Codeine addiction (Nurofen Plus)

Hi all, I'm writing this for myself mainly, but if it gives people some insight into going cold turkey, then all the better.

i have been addicted to Nurofen + for about 16 months, I take 64 per day, in one go at around midday. I do filter out most of the ibuprofen, which is why I have had no stomach pain, cramps or acid reflux. I took my last pills today, and plan to go cold turkey. I have been addicted to these awful pills once before, not for as long as this current addiction, therefore I fully know what to expect, which rather makes the prospect worse than going in blind. I had a fairly speedy recovery last time, but am expecting a worse time as I've been on them for much longer this time. I will be writing every day, giving an honest, accurate account of what happens, as I said, I'm writing it as a form of self help, but the info might help anyone thinking of trying it

Hi Bolo

Great idea. I know I will have to go cold turkey at some point this year soon. I will follow your diary with great interest. Good luck and thanks for taking the trouble to do it xxx DREW

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FRIENDS HERE!!! Peace in 2017...

Thanks Drew,

well a disastrous start, I planned 8 days with no work to get the worst over with, but I've been dragged out for a family meal tonight, I couldn't risk the  unpleasant withdrawl symptoms kicking in tonight, so to highlight the insanity, and shame of this vile addiction, I've had to go out on New Year's Day, and buy a pack of pills, just the one thankfully, to get me through till tomorrow. I had to go to two shops, the first one I tried, there was a queue and the two people in front of me, bought a large box of NF plus, and a large Solpadeine Max, there was no way I could ask for mine after that, so I left, it just shows how many people are gripped by this vile addiction, so I've lost a day, but will report in tomorrow, I'm expecting to start feeling things around tomorrow night, but I'll post around midday, as that's when I normally drink the vile concoction!

I understand totally. I know myself that I would need total space. If I go cold turkey, I need to be away from all commitments. Good luck for tomorrow xx Drew

Thanks, + 24 hours with no negative symptoms yet, but another piece of bad luck, I have to take my mother for a hospital appointment on Friday afternoon, couldn't be a worse time, I can't imagine how bad I'll be feeling by then, 

That is such a pain. That has what has stopped me stopping. Life just gets in the way. I've even thought of disappearing for two weeks and pretend I'm on holiday. hope fully you will get through it xxx Drew

Drew, I started feeling things late last night, and had a mad dash for the toilet at about 3:30 this morning, there was no way I was going to be in a fit state for the hospital on Friday, so I went back to work today " am self employed so I can work when I want" had to buy more pills, will work Wednesday and Thursday, still taking the bloody pills, with the last pills being taken Thursday midday, which will see me through the Friday afternoon, so hopefully no more problems will arise, and that will leave me 10 straight days to get over the worst, I can cope with feeling awful, it's just getting past the need for being close to a toilet, that is the most restrictive thing to leading a normal life, ill post again Friday, 24 hours after the last lot of pills, it's so annoying, I've got the willpower to quit, but events have played a horrible trick, I hope the willpower lasts, and thanks for the interaction, it helps to have someone to talk with!

Hiya. I totally get it. I went cold turkey this year but gave up because I needed to carry out some family commitments. I could cope with the pain etc. when I was on my own but as soon as the family needed me, I could not function. It sounds crazy but I couldn't even bring myself to answer the phone. After 4 days, I started again so I could function. You are doing the right thing. Time it right! Get the space you need. It's the only way. Don't give up. A new codeine free life awaits xxx Drew

I wish you hadn't added up the cost, Jesus, it scares me how much money I've wasted on this filth, I'll post on Friday midday, with no more obstacles in the way!

£7.20 x 3 each day = £21.60

£151.20 per week

£648 per month!!!

£7776.00 per year!!!

MADNESS. It's crippling me!

 

a real shock is that is about $15000 AU

Tell your GP - get referred to a drugs advisory service. I'm on subutex. Substituting one for another I hear you cry - but - and it's a big but, I started on 6 mg subutex daily and now comfortable on 2 mg per day. By spring, I will be free. That is my master plan.

Depression was my root cause - my wife (smashed on vodka) accused me of nicking it - it was like a different person jumped into her person. She punched me, I kept calm, she called the police who threw me out.

