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Codeine addiction (Nurofen Plus)

Posted , 73 users are following.

nikki6895
nikki6895

Hey, so I'm addicted to codeine, I usually take 32 Nurofen Plus tabs every day at midday (in 1 go). This has been going on for a year but I started doing codeine in June 2011 after I had my wisdom tooth removed. Every day I tell myself this will be the last day I take them but of course this is never the case. My tolerance is so high now I don't even really get any effect from it. Sometimes I take up to 64 tabs in a day. Some days I get a buzz, others hardly anything. Anyone on here in the same position as me who would fancy trying to stop with me? Moral support & all that?!

9 likes, 488 replies

488 Replies

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  • Ashamed1980
    Ashamed1980 nikki6895

    Posted

    Hi everyone, I actually feel so much better reading your stories, for the first time in ten years I dont feel so alone! This really is a horrible addiction. We're not some seedy, shaking addicts sitting in a crack house full of needle marks. This addiction shows it can just creep up on anyone. For anyone interested, there is a website called Codeine Free which is ran by a man who is himself a former addict. I would love to have an anonymous 'buddie' that is also an addict where we can both be a support for each other and Codeine Free seems to be where you can do this, I wish you all the best and hopefully we can all beat this. One day xx
  • WilRo
    WilRo nikki6895

    Posted

    Hi all,

    I know this is an old post but I wanted to share my story. I've been addicted on and off to codeine for a couple of years now. I was using up to 90 ibuprofen + codeine tablets a day.

    9 days ago my stomach and small intestine perforated. It was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. It began as a really sore stomach which I tried to ignore for about 10 hour by just laying in bed but at about 2am I got up to go to the toilet and the pain just snapped and became unbearable. I was practically screaming in agony. My wife called an ambulance and I was rushed to hospital. Morphine and Fentynl did nothing for the pain they had to hold me down so they could examine me because I was in so much pain. Stomach acid had covered all my other organs. The hospital gave me Ketamine as that was the only thing that did something about the pain. I was rushed into surgery to fix the holes and they has to flush my insides out to clear the acid that leaked.

    After 5 days in hospital I'm home now but recovery is slow and I'm still in pain daily. Can't sleep because of it. I knew that ibuprofen can cause this but I never thought it would happen to me. Be careful guys, I wouldn't wish what I had on anyone else

  • CAsteve1981
    CAsteve1981 nikki6895

    Posted

    Hi All

    I came across this site because I've been taking nurofen plus for 3 days now

    and wanted to be safe regarding the risk of becoming addicted. I am only taking them

    to relieve a toothache/infection (my weakness). I am not addicted.

    I am posting this however to offer my hand of support to anyone who

    needs it...and do not be fooled, if you're addicted then you need it.

    I am an addict, for 20 years I suffered from the disease of addiction.

    It very nearly killed me (this toothache is a symptom of the damage I

    done to my body over those 20 long, torturous years...I am 5 months clean)

    I was never addicted to one drug only although over the years I did build

    a few physical dependencies and broke them. Physical dependence

    was never my problem...the disease of addiction was. I don't want anyone here

    with a codeine problem to judge me because of the differences.

    At the end I was using crack and heroin, not codeine but I couldn't stop

    no matter how much I tried and wanted to...can you? The drug matters not.

    It's a symptom of our illness. Addiction is the problem, not the drug

    we use to relieve it. Trust me, I speak from experience and I want to help.

    The end of the road for me was a 12-Step fellowship called Cocaine

    Anonymous (CA)...it is the drug equivelant of Alcoholics Anonymous.

    Do not worry about the name. It is not drug specific. Alcoholics, legal high users

    and yes...codeine users all have found a solution here, you will too if

    you so desire. Google 'Cocaine Anonymous' for meeting times and venues

    in your area. I live in SE London, the fellowship here is wonderful. If you would like

    anymore information or even just a chat then please message me. I pray you find your way free from

