Codeine withdrawal symptoms

You're right about the body lacking in certain vitamins, I did some research before weaning myself off this disgusting pill. Magnesium citrate (it absorbs better than plain magnesium) and vitamin b1 will help with withdrawl. I'm also taking vitamin D. I've also found flu capsules help as does night nurse. Not sure what you'd call it in the US, it contains paracetamol, promethazine & dextromethorphan, it helps with shivers, aches & pains & headaches. I've been drinking lots of fluids and eating lots even though it's going straight through me. Today is my first day without any codeine at all, as I cut down about 2wks ago I'm hoping I'm through the worst of my symptoms. I still feel achy and weak but mentally I feel a little lighter and I can see a future without dependency which is pushing me on. Any other tips on coping with physical symptoms would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Hi Donna how are you doing the thread seems to have gone quiet? I I really hope you and everyone else are getting there. Going through the thread has been so helpful to me. I'm same as everyone else in trying to free myself of an addiction I didn't realise was so powerful.   On day 11 now and feeling much, much better but it is a twisty road and I know there will be times when I won't feel as good as I do today. I'm sending this out to the Ether in the hope that others will realise it can be done.  Love to all JH

Hi JH, I’m still codeIne free, on Day 23 for me now.  I felt a lot better after a couple of weeks but the diarrhoea has not stopped yet. In the past week ive started getting some rebound withdrawal symptoms back eg. one day I will have shivers, another day nausea. I can occasionally have restlessness at night. But they are much less intensity than the first time round. I’m surprised to still get physical withdrawal to be honest but apparently it’s not uncommon in opioid withdrawal so I just accept it. I find the psychological cravings stronger now but thankfully I’ve made it quite difficult for myself to access codeine so I’m managing the cravings.  You have done great to get to Day 11, the worst is definitely over! Well done, keep going and don’t be surprised if you get a revisit of withdrawal symptoms from time to time, but they are a walk in the park compared to the early days! 😊

Hi Fiona, how right you are. Huge congratulations for day 23. I was exactly two months free of codeine , after many many years, from September 4th to November 4th last year when I made the mistake of picking up a couple of tabs because I had a cough!!! Looking at what I have written it seems so stupid but unless you keep on your guard the fall back position will always be to pick up. Consequently the whole, horrible, cycle started again. Over the last month I have been tapering down until going free 11 days ago. I'm not surprised about the physical effects you are experiencing and , hopefully, I am prepared for that to happen to me as well. However, this time I'm not keeping any tabs around like last time with my faulty fear of "just in case". In retrospect it just meant that my intention was to take them at some time in the future - which is what I did. It's too tempting when you are feeling low, anxious or vulnerable in some way. Things which have helped me before and this time round have been exercise such as swimming. Also magnesium has helped with RLS and meds from doc for sleep such as Zopiclone but sometimes you just have to go through the discomfort and pain. It's our body telling us it's getting rid of the toxin and, despite how we feel, we are getting better. Ive never been longer than two months but I know that being codeine free is a better, fuller, way of life. I'm so grateful to everybody on this forum who have shared their journey. It has truly been a lifeline. Thank you all and keep on keeping on J H

 

Hi again JH, I think when you’ve been addicted to the level that we have that removing any temptation to take codeine is the only way to go. I feel fortunate now that I can no longer buy it from a pharmacy in this country, otherwise I would have had a lot more psychological battles going on in my head.! I’m going to head outside to do a bit more gardening since it’s cooler today  x

Hi Fiona, how are things going? I'm on day 20 myself and feeling better than ever. That's not to say that some days I am still anxious, irritable, and have muscle cramps and RLS - but not as bad. I hope that your recovery is still going strong? This forum has been a great help and I really hope other people also benifit from it as i have. X

 

Hi JHenry, I’m going along well thanks. I still have lingering symptoms of withdrawal which is annoying after 33 days! I still get flushes/sweats and diarrhoea but both in much milder forms. The hardest is the psychological cravings but they don’t happen that often and I’m strong  enough not to go to great lengths to try to get codeine. I had quite bad RLS the other night but that was the first time since a couple of weeks ago.  I’m noticing now how much more alert I am when I wake up, everything is sharper and in clearer focus which is taking a little bit of getting used to because I always ‘relaxed’ my mind and body with codeine. Now I’m learning to relax just by reading and resting. It will take time I guess. I’m certainly glad to be free of the constant awareness of how much codeine I had and when I was going to get the next lot, constantly counting days, pills etc. Time and money wasted on drs visits and pharmacies. I’ve found the forum to be really helpful as well. Congratulations on your success! X

