does paracetamol and codeine cause straight out addiction?

Yes, over the counter. What is the withdrawal symptoms and how soon does it kick in? Thanks for response.

I agree with what Nicky said. Nobody forces you you to take them. However, If they work for you're pain, then use your instinct. Just read the instructions and do what it says. Just don't take them incase you get pain. NOT everybody who takes tablets becomes addicted to them. There are only a minority of people in the country who are addicted to the painkillers. I'm in constant agonising pain with my back as I have 5 slipped discs in my lumbar spine and wouldn't be able to walk without them. Go to your Drs if you are worried and ask them.  

best of luck

 

Me too Nicky. I get all of the same withdrawal symptoms. They are awful.

Hi christine

Thnaks for the respone. I will go back to gp and get a nose sray. Thanks for the nudge. You said that tablet addiction cannot be cured-can't it? Can you not wean yourself slowly off? I can be a bit of a worry wart.

Denise.

 

hi godblessed

im glad you took the advise of the nasil spray you need to read up on tablet addiction cocoadamol on its own as alsorts in it any drug that as codine or paracetmol can be very addictive if you stay on them for long periods of time

.thing is a lot of people take them when they don't have pain this and this is how they become addicted then when they get pain they take more and more to the pitch they can't control it to the point of taking other drugs along side the other they take this is why you are then classed as been addicted they cannot bring themself of them then some times they go on the black market to pay pouds to get them

i have read about people that is taking certain drugs up to 40 to 60 a day.

if your doctor stops them straight away wich they make that big mistake they should be weened of drugs slowley this is why its a lot harder im only telling you what iv'e read about your body thinks it cannot do without them so these people will pinch to get them a dr should only give them out for a month at a time but they don't once they put you on them they not bothered how long you on them so you use your own discrestion when the pain as gone ditch them not every one can only take them as directed but some go over the top then it gets harder to come of them you can get help if the dr wont help there are clinics to help you baering in mind it all depends how many you are taking.

ive heard of people locking themselfs in a bedroom to try to help themselfs to try and get through it but found it really hard

i sympathise with people if the dr told them before given any one long term pain killers without telling them the many side effects even though they may read the instructions not every one reads them when you are in pain you just take them but there are limits its when they popping them with no pain the brain sends signals out it needs a drug its weierd how it can effect the brain some people take a drug for an headache that might only last a few hrs but if it dosent go straight away they take some more before the 4hr period and when its gone they can still take some more then this is how it progresses to more and more till the can't stop themself .

im only glad if i have to take pain killers i will take less than i should hope it works then come straight of it i would hate to get to be an addict thats to depend on them.i really feel sorry for these people it can change the person drasticly in mind and physically they end up losing family members by turning there backs on them, children been took of them ,marrages splitting up been left alone this is when they have lost intrest in every thing they did and end up letting themself go get into a rut  think they are worthless all through

a dr that dose not tell these people how bad a drug can effect you when it happen's they don't stop the perscription as they should  becuase they getting paid to ruin peoples life's.i do hope this makes sence as im not an victem of drug abuse.

im on heart tablets but even this frighten's me i always think one must interact with another but i have to take them to survive .

withdrawal symptons can be very painful if you read about them.the only way i can explain this if you can take them till the pain as gone don't get any more untill it appears again then you cannot get addicted and instead if you can manage with one instead of what is perscribed they mainly put one to two then if one works over 4 hrs dont clock watch this is how it can get you addicted you cant double up or you will get addicted and go months without them then is been senseable.

probbly i will get people trying to knock me down now with there views such as im giving you the wrong advice but as ive said read up on here about drug abuse and drug addiction.

christine

 

hi nicky

i agree with you if every one read's the instuctions take them as perscribed but how many people do that??? we all should no that any pain killer choose which you take can be additive when the DR give's out a percription how do they no if they not getting it for some one else without any test on the person they don't this is why i blame dr's.

i was put onto a repeat perscription for co-drydomol i had been on  for 10 yrs im of them now i was took of them last yr these was prescribed from an hospital consultant to take 2 four times a day some days i never had to take them

they were for a disease in my spine that is incureable but some days i didn't get any pain so i only took them when i got the pain i used my own judgment if i needed to take 2 i did but not 4 times a day

same as youve said i cannot belive any one dosent no its additive course they no.

