Codeine addiction (Nurofen Plus)

Anna 34674,

The first thing I want to say to you is that you are not evil and while we all feel ashamed about our addictions we can use that as motivation to overcome it.

You've made the steps to go to Drug and Alcohol support. That's a major accomplishment, many people wouldn't actually reach out for help so you should feel proud of yourself about that.

You're not alone, many people here have the same addiction, some have managed to beat it others have not. I'm in the second category and still struggling with my addiction.

Talking about it, realising you have a problem and doing something about it (which you've started) is the first step in recovery. You'll get lots of support and assistance here. Keep coming back here daily to read updates and so you feel like you are part of something you don't have to go through alone.

If you would like me to share more of my story just tell me and I will. Maybe my experience will give you some more hope and techniques to dealing with the addiction

Wilro

Hi WilRo,

Thank you so much for your reply. I will keep coming back.

I would be really interested to know your story.

I think I feel bad too as even though I have told drug and alcohol, I feel like I'm a fraud as I haven't told them that I'm even taking too many of codeine phosphate, they are looking at putting me in methadone as I've been addicted for a long time. I just feel that I'm letting both my sons down. I'm terrified they will take my second away although they did look into my life but said my little one is fine with me.

I just can't cope with life without tablets.

I've been.diagnosed with PTSD, also I have severe back pain which I'm prescribed tramadol. Thank you for your kind words.

Please let me know your story if you are happy to.

Take care

Anna xx

Hi Anna 34674,

Just quickly, can I ask which country you're in? I will write you a personal message later tonight.

I know a lot about methadone and other options. Personally I wouldn't choose methadone, there are too many negatives with it. There are other options which are equally successful. I really think you should consider those first.

I was offered methadone recently by my addiction specialist but I chose another option which has completely stopped my codeine use without all the bad effects of methadone.

Wilro

Hi Anna, First of all you're in the right place, nobody will EVER understand your predicament the way we do. I'm the same, this wasn't supposed to happen to me or any of us here. I'm a regular professional with two kids and I'm a single parent. I go to work everyday, pay my bills and I use. I have lost EVERYTHING to my silent addiction I call it. Why? Because the only people that know are my doctor and you guys. I've done some horrible things. I've lied to get new prescriptions, I've lost a baby because of my ibuprofen consumption and I ended my relationship to a lovely man so that I could use in peace, without suspicion. But it's silent. Nobody knows. I am literally the worst person on the planet, but that's how every single one of us here feels. I'm currently waiting on an order from a dodgy pharmacy. 250 tabs of codeine phosphate are coming tomorrow and I can't wait. My stomach hurts. This is what this addiction has done to me. It's turned me into a drug crazed lunatic. I have debts from dodgy pharmacies piled up. If you can have a nose around then please find a story from a guy, I can't remember his name but his story is what happens in the culmination of this addict, his stomach burst with an ulcer and he was bringing up indigested tabs, he got out with a mended stomach and..... Started using again. Like we probably all would. I would urge everyone here to share their stories or as much as they're comfortable with. If wean help someone overcome this it's like being clean for all of us. Me? I'm not sure I'll ever be there and I know one day this addiction will kill me and it's a waiting game, much love xx

Hun it's not you that's evil. It's the pills. They're horrid little things.

I spent 9 years taking an average of 30 neurofen plus a day, 60 at my lowest point. I've been hospitalised twice, literally almost dead, weighing 35kg's ( I'm 164CM). Codeine will slowly effect everything in your body sucking it dry.

I too took them to mask my pain (abusive relationship) but that's all it is. A mask. It's temporary. Eventually you have to deal with whatever it is your running from. I Definately cannot even comprehend the pain you would be feeling. I do know you're the most important person in the world to your kids so you gotta take care of you.

Quitting codeine was the most horrible, torturous experience of my life but it was so worth the pain. I can feel again. Like actually feel.

You will get there, try and not be so hard on yourself. You're doing a really tough thing.