Congratulations Fiona, really well done. I'm following about 10 days behind you. Generally I feel good but also still get psychological craving and some physical symptoms. My skin sometimes feels very itchy. I'm pretty sure this is related to opioids withdrawal - although it seems strange as I've not had anything for over three weeks. However, reading the literature it is also common for physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal to occur for some time after putting down the tablets. Still we are doing good and I really hope that is the case for anyone else who is trying to free themselves from this awful, draining addiction. When I look back it really seems like I am looking at another person. I'm really grateful to this forum for giving me the encouragement to get free of the drug and maybe allow myself to become the person I was always meant to be. Congratulations again Fiona and let's make sure we keep supporting each other and anyone else who we can help. X

 

Hi kay57930

I’m not sure how severe your pain is but I suffer migraines and take ibuprofen. There is also a type of drug called lyrica for neuropathic pain like your condition fibromyalgia. You must see the doctor for these though. This type of pain killer does not have morphine derivatives so it is a lot better. 

For my RLS I took a lot of showers and stayed in there for a long time. Also taking baths with magnesium salts is helpful. The skin absorbs the magnesium and relaxes ur muscles.  Also walking helped. Pressure on your chest and feeling like you can’t breath that’s anxiety and very common when coming off Codeine. So try and take deep breaths in and out. I know it’s easier said than done but if you can get through the first 10 days of being Codeine free than it’s more likely you will succeed. Sometimes I want to take them to relax but I think of day 4 and 5 of withdrawal and I couldn’t go through that again.  

Well done everyone. It’s a horrible addiction but you can stop with perseverance.

Hi , 

How is everyone going with their “ giving up codeine “ journey ? 

It’s been one week now since I saw my gp who prescribed panadeine forte as a substitute to the nurofen plus . I have been cutting back bit by bit each day and today it’s safe to say I haven’t had any in almost 48 hours . I have been coping reasonably ok . Today I have a bad headache and my usual body aches which I don’t know weather it’s the fibromyalgia or lupus or just a withdrawal . I have just being having regular panadol to get me through and sucking up the pains as like I have said earlier the codeine tablets never got rid of the pain altogether anyway . I still have a long way to go but I’m happy that I have so far made progress . Don’t get me wrong it hasn’t been easy as been plenty of times when I feel like reaching for the packet . Im finding I just remind myself and then find a distraction ! 

I’m finding distractions help , even if it is having a nap ! Other things I am using is do some cleaning , ring a friend , go out to shops, etc . 

Jeanette , the doctor is about to trial me on lyrica . At first I have been on prednisone as a trial as I can’t gave both prednisone and lyrics . Prednisone treats lupus.   Lyrica treats fibromyalgia. The dr wants to work out which one is more prominent . I was taking the prednisone but had to cease as it made me feel very on edge and angry etc . I could if easily killed someone if they got on my nerves so I stopped . 

Hi Kay, Well done for getting this far. I'm 4 days in from total withdrawal and a few weeks in from cutting right down. I'm over the worst physically but have developed bad anxiety. I'm grieving the loss of a relative too so maybe it's grief making my anxiety worse. I still feel like I have flu, I'm drained. People talk of having more energy when they give up but I have less. Hopefully this will pass. I still have hot flushes and have to run to the loo once a day. I suppose because I was on a high dose for 10yr it might take longer to get out my system. But besides all that I do feel better codeine free. I couldn't have done it without talking to people on here though. Keep me updated on your recovery please, I love hearing from people who have overcome their addictions it gives me the push to keep going with my recovery x

Well after my update yeserday I have gone a little backwards . As I said earlier I suffer lupus and fibromyalgia among other things .yeserday I was in quite some pain and struggled all day but then I ended up taking 1 panadeine forte . Last night during the night I woke in terrible pain yet again and tried fighting and fighting to no avail I tried panadol with no effect so ended up taking 2 panadeine forte as I wanted to sleep . Im now at my doctors for my app so I’m going to ask her what else I can have . I thought I was doing well but oh well . If I only have to take 2 a day at this stage I guess it’s better then the amounts I was taking before 

Hi, I don't know what panadeine is but if you've been given it from a doctor to help with withdawl then take it.....I wish I'd had a substitute. Don't suffer unnecessary, take your doctors advice! And don't think of things as taking a step back, just think 'I fell down but I'll get back up' Take things at your own pace. Let me know how how you get on at the doctors please xx