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cocodomol the silent deadly drug

Posted , 5 users are following.

stephen_44907
stephen_44907

Hi I was on cocodomol for 7 years and just recently weaned off using a taper plan and good planning.

I didn't realise just how mind and body controlling these drugs were.

Ok to cut a long story short I became ill and was prescribed 30/500 cocodomol the first few weeks I felt great yeah less pain and what a head rush.

I started to get addicted and needed my 2 tablet four times a day fix,was my injury gone I don't know I just needed the fix.

I tried a few times before to go cold turkey and ended up with the worse simptons possible I sure you have had these.

The restlessness and aches in the legs were the worst I'm sure you will agree.

Through my dependency I became intolerant to any products containing caffeine as I noticed my body would itch and I had pain in my kidneys all the time.I stopped caffeine 6 years ago and cured that issue.

This time around I decided enough is enough and try a taper plan.

week 1

8 tablets a day

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

2 at 6pm

2 at 8pm

for 7 day only then I started my taper plan and it really works.

week 2

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

2 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 3

2 at 7am

2 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 4

2 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 5

1 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 6pm

1 at 10pm

week 6

1 at 7am

1 at 1pm

1 at 8pm

week 7

1 at 7am

1 at 8pm

week 8

1 at 7am

This worked for me and just remember plenty of water but not mountains of it as too much water can be deadly.

I would say to anyone who has just been prescribed cocodomol just be aware that the come down after long term use will really spoil your day.

For the full impact of going cold turkey should only last around 8-10 days from sources I read but I will say this for a easier stage of coming off and less side effects try a taper.

2 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

  • tessa17608
    tessa17608 stephen_44907

    Posted

    That's good news Stephen. Glad it worked so well for you. I'm fortunate that I haven't had problems with co codamol and codeine. I'm back on codeine after switching fron tramadol. I had dreadful withdrawals from tramadol though. 
    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 tessa17608

      Posted

      I think these drugs should be made more clear from our doctors and not just given out like sweets.

      I was unaware about the dependency I should of done my research.

    • tessa17608
      tessa17608 stephen_44907

      Posted

      Absolutely. When I saw my doc and said I wanted to stop tramadol and switch back to codeine he agreed, write me the prescription and DIDNT tell me I would need to taper off the tramadol. I felt soooooo bad. Even when I went back to see him about how dreadful I was feeling he failed to identify the problem....ie, tramadol withdrawal! 
    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 tessa17608

      Posted

      My friend is on tramadol for his back injury he hates taking them he says he feels like a zombie most days but he has no choice as his job is very physically demanding and his back is pretty much knackered
    • tessa17608
      tessa17608 stephen_44907

      Posted

      Poor bloke. I was on maximum dies for many months and realised life was passing me by. My condition causes moderate to severe pain and fatigue that can be debilitating. So although I was getting better pain relief I was completely zonked out
  • gill70346
    gill70346 stephen_44907

    Posted

    Well done Stephen but can I ask you what you are using instead of co-codamol for the pain? How did you know you had become dependent on them, as opposed to needing them to enable you to cope with the pain.
    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 gill70346

      Posted

      I tried cold turkey twice and lasted 4 days before reaching out for the codeine fix as I was on them for such a long time.

      My body went into death mode I kid you not I felt ill beyond belief it wasn't pleasant.

      This time around I tapered dropping one tablet after each 7th day I.e Tuesday to Tuesday

      The only thing I did along this road to recovery was when I got achey legs I drank a pint of water and it really does help trust me,and the fact I was caffeine free also helps as we all know that too is another substitute for your body to handle whilst coming off.

      I just used pure guts and determination but I do say with tapering even if you take 100 a day dropping one tablet a week gives you slight side effects but no where near what I had before.

      Hope this helps 😉

    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 gill70346

      Posted

      I knew I was dependant purely through wanting that light buzz feeling I got and not through pain relief by the end
    • katz31
      katz31 stephen_44907

      Posted

      Well done that's brilliant!!

      That's actually a pretty good taper!

      I know all to well of loving that "buzz"

      The thing is you will NEVER get the

      same"high" again, hence the saying

      "trying to chase the dragon" the

      reason GP's hand them out

      like sweets is because a box of

      100 codeine costs only £5.24 so

      A lot cheaper than the other opiod

      analgesics......(shocking) they should

      At least review medications monthly!