Long story short, 3 years in a flat, single but mirtazapine has saved my life. I was on 64 N+. Bright red blood in the stools, no appetite. You stop. Insist from your GP - the problem with OTC codeine based pills is massive. We will all on this forum suppor each other in a completely honest and non judgemental way, so you can share totally in confidence.

I'm on day 11.1 - I've saved £74.92

All the best,

Rich

Hi Rich. My father takes Mirazapine. I thought it was to help him sleep. What is it for and how does it help? I am thinking of asking my GP for it.

Thanks so much for this information. kind rehgards Drew xx

Hi Drew, I take mirtaxipine for depression - they work very well for me. The side effects are they make you sleep, waking without feeling like you've been hit by a bus, and they make you very hungry!

All the best Drew,

Rich

Thanks Rich. Do you think they would help with codeine withdrawals and anxiety as a result? Really appreciate your help xx Drew

Hi Drew, My experience on these is very short in comparison (12 days), but in my case, yes, absolutly the help with anxiety.

Because you're no longer craving and hopefully feeling a lot better, your hed is less cluttered because you find you're dealing with stuff. In my opinion, clutter is stress is aniety etc.

As for the codeine, definitely - I've tried CT many times, got to around 32 and felt so bloody ill ans awful until  and iII purchased a box of 32+. But subutex complerely takes the craving for them away - not only does that free up an ever anxious mind as to which chemist to 'hit', ut you begin to change your habits. A word of caution, as I'm the kind of guy who will get so wrapped up in a project, I'm in danger of burning out. 

So, I've given myself a 3 week cycleto assimliate - I recognise hunger (listening to my body). 

If you want the easiest route, bupes are for me - I totally shied away from methodone, and the mere mention of it showed how close I was to being a heroin addict!

Cheers Drew Rich

 

ps, I'm a rubbish typer - I mean 3 days, not 32, hed, head etc

x

Thanks Rich. Really helpful. I know what you mean about heroin. I never thought I'd be like this with codeone and sometimes I worry where it could lead xx Drew

You are so right Rich, with being close to being a heroin addict. My son did a school project many years ago and it all started out with morphine, then progessed to heroin (which apparently was named as such because it was supposed to save the morphine addicts) and along comes codiene and oxy which are legal. They all belong to the same opioid family. Scary to think how it could progress if you have an addictive nature and wanted to keep chasing the high.

So very true didi. Codeine is essentially a weaker, legal form of heroin. When heroin addicts can't get their fix they go straight for codeine.

This is the reason I never have and never will look down on addicts of any form. No matter what your vice is I know first hand the total control it has over you.

Nikki

(not the same Nikki that posted the original comment lol)

It is frightening. I used to be terrified when I learned abot heroin addiction. It musr be the worst but being a codeine addict makes you realize how close you are. We must all beat this. Drew xxx

Hi Drew, Rich, Didi, Twistedrama and anyone else that commented on the thread titled "we can and will beat this" All the comments have been deleted. This is the message that appears on each of your comments "Wait a minute...The page you wanted is no longer available".

Does anyone know why they have all been deleted? Or who deletes them?

Sue xx

 

Justr replied to this but that's been moderated now..??!!

I've come back to my old post and thankfully it's still there. I only came back today to check in as I'm on day three of pretty much ct. Just two a day to take the edge off but have usual headache, heart burn and fidgets. 

I have been trying to do the maths in my head of time spent in the day reeping the benefits of taking N+ and time spent dealing with the consequences. If you add up the time spent suffering stomach cramps, headaches, tireness etc and the time spent feeling any good feeling from it, it all stacks up in the negative's favour. That is my mantra and that is what I am going to try and stick to. 

No idea Sue. It is frustrating!

Thanks Didi, it sure is frustrating, I must have clicked on 5 or 6 comments only to get the same message.

Hi Jencs, congratulations on being almost codeine free. It gets easier and you've come this far, that's great.

As you said there are no benefits once you've been taking them for a while, the negatives? I should write them all down, I've been pulling money out of the bank, the pains in the stomach plus bloating on and off, people tell me things and I can't remember or I'll say something and they'll say "yeah you told me". More and more chemists are asking for proof of indentity and the same old questions, do you take medication for blood pressure, do you have stomach problems, don't take any more that 6 a day, take on a full stomach, are you a diabetic, do you get asthma, etc etc.

No benefits whatsoever.

Keep up the great work, you'll feel fantastic.

Sue