Codeine addiction (Nurofen Plus)

Is this Katz31 who I sopke to 3 months ago? I'm totally with you on this, they seem to think this addiction is notthing major & you can stop, which obviously we can't. I'm at work today but fell asleep in my bosses car when we were just out as I was so drowsy and yesterday both my mum & sister mentioned I was slurring my words and sounded drunk - I didn't feel drunk at all & hadb't been drinking but I'm worrying this is the impression I'm starting to give out and I have a a 1 year old to look after - some parent I am hey! x

Stupid thung is codeine metabolises and morphine in the body ,they would help someone with that sort of opiate addiction. Australia has just realeased a real time pharmacy program so now we can only get 1 over the counter Codeine product every 2 weeks. The program does have flaws still. So now we have to go to the doctor to get a prescription. In my eyes this is asking for more trouble. If you are going to pay to see a doctor woulsnt you want more for you time and money than an OTC medication?

Hi mimi, I found this thread and your very recent. I too have similar problems. Maybe we could help each other! I'm 25 with a 3 year old. I have an appointment with drugs action on Wednesday morning xx

Hey louisa, I like you was addicted to N+. I was taking no less than 30 a day and at most 70 a day (at my very lowest point) for 9 years. I am 28 and have spent the majority of my 20's chasing painkillers. I have although ended up in hospital twice, an inch from death weighing less than 40kg's both times (I'm 164cm). Both times i was honest with the doctors and i detoxed child Turkey both times.so not only was I detoxing I weighed as much as a leaf, was severely dehydrated and malnourished. I had a severe protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, basically every vitamin, mineral, electrolyte level was non existent. You'd think that would be enough to scare the sh*t outta a person into staying clean but the codeine high screams my name.

Nikki, that's so scary. I had a miscarriage and took these painkillers to stop the pain (recommended by chemist) after that I just kept taking more and more. I have lost just over 5 stone going from 15 1-2 to 10 9. Everyone congratulates me but I'm ashamed to say it's because the ibprofen has ruined my stomach and if I eat too much I throw up. Often there's blood their. Do you still take them? I have a meeting with a drugs action worker on Wednesday. My cousin died today she was an alcoholic and took prescription drugs all of her organs shut down. She was yellow and bloated. She left 3 children behind 2 under 6 years old. I have a child I need to get clean for him. I'm terrified of dying but it doesn't matter how determined I am I always go back. This will be the 7th time everytime before that I haven't got past 4 days.

I've been addicted 3 years now. I'm so ashamed of myself. I can't tell my partner because I'm terrified he will leave me. I told my mum but she's a recovering addict too.

How are you now?

Hi Louisa.

My friend passed away too in August. She was a chronic alcoholic but not addicted to prescription drugs like us. I keep thinking about her often and I shudder at the thought of what may happen if I continue like this, Yet I still keep doing it.

I'll be glad to get my prescription tomorrow so I can just take my codeine phosphate for a week without worrying about N+ damage.

Hey Sarah,

I've been in the same boat. Just before the first time I detoxed (a couple of years ago) I weighed 35kg's and I'm 164cm tall so I was quite literally a skeleton with skin. For months leading up to my stay in hospital I had agonising abdo pain that for 2 months I literally (somehow) survived on youghurt and pills. Even the times I couldn't stomach food I'd still be able to force pills down my throat.

You need to be really careful if you're vomiting blood because it is most likely from an ulcer Thanks to the ibuprofen. I've had them twice before but they never perforated and bled. Can you switch to a codeine/paracetamol painkiller instead? Either that or go to your doctor and ask for a prescription for somac (pantoprozol). It helps protect your stomach and fill in any ulcers. It's fantastic.

I am so unbelievably sorry to hear about your cousin. It's frightening how uncertain this life is.

I am currently around 3-4 weeks clean

Sorry accidently hit reply!