      And tell patients of the risks of

      addiction its not the patient that

      has to suffer its the entire family 😢

      I'm currently on 4 X 30mg codeine

      due to a 64 a day Nurofen plus

      addiction so know how hard you

      have worked! I'm 31 and been

      addicted best part of 10 years at

      16 I was addicted to co-proxamol.....

      got through that so I know I will again.

      Sorry I'm rambling 😉

      Seriously well done!

      Kate.

    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 katz31

      Posted

      good on you and thanks for sharing

      keep strong and focused and anything is achievable in life as you have proved to yourself 😉😉

  • wen06862
    wen06862 stephen_44907

    Posted

    Well done Stephen.

    Just to add for anyone who's cutting down and coming off them - (I did it this way too) If it helps get a tablet cutter so you can take half tablets to taper slower - I find it worked better for me and I bought the over counter 12.8/500 & 8/500 and did the same.

    I kept a note of what I took when, to keep well inside the paracetamol limit.

    I still use co codamol but only for two days at a time with at least 2 weeks gap.

    The rest of the time I use ibuprofen - not as good pain relief but better than getting "hooked" again

    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 wen06862

      Posted

      that's great news and a massive well done to you thanks for sharing your information and story it all comes in handy for everyone who are in this position 😉😉😉
    • gill70346
      gill70346 wen06862

      Posted

      That is great but what could I use instead of co-coda mol as I am not allowed to have any NSAIDs such as ibuprofen because of stomach ulcers? From what people have said I should come off co-codamol but there do not seem to be any suitable alternatives and I certainly could not manage without any pain relief as the pain is not only moderate to severe but long term and widespread as a result of childhood polio and its related problems.
    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 gill70346

      Posted

      If I wish I knew I would so help you but specialist are your help that's needed.I personally can only try tell my story and how I managed I really wish I could sent you on the right direction with the right medication but not being in that profession isn't ideal.

      Many people out there are stuck in that awful pain circle like yourself and I only hope you can get the right advice that you need.

      I'm pretty sure they are specialists on here and I hope they read your write up.

      Stay strong 😉😉

    • wen06862
      wen06862 gill70346

      Posted

      There are other drugs out there which can help - while I was in hospital, after major op I told them that I didn't want codeine and told them I had been addicted (didn't seem to take much bother about that)

      They gave me a drug which was good for me but I can't remember what it was called but your doctor should know of something which you can take

    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 wen06862

      Posted

      That's great advise and yes you were so right telling them NO CODEINE as we all know that's the killer drug that hooks you.
    • tessa17608
      tessa17608 stephen_44907

      Posted

      I suppose I'm just one of the lucky ones. With codeine I can take it or leave it
    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 tessa17608

      Posted

      you are lucky I I just didnt like the come down cold turkey it was awful I felt like a heroin addict I kid you not.

      My mind was telling me i had enough but I knew deep down I was terrified of doing cold turkey again that's why I did a taper.

      Its the most effective way of coming off these tablets.

      I'm not ashamed anymore to admit I was a codeine junkie but damm it feels good to be off them.

    • tessa17608
      tessa17608 stephen_44907

      Posted

      Your taper plan was very good. So glad it worked well for you. There are so many 'hidden junkies' out there. I'm also not ashamed to admit my past difficulties with tramadol. The more we speak up the more doctors should listen and learn 👍😊
    • wen06862
      wen06862 stephen_44907

      Posted

      I'd been on 30/500 cocodamols for 15 years. It took me 6 months to taper them to zero.

      I didn't want to go through that again so that's why I told them - no codeine- when I went into hospital - just one tablet could have triggered "memories" of codeine in my system

    • stephen_44907
      stephen_44907 wen06862

      Posted

      totally understand you it's always going to be that problem we face now if we ever need medical treatment and the same would apply to me also.

      I would have to tell them too no codeine and I would explain to them about my past times with it

    • wen06862
      wen06862 stephen_44907

      Posted

      just a point I had forgotten about.

      When I was first prescribed these cocodamol, the packets had a leaflet in, but there wasn't a warning on it - If there had been I would have just taken them for the few days I needed them - I told them that in hospital because I got "reprimanded"  with a snappy question "didn't you read the warning"

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