    the nightmare of addiction. I am here to help you. God Bless

    Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

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

    • CAsteve1981
      CAsteve1981

      Posted

      If you think that we are different because I used street drugs to relieve my addictive obsession and you only use codeine. Then let me ask you....can you stop? Don't let the social status of the drug you use keep you from getting well. In Cocaine Anonymous we have a saying that is read out at the beginning of every meeting for the benefit of those new people who come in through the doors knowing nothing of the true nature of addiction. Every addict be it crack cocaine or codeine, gambling or sex, knows of the pain, misery and suffering that comes before ending up on a site like this looking for help. When it interferes with your day to day living and you realise that you no longer have control. You are slave to your addiction and you no longer have the power of choice... If you had the power to stop then you wouldn't be taking it. It is killing you and hurting all those around you because I'm quite sure that even the 'socially accepted' codeine addiction can make you do things to get your drug that no normal person would do. As 'Ashamed1980' so proudly stated..you are not 'some seedy shaking addict sitting in a crack house full of needle marks' so breathe a sigh of relief. You do not have a problem. No offence to you 'Ashamed1980' I merely use what you said to highlight the very attitude that will keep you from ever breaking free. You need to smash the illusion that you are 'better' than a crack head...forget the crack head and focus on yourself and the very real problem you have. I am 15 stone with a belly I need to shift...if I stand next to a 25 stone man...I'm still fat and unhealthy and need to lose weight...do you get what I mean? The phrase we have in CA....'look for the similarities, NOT the differences' Good Luck and God Bless

    • Ashamed1980
      Ashamed1980 CAsteve1981

      Posted

      Hi Steve, I think you misunderstood me, my comment was not proud at all. I'm an addict and my addiction, because I don't use intravenously, is no better or acceptable than anyone else's. There is no difference to me and a homeless injecting addict. We're both suffering from the same affliction. My doctor actually made that comment to. me when I confided my problem. She said "You're not a homeless, shaking drug addiction with needle marks, you're respectable. You have a job and a life."

      That is not what I wanted to hear. I wanted her to tell me that I'm an addict, that I needed to change, that she would help me....

      She didn't, she just kept handing out the prescriptions. Please do not think there was some snobbery in my comment. There was none intended. I'm no better than anyone else....

    • CAsteve1981
      CAsteve1981 Ashamed1980

      Posted

      Hi '1980...Sorry, i have only just seen your reply. I do hope my messages didn't come across as being aimed at you. To be honest, i never thought that you we're saying you were better...i apologise if it seemed that way. I was just using what you were saying to point out the thing that will keep any problem from getting solved...looking at other people's problems lol especially to sugar-coat our own. I hope you are ok anyway and thanks for replying. I'm sorry if i came across as judging you...that was never my intention. God Bless
    • CAsteve1981
      CAsteve1981

      Posted

      I'm also not saying you we're doing that with your statement lol...just people in general...human nature lol take care smile
  • strphen8683
    strphen8683 nikki6895

    Posted

    Hi I have been addicted to n+ for about ten years was taking 30 tabs a day consistently for the last 5 years or so, before that I was taking anywhere up to 90.. Was hospitalised about 6 years ago when my ulcers came out with a vengeance been into detox been on suboxone but nothing seemed to work. So dam scared of the withdrawals ( my legs drive me bloody insane). While on a family holiday I got the worst pain I have ever felt in my abdomen went to the ER and they gave me an X-ray within two hours I was in surgery getting my stomach operated on. Had a perforated ulcer which was leaking blood and stomach acid into my abdomen. They took skin from somewhere inside to repair the hole in my stomach.

    Spent a week in hospital on some good pain meds and had fentynal on a button.

    Now I'm home and been taking off the pain meds my body is screaming at me to go to the chemist, but I'm never going there again..

    I have 15 staples from my ribcage to my belly button and I'm only taking 2 diazepam a day now.. They seem to relax me but I'm wide awake at 3am typing this.. That's my horror story

    You guys need to kick this as I thought I was going to die from it

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 strphen8683

      Posted

      Wow! I am glad you are ok now and I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. You have just confirmed my worst fears. My stomach is in such a state but, up until now, I had still been finding a way to take my NP. It's crazy. Reading your experience shows me how important it is to kick this thing. Even now my stomach is aching. Hope you are able to get some rest x
    • robert20969
      robert20969 strphen8683

      Posted

      To anyone reading tha above post who is still taking Nurofen +, you can separate the ibuprofen from the codeine, the ibuprofen is wrecking your stomach, you must stop taking it, the above post should be warning enough, if you can't quit cold turkey, then at least do it as safely as possible, and remove the ibuprofen!
    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Hi Rob. Well done for saying that. It's the nurofen that's doing the damage. I just need to investigate why the codeine alone is not helping as much as I thought it was BUT, the nurofen MUST stop. I am therefore going to chat to a Pharmacist or see my GP so it can be done properly. I hope others are finding this useful. Thanks again Rob for taking the trouble to keep posting. Drew x
    • robert20969
      robert20969 Drew1961

      Posted

      Drew, you've been on this site for 5 days now, if you'd have gone cold turkey on day one, you'd be over the worst of it by now, and you'd be feeling better and better each day! I'm not preaching, but you seem overly concerned that the CP isn't making you feel as good as the Nurofen, you won't feel as good coming off as you were before, it's the nature of the beast, I think you need to make a decision, and just start, if you ARENT going to the toilet 4 times a night,you ARENT being sick, you ARE sleeping then your doing well, and should just get on with it, sorry to sound harsh but I needed a KICK at one point, no offence meant

