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Finding it so hard to shake the Codiene.... please help!

Posted , 7 users are following.

zanojo
zanojo

Hi peoples

Well its day three of cutting back... and i am not hving much fun.

I have gone to the doctors to get some codiene without iboprphen and the one i found was not interested... will try another doc today.

I went to the australian anti drug service and they are looking at my situation and are coming up witha  plan  for me.

Man the withdrawls are not fun. Was really anxious and teary last night. My wife has no idea about what I am struggling with....

I am down to around 70 tablets a day from 90.... but I want to get it down to 60 a day as soon as i can... 

i so wish i never found codiene. I didn't set out to be an addict... i guess none of us do. I just want to be free of this stuff.

Feeling really alone today....

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • Drew1961
    Drew1961 zanojo

    Posted

    Hey. You are not alone. There are a few of us here who understand. Well done for getting this far. The big step is that you've been honest with yourself about your problem and you have taken action. Do you have any plans for what you do when you get to 60 tablets? I am reading this detox booklet at the moment. It does give some suggestions that might help... hot baths, relaxation and meditation, exercise (if you can face it), avoiding tea and coffee, get some isoltonic drinks. I've evn heard that acupucture can help. I hope you start to feel more positive soon and try not to go back to your previous intake. Move forwards and not backwards. Take pleasure in the fact that you are killing the codeine monster. Take care. Drew x
  • WilRo
    WilRo zanojo

    Posted

    Keep it up mate, you're certainly not alone in this. There are many people here who will help you as best we can.

    Your post really worries me. I was taking as much as you have been (90+) per day.

    2 months ago my stomach a doctor small intestine ruptured. My god, it was the worst pain I have ever felt. I came within 2 hours of dying because stomach acid had leaked I to my abdomen and damaged other organs.

    Morphine did not for the pain, fentynl did nothing for the pair. The ended up giving me a high dose of ketamine which completey blew my mind, I throwing had died and kept asking my wife "am I still alive" I couldn't hear her responses though as I was so out of it. I never thought pain like that could exist. They flushed one and a half litres of acid out of my abdomen.

    Two months later and I'm still using nurofen, pretty stupid hey.

    I've approached my doctor and DASSA and asked to go onto suboxone because I do need help getting off them.

    Try and push through, I've detoxed from codeine 4 times now and I know how unpleasant it is.

    Keep chatting to us buddy, we will all try and HP you

  • WilRo
    WilRo zanojo

    Posted

    Grrr.. Sorry for all the stupid auto corrects
  • WilRo
    WilRo zanojo

    Posted

    There is a lot of information out there about dealing with the codeine withdrawals.

    In your case due to the amount you're taking (over a gram) per day DASSA will recommend you detox as an inpatient. They wanted me to do this as well. They can't force you to do that though. I think you would benefit greatly by making an appointment with them a doctor asking for suboxone. If DASSA agrees, and they probably will, your doctor will prescribe it.

    Read up on it first or ask questions here and I'll do my best to answer. Talking suboxone will eliminate withdrawal symptoms and allow you to taper off very slowly over a six month period.

    Doctors in Australia won't give you codeine phosphate. They won't even give it to me and I have 3 active ulcers after surgery and I'm close to having another perforation sad

    The government have changed the laws for pharmacies dispensing codeine products so you need to show your licence now and be tracked. Ive been to 3 pharmacies today and was only successful at one due to them not implementing the new system yet.

    I'm pretty sure this change is going to throw thousands of people into withdrawls.

    Got to plan for the future mate. Go for the suboxone

  • Sweats5377
    Sweats5377 zanojo

    Posted

    Hi Zanojo,

    I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately your problem is set to get a lot worse before it gets better.

    I'm roughly about 10 weeks free of codeine, I went cold turkey, withdrawals were horrible. Physical withdrawals lasted around 7 days and then after that the paws set in for 3/4 weeks so I know what you're going through.

    You can do it though.... Just keep on track! Remember you're not alone.... The codeine makes you think you are and that's what you need to remember when coming of this horrible drug. What you're feeling isn't you.... It's the codeine.

    Everyone here on this thread is here for you and I hope you have people close to you who can support too. Sharing your problem really helps, well it did me, told my mum and my sister and they were so supportive. It really helped to have someone to cry to and just get it all of my chest when I was in the thick of things.

    I genuinely hope you kick this mate.

    Take care of yourself and any questions you have or if you just want to talk, post away.

    Sweatz

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 Sweats5377

      Posted

      Hi Sweatz

      Thanks very much for your posting. I'm about to try cold turkey so it's really helpful to hear your story. How do you feel now? I am prepared for an agonizing seven days but worry that I will feel low afterwards. I need to work and be normal as soon as I can. Best wishes. Drew x

    • Sweats5377
      Sweats5377 Drew1961

      Posted

      Hi Drew,

      I feel absolutely fine now, it's been 11 weeks or around that this week since I had codeine. Before I was taking about 50 n+ a day.