 I had 2 hip operation one last october which was not done properly causing me to have another in May im still on paracetomol @ codine, plus ora-morph wich i take the codine only if it gets too bad been 1 or 2 a day  but hand on heart i have not even realised im of the co-drydomol.

 i have had numorous tests done why im getting so much pain  just found out they have caused a lot of nerve damage

 i don't get any of them on a repeat perscipion i have to request them; Also last June i had another op for cancer of the bladder wich they caught in time but have found out parocetomol and ora-morph works better for both my hip and my spine i don't get the pain in my back and hands as i used to this is the effect it as on you 

but the dr told me even if i did get addicted to the ora-morph it dosen't matter so long as i only take 3 to 6 times a day i only take twice a day if it dosen't get too bad 3 times its the parocetomol im really worried about

  i have a high threshold for pain but i have took up to 10 a couple a times as i don't get alot of sleep so its gone into another day ive had to do it through the night when it wakes me up.

  .

 if the operation had been done properly i wouldnt have to be on any pain killers

he offered me pain patches which i was told by the hospital i shouldn't take so im just worryed now i dont want to rely on these for ever i do have other illness beside's  which i can control without pain killers

you no yourself they have a percription wrote out before you get the chance to tell them whats wrong with you instead of getting to the bottom of a symptom its just a cover up to get you out of the sugury

 a simple blood test or urine test can explain a lot

 im not a patient that is always at the dr's but you do no your own body i would take antibiotics rather than pain killers least you can't get addicted to them hope you can see were im coming from so yes you can come of addictive drugs if you don't  abuse them like i said when it gets to taking 40 to 60 a day. a DR dosen't tell any one to take that many

 look through some of drug addition answer's i read this they did it just to get high on co-codomol and glote in it they were the ones that was buying them of the streets and family members getting them of the DR'[email]ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddDR@S[/email]  no normal person would do this.

 I couldn't belive it i don't have any sympathy for them every one needs some pain killers at some time thats genuinely in pain like you say they can come of them i am lucky but

 I just wonder by taking these two can i come of them as quick once i get sorted but what dose worry me they don't no if it can be sorted as yet till i go back in October 15th i keep telling myself  these two im on now  if i can only take them like i did with the co-dyromol i will do it but if they can't do anything were do i go then there are only certain tablets i can take to start with these are the only ones i can take now as im on wafrin. what do you think??? its worrying though.

christine

sorry nicky my keyboard had a fit and made a mistake just ignore from were it says email and all them des jump to no normal dont no what happened there .

Ok so I chose to take more, for my pain. So am I not a normal person, as you put it? I am an ex Royal Air Force medical officer. Yes I should no better. And not take so many pills. Today when I get my sedatives I am going to detox, stick to my 2x30mg codeine tablets four times a day for my severe pain. I know it'll mean a few awful days and nights, but at least the sedation should take the edge off. I wonder what the Drs will do though. I can't have an operation on my spine, I would end up paralysed. So does that mean pain and painkillers for the rest of my life? I will ask my consultant when I see him next month.

latchy

Hi Christine,

There's so much in your post that troubles me, but first up, the first thing I do when prescribed anything is read the instruction leaflet, and I would suggest that the majority of people initially take the amounts that Drs indicate to take. With codeine, or any opiate the trouble starts when your body starts to build up a tolerance to them, as you naturally up the doseage by which time you're addicted. I'm not proud of the fact I've begged and borrowed cocodamol off friend/family and work colleagues. But the fact remains, I took them, no one forced me. It's easy to blame the medical profession, and I've had poor experiences of GP's too, we all know the NHS is stretched but ultimately responsibility has to lie with the individual taking them. Drs won't be able to get you off them, if you're lucky they'll be supportive, but really we're on our own.