If you have any questions or just wanna chat don't hesitate

Nikki

Not sure if you're talking about me but I ended up with a perforated stomach and duodenum 4 months ago after 5 years of taking 90 Nurofen Plus tablets per day. It was the worst and most painful experience of my life. My stomach had been leaking acid for about 8 hours before something burst in a big way and I had to beg my wife to call the ambulance. I was crying the whole time she was on the phone and screaming to please get the ambulance here as soon as possible.

I spent 5 days in the critical care ward after I was rushed into emergency surgery. The surgeon told me that if I had waited another 2 hours I would have died as the stomach acid had started to eat away at all the other organs in my abdominal cavity. They flushed 1 1/2 litres of green infected stomach contents and acid out of me.

3 weeks later when my script for painkillers (oxycodone) ran out I started using codeine again. That's the definition of stupidity.

I have finally gotten help and am now taking suboxone prescribed by an addiction specialist. In my opinion this is a much better solution then taking methadone although he gave me the choice.

I have another endoscopy (my 6th now) in two weeks. I'm hoping to get some positive results for once. I have not used any codeine or nurofen plus now for 14 days since I started on suboxone. It has completely removed my cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Wilro

Wow Asbamed1980,

You've suffered a lot, I really feel for you. I can't even begin to imagine the pain you must have experienced with your loss.

If you're able to, and it's not to painful to talk about would you mind sharing the reasons Ibuprofen caused you to lose your child?

I don't want to trigger painful memories so please don't reply if it's going to cause you anguish. It's just that I've never heard of such a devastating result from Ibuprofen. I wonder if it would really help other females to understand the dangers of excessive use.

I can talk about the damage caused by ibuprofen from a male perspective but your story stands out as something far worse than I've experienced or heard other men talk about.

If my question brings back painful memories I am truly sorry, the last thing I would want is for you to be taken back to an experience I'm sure you'd rather leave behind you.

At the same time, there are many females commenting on Codeine addiction forums (I think more than males) which is probably a result of men trying to hide their feelings and not wanting to admit they have problems.

I've started writing a book about addiction to OTC medications (part of it is therapy for me personally) dealing with codeine in particular but also covering topics such as Promethazine, 5HTP, Phenibut, Caffeine Pills, Doloxymine and others.

While I have a wealth of personal experience with Codeine in its many forms due to my own addictive personality I'm also looking for other people's experiences to add additional information.

I'm going to cover the reasons people find themselves addicted, the lack of doctor support in treating pain efficiently or taking people seriously, self medicating (which I think a lot of us do) how opioids, in particular easily available codeine products help with anxiety and the multitude of methods found online about beating the addiction to codeine.

When my first draft is ready I would appreciate it so much if I could send people here a copy to review to get everyone's thoughts on it. Any additions or recommendations will be credited to anyone who would like to contribute.

That's all for now, I have to write a PM for Anna as promised.

Take care everyone. Believe it or not you are all in my thoughts.

Wilro

Hi Wilro, I'm happy to provide any information you would like to know and I won't hold back, let me know EXACTLY what you want to know and I'll tell you the truth, tonight though, I'm at work now!

I have sent you a Personal Message. I had to send it in 2 parts as it was well over thee 8000 word limit for personal messages.

Please feel free to reply to me with any questions

Wilro

Hello,

I've been addicted to N+ for nearly 3 years now. Ashamed1980, every post you write nearly has me in tears as its like you are reading my mind...I literally hate myself, I lie to everyone every single day, I spend hours pharmacy hopping to get "my fix" ...my poor children in the back of the car, I promise them we are off to a new playground but really it's an excuse for me to go further away to go to a pharmacy that doesn't recognise me..I've concocted the most elaborate stories to get them. I'm so ashamed of myself...

I can take up to 90 in a day & sometimes 45 tablets in one go....yes you read that right...45!! I have spent all my savings on these horrid things...my life is a mess. I've tried to quit so many times but never got passed day 4..

I was originally was prescribed it after a horrific surgery & loved the feeling it gave me of being able to cope...so I just kept using the dose. I lived in a big city Australia up to 12 months ago and got my hands on them so easy. We moved to uk last year and there's limited pharmacys near by and it's been soul destroying being so deceptive...