I won't lie it was the single most agonising thing I've been through but it is so worth it. I know how you're feeling. I thought I couldn't live without them. And that I would never survive detox. But somehow I did. The hardest thing for me in the acute withdrawal phase and the one thing that always broke me no matter what is the restless legs/arms/entire body. It is pure torture. Then the insomnia. Urgh. Being so tired you can't hold your eyes open but your body is flopping around like a fish outta water.

I've just been looking at information on stomach ulcers. I swear I have the symptoms. Pain in the upper abdomen, throat and breastbone which is relieved temporarily by eating. I'm taking lansoprazole as I already have acid reflux. I'm taking one of those a day at the moment sometimes two. I'm really scared that I have damaged my stomach and oesophagus. I think this is the wake up call I needed to cut down on the N+ and soon stopping them altogether. Still at least I cut down from 30 N+ a day to 18 but I'm cutting that further as from today. I don't think being a health professional is helping as I know exactly what I am doing to myself. That triggers my anxiety and makes the pain worse because I'm panicking.

Hi Louisa.

Thanks for your reply. I was taking 32 N+ at one stage. I cut that down to 21 then 18 and today I have to cut them further. I used to take 1 codeine 2 Solpadeine Max and 3 N+. So thats 94mg codeine every 2 hours. I've recently cut down to 1 codeine 2 Solpadeine Max and two N+ so that works out at 81mg I believe. I have to take the soluble Solpadeine Max as they contain caffeine or I don't get the slight buzz for some reason. I'll continue to cut down. Like I said my medical knowledge doesn't help and when I think deep down what I am doing to my body I have panic attacks.

I know how you feel. I'm a healthcare professional too and I know what I'm doing to my body. This morning is the first morning that I've actually broken down and cried for how bad this has all become. It's almost like my denial has broken and I know what I'm doing. I know what you mean about the stomach and osauohagus certain foods I can't eat anymore because the acid reflux is terrible. My husbands noticed and he thinks it's because of the weight I've lost that I've just lost my taste for certain things

I'm having a bad day today. I've swallowed 17 N+ since 9am when I woke and 10 Solpadeine Max and the day isn't over. I'll be so relieved to get my codeine tablets tomorrow. I'm cutting down to 2 codeine. I Solpadeine Max and 1 N+ per dose so that 85mg codeine every 2 hours. I used to take 3 codeine tablets with a N+ so that was 108mg per dose so I have cut down a lot. I've got my pain again today behind my breastbone and it's making me anxious. I wish it was bedtime and I wake up to my prescription being delivered. I've got pain everywhere. Which is relieved for about an hour after taking my concoction. I also chew the Nurofen plus for a quicker buzz. The dental hygienist yesterday told me my teeth are wearing down and that I must have a hard bite. I'm so ashamed of this addiction and how much it's costing. I buy my over the counter Meds from so many different online pharmacies. My mom is questioning what's being delivered and where does all my money go. She knows I'm addicted to codeine as she texts me to ask if I'm watching certain TV channels that are talking about codeine addiction. Yet I've never told her. She won't buy me anymore but my neighbour frequently does. We have 3 pharmacies in my village and he's been lectured by the pharmacist. Even online stores are noticing I'm ordering every month and some have told me I can't order N\+ or Solpadeine Max anymore. I delete the pharmacy website and find new ones. But I'm slowly running out of choice now. It costs more ordering online as usually the delivery costs more than the tablets. Roll on tomorrow. How are you today?

How old are you Hun? I too am having a really bad day. I think I'm nervous for tomorrow. Today I just kept thinking of I can hide it for a bit longer maybe I can give up myself but I can't. Total today for n plus is 43 far. I have more than half a packet left and I know ill take them before bed. My auntie is coming to appointment with me tomorrow I'm in a little village too with 2 chemists. I will drive up to 30 miles to get a packet. I never go to the same one twice in a week but people aren't stupid.

The codeine you get via prescription what is it for if you don't mind me asking?

I hope your feeling better tomorrow.

Does anyone here take antidepressants?

