to come off them. It took me to make the first move because the doctors just don't care. Problem for me is I can't just stop so I am trying to ween myself off by dropping down to 8/500 and reducing the amount I take per day. I can get through the daylight hours but come evening and night time the demons come out. I am getting desperate now because even though I am only at the reduction of dose stage I can't cope.

  • Welshgirl11
    Welshgirl11 Guest

    Posted

    Hi all i know this is an old thread but hoping someone can still reply I have been taking 2 co codomal 30/500 every night before bed i suffer bad with migraine and restless legs i have been taking them for about 9 months naw i try not to every night but more often tha not i do can someone help as to what its doing to my body im to worried to go to my gp thanx in advance
  • superluke1992
    superluke1992 Guest

    Posted

    Hi, I have been addicted to co-codamol for 5+ years now started on the 8mgs for backache and at the height of the addiction I was taking up to 28 30mg/500mg a day just so i could think straight. I got of them cold turkey with no reduction in dosage in september 2016 and since then I have relapsed 3 times, each time the tollerance built up to 20+ tabs with in a couple of months. posting this i am now 5 days clean again and hopefully be able to stay of them for good. I am posting this for anyone who is in a similer situation and wants advice on how to deal/cope or any tips on getting through it..... Will also say that the relapses were not because i was in pain they were because of the depresion that follows the withdrawel. 
  • lynne26250
    lynne26250 Guest

    Posted

    hey everyone i am addicted to dyhricodine i get 24 a week from my doctor and a friend gives me 100 a month i have been on and off codien since i was about 30 didnt use for pain a friend introduced me to them street name diffs the best way to come off them is to cold turkey it i have done this many times the withdrawls last about a week first 3 days are the worst so if u have someone u trust tell them and they can help you i promise after the first week you'll be fine if u want my phone number we could get off them together i dont think theres enough help out there for painkiller addiction but u can do it but u have to want ro do it im here to help any1 if that helps sorry for spelling mistakes

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