SO I've been thrown a life line this week. My beautiful kids were invited to have 5 days holidays with their grandparents...(I am a stay at home mom right now but I once had the word "manager" in my job title...go figure)

My husband works away from time to time so I have the golden opportunity to go CT, it's my only option as taper won't work, I'm a greedy horrible addict.

So I'm on day one now, I know what's ahead of me but I'd just love to have someone to check in with over the next few days to help me not to falter.

Sending love out into the universe and hoping to get some back

Ps - 3wilro I would love to hear your discussion on ABC radio, please post the podcast

It's like you read my mind. The pharmacy hopping is getting rediculous. It was a real shock and embarrassment when a pharmacist refused to seel it to me. I hate myself for it. I feel like crapp most of the time. I took it originally to sort out my shoulder pain. In fact, a pharmacist recommended it. That was too years ago. now I feel so unhealthy. I have lost weight and I have no energy. I just want to sleep most of the time. What a waste of life. I want to stop. i have tried but always struggle to get past day 3. My dosage is creeping up... at least 64 a day. The GP hasn't really been much help. I don't know where to turn. I was thinking of visiting a Drug Rehab service to see if I could get something that allows me to function while I quit. Cold Turkey was very hard. I know it can be done like that and people on here have successfully done it but I haven't the strength. Good luck with what you are doing. It's an opportunity to get your life back. I'm in the UK too. x

Oh I hear you, I've been refused more than a few times, it's a horrible feeling but does it stop me, no it just makes me go into a shame spiral that can only be cleared by more N+ ( or that's what this addiction tells me)

I managed to get through yesterday but I so want some today "to feel normal"

I've given my bank card to my mum, she knows I'm struggling with something but doesn't quiet know & im too ahasmed to tell her. It's like a whole other life I lead that no one knows about but me..

Maybe try talk to Your doctor Drew? I had a fantastic doctor in Aus but I just couldn't stop as the situation around me was so chaotic I just depended on the codeine too much.

If you wanted to try along side me? We could support each other...this is a life sapping horror show and I want to get back to real life.

I did visit Drug support and they offered me counselling which was only ok and to go methadone, it was awful. I felt like such a junkie so I just stopped and went back on Nurofen +

I think there is just not enough understanding and support for this, clearly people are in serious situations and not being offered any help. The first doc I visited when we returned here told me I was the first case of codeine addiction she had come across in 25 years of medicine so she didn't know what to do for me!!

Hey Jacki, sorry to hear your suffering, I have been there before, I'm sure you've been given lots of advice, so I won't say the same old things, however, I think the most important thing you can do, is to tell your mother, I don't know what sort of relationship you have with her, but if it's a fairly "normal" one, then you should let her help you,I don't wish to appear crude with what follows, but I hope it makes a point,  she's brought you into the world, she's cleaned your smelly behind a thousand times, cleaned up your vomit when you were sick, changed the sheets when you wet the bed, discussed all sorts of "intimate" things with you throughout your life, there is nothing you could say to her that would have her turning away from you. Please don't let a bit of embarrassment stop her from helping you, she can do so much to ease your suffering, having someone to share this with will lift a great weight off your shoulders. I don't want to sound "preachy" and wish you good luck with your battles ahead!

Thank you for your kind and wise words Ser Bronn, I think I will come clean ( ha ha bad joke but we can't lose of sense of humour in this??) to her.

I've also spoke to my counsellor and will see her shortly. Problem is I'm desperate for s packet and was planning on not leaving the house so as not to tempt myself...

Oh well onwards with the battle

And thank you again everyone who has responded to me x

Thank you for your kind and wise words Ser Bronn, I think I will come clean ( ha ha bad joke but we can't lose of sense of humour in this??) to her.

I've also spoke to my counsellor and will see her shortly. Problem is I'm desperate for s packet and was planning on not leaving the house so as not to tempt myself...

Oh well onwards with the battle

And thank you again everyone who has responded to me x

It's like a whole other life that no one knows about me...wow, if anyone said anything as poignant for me, it's that. How are you doing now? I'm on day one of kicking my horrible N+ habit. I've started my own thread to try and get me through it but I'm determined. How are you getting on? Much love and hugs x