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm 42. I take the codeine for chronic back pain (6 slipped discs), I've slipped into this routine though. Firstly because 60mg codeine phosphate wasn't strong enough to stop my pain, I've asked the dr for stronger pain killers but he won't prescribe them and just gives out the codeine. So I've had to control the pain myself through taking N+ and Solpadeine Max with the codeine, and I've become addicted. It used to be four hourly then three hourly now two hourly. To be honest if they gave me morphine I'm sure the doses they'd give me wouldn't touch the pain. I know I've reduced by myself, but must push myself further until I get back to just 60mg codeine. Then I'll demand to see a specialist if he won't give me anything. I used to have tramadol Too, but could take or leave that. I don't know how people become addicted to that. It's rubbish.

I take sertraline 100mg antidepressants and another one called quitiopine at the highest dose as I have Rapid cycling bi polar.

Good luck for tomorrow Hun

The day my denial broke was the most painful day of my life. But by far the best. You can't change what you can't see. You see it. I have complete faith in you and your recovery. I have your back. Every single step of the way. I know you find it easier to talk to strangers and that is so ok Lou. I won't come here again unless you want me too. This is your space. You are my little lady and I love you. I understand your pain. Fear and regret more than you will ever know. You can tell me anything and it will never change the fact that you are the most amazing daughter in the entire world and my love for you is never ending xxx

Yes I work mental health so I know of quitiopine, have they sent you to a pain clinic? I know that if I have any type of pain nothing works because I've overloaded the codeine so much my pain can't be managed by paracetamol or normal painkillers, in reality I've done myself no favours at all. When I get off of this rubbish I'm going to have to grin an bare any type of pain I have so not to risk going back. I have in my head a plan of what I want to happen with getting off this but I don't want to get ahead of myself until I've spoken to the guy tomorrow. Are you allowed to message email addresses on this site? I wondered if we could have an email thread instead of on a public site?

Hi Sarah. My GP has never referred me to a pain clinic. He just doesn't seem to want to know. I've already phoned Boots the chemist to make sure my prescription is out for delivery this morning and it is. I almost feel excited!!! No you can't put email messages on here, as if you do the post goes into moderation and gets removed. The same with websites. I've spoken to Frank, the drugs team and they are rubbish. Good luck for today. Let me know how you get on.

If you want to exchange contact details or talk privately you can use the private message service.

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

"... and gets removed. The same with websites"

Links are allowed as long as they conform to the rules found in the FAQ section linked at the bottom of the page.

Regards,

Alan

Today was so hard but I feel better about it. He's advised a taper program through a orescription at the doctors. I've told them I DONT want to be in charge of this prescription. I want my auntie to have it and I will go to her daily for it. If I had it and I had a bad day I would take more than I'm supposed too. The hardest bit for me now is to stick to this. Go back onto my antidepressants. Once I'm free of this then to go on for some CBT. I've realised that bottling up my emotions from losing my baby's amongst other things have ruined my head. Not talking about it and keeping it in and also never really grieving has messed me up more than I realised.

It's taken me a long time to even realise how bad my problem was but today I hope this is the start of something new. I have a 4 week taper off period, that's what I wanted. I'm determined this time that I need to do this for me. Not for anyone else but just for me. Before I've done it because well I suppose I felt I had to. This time I want too.

Wow well done Sarah. I wish you all the very best of luck in kicking your addiction. I phoned talk to Frank this morning and they said go to An NA group. What rubbish. As you know I have mental health issue with bipolar and severe depression and mood swings. My CPN has discharged me as I'm no longer a priority. Turns out she was leaving and discharged all of her patients. She was my lifeline. I was going to tell her about my addiction and get referred to addiction therapy services. I think what I may do in the next couple of days is to call the Duty CPN and tell them. The hardest part is picking the phone up. I keep telling myself that I'll do it next week. But this time I am determined. I have to say 4 weeks seems a short period of time. But once again I wish you the very best

Hi Hun how are you doing? Have you phoned the cpn? Today has been hard but not as hard as I expected. I think because I've made my mind up in not craving like i wound have done before. I walked past the chemist twice and didn't even think about going in. The doctor has given me a 2 month supply just in case I don't manage it in the 4 weeks so I'll just have to see how I go xx