The difference here as I see it is that you need pain relief for your health problems, I didn't. I took cocodamol because it gave me a lift, a high to get me through the day. Or to escape from it. I'm not sure if you meant to say people who are abusing pain killers aren't "normal", who is? Define normal! But please don't judge people, we come here for support, and practical advice. Being in the throes of an addiction, whatever it may be is really tough, and I for one applaud anyone who has the courage and strength to come on here and admit they're taking 30 tablets a day.

With regards to your own situation, I'm not a medical professional. If you're concerned about the medication you're taking, ask them for a review, or even a referral to a pain clinic, where they may be able to suggest other strategies for coping with pain.

Good luck with it all Christine, take care.

Latchy please let us know how you get on this morning, I'm rooting for you.

Hi Nicky. I came clean with the GP. He's increased my sedative nitrazepam (sleeping drug) so I can take it during the day. Due to my daily intake of codeine he had no choice but to refer me to a methodone treatment centre. There's a huge waiting list. He's begged me to take no more than 8 ibuprofen and codeine as it rots the stomach lining. He said the nitrazepam will help a great deal. I've got 5 days to reduce the ibuprofen and codeine! If I have any problems I've got to go back. He was reluctant to give me codeine phosphate as he said I might be tempted to take extra. So it's sedation and reduce with will power. Did it with smoking, alcohol and diazepam in the past. So I will do this. When I'm codeine free he will prescribe Tramadol which is less addictive.

Before you jump to conclusion if you read my earlyer post i said i feel sorry for ppl that get addicted to pain killers you have only got part of a reply.

what i meant to say was is it normal to take that many 40 to 60  a day but through this keyboard went funny as you should be able to pick this out as an error on the keyboard.

i did appologise because of this i am sorry you both thought i ment you were not normal no way did i say that. You are not Normal i did not mean it like you have read it.

 I had wrote my answer but how this happened with my keyboard  i was supprised myself half of what i had wrote was missing and that appeared

but i cant pass judgment on ppl on how many tablets they take but i will admit i do not have sympathy with any one that dose take that amount every day for no pain as i read some of them did and not been satisfied went out and got more that is abuseing drugs.

I am sure you wouldn't even come into that same catogory to take that many a day even if you do this is your choice.

well i haven't reffered to any one as not been normal and sorry you have took it like you thought .

christine  

 

hi nicky

  I have made a mistake you are Normal sorry and i do hope you realise i am still having problems with this keyboard will have to get another one.

christine.

hi nicky

i am sorry i have made a mistake You are Normal im dumping this keyboard

christine

hi latchy

i have made a mistake you are Normal sorry i must get a new keyboard hope you realise when you read my reply this gose for you and Nicky 

Hi Christine

thanks for your reply. I don't no if you read. I came clean to my Dr today. He wasn't annoyed or surprised. He said what I'm taking is nothing compared to some people. However, he did put in a referal to a methodone programme which could take a long time as there is a huge waiting list. He would be more than happy to prescribe me tramadol when I have cut back on my cocodomol although I only take 8 of these a day! It's the ibuprofen And codeine I need to try to stop. He's given me a supply of sedatives for 5 days to try and cut these down. I must admit I did get some sleep tonight. He said any problems to go back. So I am happy I came clean. It must be hard for those to admit to their Dr who take huge amounts of co codomol like you said 30-40 a day. I have read these stories as well and it's quite upsetting to read. I dint mean for it to sound a personal attack on you Christine. I was just upset.

Please accept my apologies if you thought it was. I appreciate everybody's views.

latchy

hi latchy

You don't have to appologise it was my keyboard that went a wire and caused that mistake i just didn't want any one getting the wrong idea  i thought you both would have picked up there were something not right the way it looked but i needed to get it back over it was not my fault but i finally got it right in the end you are normal

  i did think you was tying to attack me i will be honest. 

 hope both of you will accept my appologise's

you must have really been in bad pain and a bad state i do really really sympathise with you honestly how many yrs is this over???  you were bound  to have got addicted and takes alot of time to get of them its sad

.But you are on the up now you have took that step towards helping yourself with your DR behind you.

Oh boy no one would have dared had the guts to admitt this to your DR  i am glad you did least the sedation will help you through it get some sleep and you are really brave  there isen't many that could have admitted this to a DR  but he must be good to support you the way he his.

