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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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  • anna_34674
    anna_34674 zanojo

    Posted

    Hi zanojo,

    Firstly, well done in cutting down. I really understand how difficult it is. It's great that you have gone to a drug and alcohol clinic. I am waiting to see the pain clinic than drug and alcohol are going to prescribe me methadone, did they discuss any treatments with you. I'm sure things will come together, I've had a few times when I've relapsed, my GP has given me codeine phosphate but at a lower level. I've actually got the sweats today and I feel edgy as I haven't had any today. I'm.trying to get some as Dr didn't prescribe me any yesterday x

    • Drew1961
      Drew1961 anna_34674

      Posted

      Hi Anna. Well done and I hope it gets better for you. I'm just about to detox myself. Drew xx
  • jojojojojo
    jojojojojo zanojo

    Posted

    Hi mate,

    I hear ya. Been on the stuff for years also.

    I've tried and tried to give it up, just one more box, one more week.

    Your doc should be helping. You can just go to ED. You'll need s blood test.

    Does your wife not know?

    • WilRo
      WilRo jojojojojo

      Posted

      Isn't this the way mate "one more box, one more week" I've told myself this for years. After 3 doctors appointments and numerous calls to the Drug and Alcohol unit in Australia in the last month my doctor will finally give me Suboxone on Friday. He just needs to talk with the Drug and alcohol service to work out the correct dose. I'm hoping this will be the end of me destroying my stomach with ibuprofen and hopefully being able to ween myself of the suboxone in 6 months
    • jojojojojo
      jojojojojo WilRo

      Posted

      Good luck.

      It's hard.

      Everyday I want to stop.

      Everyday

  • anna_34674
    anna_34674 zanojo

    Posted

    Hi all,

    Yesterday I was stupid and took too many of my codeine phosphate, 16 in total. I started itching but really severe, I then couldn't breathe properly, I was wheezing, now I feel bruised all over but especially my eyes. Has anyone else had this???? I was so frightened, I thought I was going to die xxxx

    • robert20969
      robert20969 anna_34674

      Posted

      Hey Anna, an overdose of Codeine can slow or stop your breathing, which obviously can be fatal, and you complained about your breathingthe itching is a normal reaction, not sure about your eyes, can you see anybody straight away, gp, hospital etc just to get a blood test. You can ring the drug abuse line as well. If you took them yesterday, I would suggest the immediate danger is over,as the codeine should be almost out of your system but if any symptoms persist get checked out. If you do the same thing again, do NOT remain on your own, either go to hospital or make sure there is someone with you. If you can't trust yourself, then give the pills to someone you can trust, who can give them back to you in daily amounts. All the best

       rob

    • robert20969
      robert20969

      Posted

      and I've taken way more than 16 in one go, with no damage done, fortunately, but I am quite a big lad and everybody responds differently!
    • WilRo
      WilRo anna_34674

      Posted

      Hi anna 34674,

      You should be really careful doing that unless you know your tolerance very well. Can I ask why you took so many? Was it to manage pain or feed the addiction? Not that it really matters but the approach to stop it happening again does.

      Severe itching can be a side effect of codeine and breathing difficulties can be a very bad result of overdose. In your case because you mentioned wheezing I think it might just be anxiety kicking in from a higher dose. In saying that, if you feel as though your breathing has been compromised in any was, go to a doctor. Respiratory depression is a life threatening result of opiate overdose.

      I don't experience trouble breathing after taking codeine as my tolerance is so high now. I take 3-4 times as much as you (bad hey) over the course of a day. I've already written here what happened to me so you could look at my post history to find out, but I did go through the worst case scenario of abusing my codeine delivery pills (ibuprofen).

      Are you at the point where you want to quit or was your post generally limited to the question of whether other people have experienced chest tightness and breathing difficulties?

    • anna_34674
      anna_34674 WilRo

      Posted

      Hi,

      I've been to drug and alcohol who.are going to be putting me on methadone. I was taking nearly 24 nurofen plus in one go.

      The codeine phosphate was from my GP who.is aware of my addiction but he said he would rather take codeine phosphate pure then having nurofen.

      I've never been.so frightened. I've taken.say.14 in one go but not 16. I just felt so depressed. I can't function without it.

      I'm so ashamed plus I have a 16 month old

      :-( xx

    • WilRo
      WilRo anna_34674

      Posted

      Hi anna 34674,

      The very first thing I want to say to you is that there is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing. On top of that, you are here actively seeking help/assistance from people in similar situations which proves you want to better yourself and do the right thing by your child. That's highly commendable, not something to be ashamed of.

      Your GP did the right thing by giving you codeine phosphate so you don't do further intestinal damage, they won't prescribe codeine in Australia, the doctors would rather have me eating 90 ibuprofen tablets per day.

      If you don't feel as though you can fully trust yourself yet with a large supply of codeine, is there someone you can trust to hand out your daily supply rather than you consumiihalf a box? Your chemist should be able to set you up so that you have to visit ea h morning to get your daily limit. Please don't take offence, these are just random ideas about managing the amount of tablets you want to take.

    • anna_34674
      anna_34674 WilRo

      Posted

      Hi.Wilro,

      No offence at all. He already only gives 16 every two days but I think getting them daily is better.

      I thought last night I could die and my poor little boy would be alone.

      I just feel like I'm dicing with death.

      I've never been so terrified as I was yesterday.

      I suffer from PTSD and take them now to calm me although I'm also on tramadol and even abuse them as they calm me.

      I feel guilty.

      Thank you for your support.

      Anna xx

    • WilRo
      WilRo anna_34674

      Posted

      Hi anna,

      Stay in touch. I hoping the best for you. I have 2 young children, a boy and girl. When I was rushed to hospital a couple of months ago they are what I thought about the most. I have been to so many doctors and drug and alcohol councillors in the last month I'm finally getting help.

      I want to be a good role model for my children and a better husband to my wife

    • WilRo
      WilRo anna_34674

      Posted

      So are you taking anything specifically for the PTSD? Your doctor isn't giving you codeine for that, are they?
    • anna_34674
      anna_34674 robert20969

      Posted

      Hey Robert,

      Thanks for your reply.

      I have never felt so frightened. I am used to taking say up to 22 nurofen plus a day but I have sometimes taken the codeine phosphate the Dr prescribed me too often. He only prescribes 16 every two days and as I was stressed and feeling low I took the lot. I've done it before but never been this I'll.

      I just couldn't breathe at all, it stopped after a few minutes but then came back.

      The itching was like something I've never experienced before and even my eye balls inched and now my head and eyes feel bruised.

      Every time I tried walking it just felt like I was about to collapse.

      I'm so frightened xx

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