      Rob

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Hi Rob. No offence taken. It's good for me to hear this. How long does the worst take? I am not convinced I can taper because I feel deep down that I will increase as time goes on. If I completely go cold turkey, how long do you think I will have to suffer. Drew x
    • robert20969
      robert20969 Drew1961

      Posted

      Do be honest, I think your very confused, you don't seem to know what you want to do, and you must be single minded to overcome any addiction, if you don't have the willpower to taper down, then you certainly won't have the willpower to go cold turkey, as I said before, 4 or 5 days of suffering, the symptoms start about 2 days after your last intake of pills, so a week and you should be getting better, but you need to decide what you really want to do and bite the bullet and get it started, you can spend the next six months asking people questions, but you have to decide!
    • anna_34674
      anna_34674 Drew1961

      Posted

      Hi Drew, I hope you are well. I really think you are better off seeking help from a drug clinic, remember it is confidential. I don't think it's a good idea at all to come off cold turkey, they will help you like they are doing me.

      I came off morphine myself a few years ago and it is the worse.thing I've been through.

      I really think that the support you will receive will help you so much.

      You also have to make the step when you are ready, it doesn't matter if 100 people tell you to do it, you have to be ready mentally. It's so hard and you need support, where about do you live, where is the nearest town if you don't mind me asking?

      You have my support and I'm sure others too.

      I think or I know it will take alot longer then a few days we are talking more weeks or months and you need medical supervision to help you. Xx

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      I think you're right Rob. Because I'e tried to make attempts before and failed, I can't bear to fail again so I guess I am trying to be clear and then commit to it. When you say, after a week, you will feel better, do you mean the aching and physical symptoms start to go? Cheers again Rob I do appreciate it x Drew
    • robert20969
      robert20969 Drew1961

      Posted

      Drew, if you haven't any willpower then maybe a clinic is the best place for you, the physical symptoms, diarrhoea, insomnia, sweats, cramps will be over within a week, then you will feel a bit better every day.the drug only lasts a day or so in your body then it's gone. I've come off these things twice, it does not take weeks or months to get over it, you will start to feel like a new person very quickly, so don't let people scare you
    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Thanks Rob. That's what I needed to hear. It is quite scary but I feel if I take a week off work, get some nice food in and watch my favourite films, I could have a crack at it. I know it won't be easy. When I tried it before, after 3 days, I struggled to talk to people on the phone, do chores etc. because I was aching so much and felt so low. At that point, I always gave in so I could, at least, function. From what you're saying, if I had persevered for a few days more, I would have been over the worst. Last year, I was in Germany for a week and, quite sesibly, they don't sell codeine based products there. I did not have a good supply and ran out. I struggled through the rest of the week until I got back here and I could buy the NP. I should have suffered it for a few more days but I couldn't function at work or around my family. Do you have any tips on things that might have helped you do the 'cold turkey' route? Thanks again Rob. I know I'm asking a lot of you to keep posting xx Drew
    • robert20969
      robert20969 Drew1961

      Posted

      Well Drew, you had the best idea, lock yourself away, near a toilet, for a few days, you can't function properly do I g turkey, as I said the symptoms won't start till the second day without pills. Just drink plenty of water throughout, 

      the diarrhoea should stop 2-4 days after it starts, the insomnia can last up to 5 or six days, but everybody is different. But once the diarrhoea stops, at least you can leave the house and get about, exercise helps getting better, even though you won't feel like doing it.

      its not a good idea to have a big pile of pills in the house because you WILL be tempted to take them, you'll convince yourself to take them, believe me.

      a good seven days should have you feeling a lot better, and you feel a bit better every day.

      But YOU HAVE TO WANT TO QUIT! SERIOUSLY WANT TO QUIT or you won't do it.

      its hell, I won't sugar coat it, but it DOES END!

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Hi Rob. It's right not to sugar coat it. I hope emtally I begin to feel better too. I aways feel so low when I attempt to stop. Kindest regards. Drew xx
    • scotty1806
      scotty1806 strphen8683

      Posted

      Me also I've had perforated ulcers, gave me septicaemia had a drain in my abdomen to drain it all out but stupid me went right back on them when i was back at home I've lost count how many times I've been in hospital because of it I denied taking NSAIDs they in turn diagnosed me with Ellison zollinger syndrome but now after 11 years I really want to get off them but after 2 days I'm in agony😞
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