 And understands you he could have gone the other way towards you if you have to steadly cut down on the others to get the Tramadol  you will get there with the help of the sedative and will power rather than having to go through the clinic.Good for you you should be proud of yourself  i would like you to keep posting its nice to here some good new's 

i must tell you about this

i remember one person asking for help how to get of a 100 a day DF118 plus some other tablets cant rememba of hand its that long since.

  i explaind methadone can help but you have to be reffered by a DR to a pharamcy or a drugs clinice  if there was one near were she lived  i couldn't get it through to her she wouldn't amitt methedone can help i just gave up on her she kept saying i shouldn't have suggeseted it.

Also a pharmacist came to see me today she is going to ask my DR if i can be put on a tablet called MST iv'e never heard of it till i read up on it  i would have been better of the paroceomol im not sleeping properly with my pain  was alway's under the impression they were for headache's or other pains not bone or joint pain.i take the codine when i feel like it i only take 1 or 2 a day some days i miss it  its not helped me  i don't have it on a repeat so i can come it of if i want anyway.

 

My DRS would be quicker at taking tablets straight of you but more quicker at dishing them out i had been on Dizapam  30 yrs he took me straight of them i didnt no there could be so many side effects i nearly went out of my head with pain all over my body  im not ashamed to admit this he had a pyhcirtist to see me she put me straight back on them went balistic with him he apparenly should have weened me of them but the phyciatrist couldn't understand why he took me of them after all them yrs he was only a young dr then hes still there now. 

.

Well i hope you accept my appology and nicky i don't wan't to get on the wrong side of any one we want to think we are here to help people not critises i don't want any one to think im a horrible person im not i will try and help any one and i do rabbit on so exuse me for that and didn't mean to upset you also if anything ive wrote now if ive upset you let me know as its a long message.

take care keep posting you will do it now im sure you have the right person behind you. 

christine.

 

You don't need to apologise Christine. I was rather upset on that day when I posted. So I'm sorry if you got upset. I know you are trying to help.

ive been taking diazepam for 20 years. I used to take 90mg a day. The dr weened me down to 25mg. Which he still prescribes when I go every six weeks. None of my medication is on repeat that's why i have to go and see him.

yes I'm glad I came clean with my Dr and he was fully supportive. He just wants me to get down to 6-8 cocodomol a day for now. Then try to cut it further so he can prescribe me the tramadol. I'm on my last day of sedatives and they have helped a great deal. I have to admit though reducing my diazepam was easier cutting 3mg every two weeks. I will get there and am now feeling stronger and more positive.

thanks for your lovely comments Christine.

i will continue to post to let people know these tablets can be cut down and stopped. I was diagnosed with spinal degeneration in 2006 via an MRI scan and the dr put me on cocodomol straight away. Wish I would have just had the tramadol for the agonising pain. 

You take care Christine and hope you feel better soon

latchy 

 

Like Latchy says Christine, there's no need to apologise, I did say in my post I thought you were having g keyboard problems! Take care.

Hi there, I thought as long as I didn't abuse them I would be fine coming off them but I've been going through dreadful withdrawal. I was on the highest recommended dies for months. I didn't take more than prescribed 😞

Hi

Sorry you having experiencing bad withdrawals. Though you tried to use painkiller responsibly, it may be because you were taking them for months that is causing you withdrawals. The package using at recommneded dose for more than 3 days may cause addiction. Why not go to your doctors or the chemist to see how you can come off them without too much distress. And maybe in future try painkillers that are just as effective but doesn't cause addiction. 

Wishing you all the best.

Hi Tessa,

If you've been using them for longer than around a month you will more than likely experience withdrawal symptoms, regardless of whether you've stuck To the recommended doseage.  The good news is the withdrawal symptoms don't last too long (3-7 days) depending on how long you were on the tablets for.  How many days have you gone without them for now? Take a really good multivitamin, sip tonic water for the restless leg symptoms. Give me a shout if you need any more info, but good luck with it. Coming off them is the best thing you can do. 