      I went cold turkey physical symptoms roughly 6 days, appetite went for about 3/4 weeks. To be honest I didn't suffer with depression but I certainly didn't feel myself for 3/4 weeks. It effects people differently.... I was left with chronic boredom codeine filled up my life so much when I stopped I didn't know what to do with all the time and that hit me hard. But everyday for better even if it was just by 1% a day until after 5 weeks I was back to me again. Going out drinking on weekends and socialising with friends again.

      It's doable but it's not a quick fix.... I rang a help line after 2 weeks because of how I was feeling coping with PAWS who explained and made me realise how far I had come in such a short amount of time. That's how you HAVE to look at it, yeh you may be feeling like crap but I was a bit better everyday.

      Anything you wana ask or just talk, message me on here.

      Sweatz

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 Sweats5377

      Posted

      Hey Sweatz. Thanks for taking the trouble to write. Did you take anything to help with the detox or was it completely cold turkey? Any hints or tips for getting through the first few days would be helpful. You have done brilliantly. I wish you lots of luck with the new you xx Drew
    • robert20969
      robert20969 Sweats5377

      Posted

      And the important phrase there was " it affects people differently" 

      my first withdrawl from 64 N+ a day for over a year, I was bouncing off the walls with happiness in about a week and a half,

      so it doesn't take 5 weeks to feel brilliant, neither does it take a week to feel brilliant, it takes what it takes, so don't start off thinking I'm going to be suffering for X amount of weeks, because you'll only make it harder for yourself, day by day is the only way to go, find one positive in every 24 hours and you'll be there before you know it, and have you started yet Drew?????

    • Sweats5377
      Sweats5377 Drew1961

      Posted

      Hi Drew,

      Completely cold turkey.

      I took Imodium for the diorhea, I was also vomiting a lot for 2 days so I took dioralyte in the morning to help with hydration plus still isotonic sports drink.

      On the 4th day I went to the Dr's as I hadn't slept for 4 days and he issued me some sleeping tablets but I slept that night naturally so they remain in my medicine cabinet.

      One thing I will always say is when withdrawing don't get cramped in the house, go out, do some walking (even if it's 15 mins), it will be hard but it will nacker you out helping you to sleep and help with RLS again you may not suffer with these. The chance is that you will due to them being standard withdrawal symptoms.

      Robert is right it does effect everybody different and I wish you a speedy recovery, the reason I tell you about the length of my withdrawal is because people (in my opinion) tend to stop posting after the physical withdrawals go (whether or not it's because they're fully recovered I do not know). A prolonged withdrawal is very normal so if you find yourself in the situation I was, it is normal and it will get better.

      Good luck!!

      Sweatz

  • robert20969
    robert20969 zanojo

    Posted

    Well done for sticking with it, I honestly didn't think you would notice a drop of 20, 70 is still a hell of a lot, if you don't get any joy with the docs or clinic, please think about filtering out the ibuprofen, your taking way too much, or try ordering some codeine phosphate online if you can, but you will feel like a new man eventually, your life will be totally different, let that thought spur you on!
    • robert20969
      robert20969

      Posted

      And I know this is a strange thing to say, and no offence meant, but do you know of any dr-g dea---s or people who might know any, they would probably be able to get you any prescription only medication that you want, I know of someone who did that, so it's just an idea
    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Hi again Rob

      That's the thoughts that is spurring me on. I am off for the week from Monday. Monday is my big day to start. Will get everything I need in the house and prepare x Drew

    • robert20969
      robert20969 Drew1961

      Posted

      Well good luck, I don't know if you drink, I don't , but have heard  that alcohol can help you to get a bit of sleep, obviously not advisable if your stomach is giving you any pain, or to be taken with any pills! the over the counter sleep pills didn't do anything for me, I think you need the prescription type to do any good. hopefuly as this is your first time coming off,it will be relatively speedy, as mine was, I hope you've put your stash of pills somewhere not readily accessible, preferably down the toilet lol, because if they're nearby, the temptation will be a killer! And if your feeling like giving in after a few days just give anybody  on here a shout, and I'm sure we'll manage to talk you back on track. So keep the posts coming and ask any questions you like, any time,

      so there's 3 of you giving up at the same time and I expect nothing less than 3 success stories, 3 new people will emerge from this, won't they guys!

      and can't you start today, or tomorrow instead of Monday? It'll be over all the sooner!

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 robert20969

      Posted

      Thanks Rob. You're a star. I will certainly be on here as I go through. I wish everybody luck who is going to go through detox. You have been a great help x Drew
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