Hi godblessed, that makes sense. Max dose for a good few months. I seem to be coming out the other end now thank goodness. I'm back to codeine but I know now that can be a problem too so I'm only taking half the max dose with the intention of reducing that too when I feel more 'normal'. I'm also trying to taper down pregablin. This has been hell! So glad to find you guys 😊x

Hi Nicky, that sounds like a great plan, multivits and tonic. I will defo try that. It's been just over a week now and I was on max dose for at least 6 months. I'm also tapering down on pregablin. Talk about hell! 😩x

I've phoned many drug help lines and asked my Dr and neuro surgeon how I can off cocodomol 30/500 And ibuprofen and codeine. All of which have suggested methodone programmes. Terrifying! But what else can I take so I can walk without pain. Answer-very little! Opiates are the strongest painkillers. My Dr said to me'if you were in severe, excruciating agony, would you deny morphine.? On the basis that it's addictive?' Couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Basically I really cut down my additional ibuprofen and codeine. And now just taking the 30/500s, 8 a day. My Dr has just said if you need them for pain, take them! Ridiculous. What would I ever do if I ran out of them? I live in fear of running out and going cold turkey cos although I do take them for pain, I an addict!

Hey Latchy, really glad to hear that you're off the extra's and just on the 30/500's, that's great! Well done!

Tessa I feel your pain believe me, only thing I can say is of its been a week you should be over the worst of it by now. Did you go completely cold turkey and just stop? Or have you tapered the co-codamol? What withdrawal symptoms are you struggling most with? The great thing is the opiates are almost out of your system, which can only be good. Staying off them is sometimes even harder! Good luck  

Hi,

I have a serious problem....I've tried to stop taking them but by day two I feel absolutely DREADFUL. This all started by using for genuine pain treatment, now I'm stuck in a viscous circle and scared if I'm honest.

The psychological motivation is there but the physical is awful when I do proceed.

Any motivation welcome please

Hi Lizzie,

Firstly well done for admitting you have a problem with addiction, that's the first step.

Cocodamol is highly addictive, and in most instances is only prescribed for a short period of time. We are recommended three days as Doctors, however, patients do require this analgesia for longer periods when other pain relief therapies are unsuccessful, or they have known allergies.

I urge you to speak about your difficulties with Cocodamol with your General Practitioner, sooner rather than later preferably. Should you be consuming too much of the drug, this can lead to what we call a staggered overdose. This is where the paracetamol builds up in your bloods, eventually causing toxicity, leading to paracetamol poisoning.

Many people are slightly naive and believe the odd one or two extra won't harm them, wrong! Cocodamol in any strength always has a base dose of 500MG of paracetamol, times two is one gram. Over a 24 hours period, taken Pro Re NATO (PRN) this is four times daily or as required, you can safely consume four grams of paracetamol and the body can dispose of it safely. Anymore, then it builds up slowly, causing a staggered overdose. This can cause sclerosis of the liver, the liver to fail, kidney failure and pancreatitis, all can kill a patient relatively quickly without prompt medical intervention. All the symptoms of paracetamol overdose also mimic withdrawal symptoms, therefore I'd urge anyone who has taken more than their prescribed dose, to seek medical advice or attend their nearest A/E immediately. LCD or Local Care Direct via 111 will advise the same should you contact them.

In relation to coming off them, the best way is to have your GP discontinue them and accept you'll experience a difficult few days. Withdrawing can last anything up to two or three weeks, but they're are coping mechanisms available to alleviate the symptoms.

Discuss your options with your GP, explain your concerns and be honest with them. They are there to help and will do. It may be that you require drugs counselling and further monitoring. You may also be required to have some bloods done, just to ensure you haven't caused any prolonged liver damage.

Kind regards

Steve

Hi

I have been taking 2x codeine (15mg) twice daily for 6 months since I came out of hospital with a slipped disc.

I realised a few days ago I am still taking the codeine on repeat and just taking it regardless. I have got used to the dose and barely feel the effects now.

I do go a day or two without it with no issues. But after reading all these posts I am worried about addiction.

I have been informed that addiction and dependency are different.

Was looking for answers and information!!

Thoughts?