1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Codeine and Paracetamol (Co-codamol)

I really need help now

Posted , 7 users are following.

debbie76400
debbie76400

Hi I really need to talk about this. I’ve been taking co-codamol for near on 20 years. I’m now up to 16/18 tablets a day I use the effervescent ones it’s getting to a point now I’m driving miles to find chemists cause all my local ones are now starting to question me. Yet they still sell them me I have people I work with buying them me. I’m in so much pain with my stomach and lower back each day I walk round in a haze yet if I don’t have 2  every hour I’m shaky. I just want to stop need to stop before they kill me. The way I have to hide them from my family lie I’m a 54 year old women I should t be living like this how how Can I get of them cold turkey I’ve tried and I Carnot seen to cut down 

2 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

Next
  • hannah_47557
    hannah_47557 debbie76400

    Posted

    Try tapering Debbie and have a look at the 'Thomas Recipe'....I feel for u coz I'm exactly same as yourself, only money is prescribed by my GP but my family don't know exactly how bad I've got....good luck! You will get plenty of help on this forum.

  • Danesreilly
    Danesreilly debbie76400

    Posted

    Hey.

    Obviously you know cocodamol, specifically the paracetamol is really bad for you. It turns toxic in the liver.

    Cold turkey os one option but I don't believe it's the best option. It depends on how much codeine is in what you take, how much codeine do you take per day? I recommened tapering down. Tapering works psychologically aswell as physically. In my own opinion, going cold turkey just makes you desire them more. Tapering helps your mind get used to the fact that you aren't as dependant any more.

    If you have a locker at work, a desk, a locker at gym l, you could leave them there and only take home as much as you will need (once you start tapering). This helps take it out of your hands as knee you go home you simply wont have any more access.

    I would recommened you tart tapering as soon as possible as you don't want to be putting any more paracetamol in to your body.

    BECAUSE it's paracetamol, possibly speak to your gp. On the whole they tend to tell people to simply "quit" but give that it's paracetamol, from a harm reduction stand point they might give you some low level alternative to aid your tapering down.

    Let us know how it goes. I'm tapering myself and plan on putting up everything I did on here as soon as I successfully quit. I -like yourself- never had the will power to taper down, but we all get to that point where we've had enough. Thats when you need to do something about it. I am tapering , on my second week, already taking WAY less than I used to and am having no symptoms. Tomorrow I go down even further, with a view to stopping altogether next week.

    Let us know how it goes!

    • hannah_47557
      hannah_47557 Danesreilly

      Posted

      Are u getting many withdrawal symptoms Sinky? I was meant to start tapering yesterday but got scared of withdrawals as I've an appointment to go to next week that I can't change and don't want to turn up to it sick or be too ill to go! Was thinking about starting tapering today....staring by taking 2 tablets less. ...what do u think? Atm I take two 30/500 in morning and two at night. Some days I take more than this but really want to stop these horrible meds altogether....tia for any help!

    • Danesreilly
      Danesreilly hannah_47557

      Posted

      I genuinly believe the mind is the real problem with codeine.

      I think, if you're really worried about withdrawing, and if you don't want to make too big a jump , take one and a half in the morning and one and a half at night, do this for four days let your body adjust and then next week cut down to one in the morning and one at night. It's finding the balance of not tapering too far, and not taking too long with it. I dropped my dose by a lot, but did this for 6 days to let my body fully adjust. I felt a tiny bit rough (runny nose, ever so slightly tired) but it was very easy to ignore.

      Now I have adjusted to tha dose,ill drop again tomorrow.

  • susan89127
    susan89127 debbie76400

    Posted

    I started tapering 2 weeks ago and so far I am getting on fine. I was on 8 co codamol a day 30/500 mg, prescribed by my doctor. The way I am tackling it is, I reduced the lunchtime 2 by replacing one of the cocodamol with ordinary paracetamol. I did this for the first week. Second week, reduced tea time cocodamol by replacing one cocodamol with paracetamol and next week I will replace one of the night time cocodamol the same way and so on. I still have pain, unfortunately, so I will have to monitor that as well to see if I can manage without any, but I would be happy to just be on them only when required rather than religiously taking them every 4 hours. Hope this makes sense x
  • debbie76400
    debbie76400

    Posted

    Thank you all for you’re reply’s it means a lot to sort of no I won’t be alone doing this. I don’t think cold turkey is for me cause of getting time of work. I have looked deep into tapering. It looks the way I will go,and because mine are over the counter discoverable maybe it will be easier for me as there is only 8mg of codeine to the 30 most prescribed tablets have in them. I take roughly 20ish a day and as stupid has this sounds I love the taste in water. There was a time I was taking 4/6 at a time but I’m back to 2 at a time. Because the pain and sickness I had was awful after I had drank it. And guess what while I type this I have a glass next to me dissolved ready to sip. 

    I have thought maybe 2 in a morning when I wake like always. To get the hazy feeling away and where I would have 2 every hour I’m going to try and go through to Dina time at work then no more till I am home before bed that takes me to 6 per day. The embarrassment of my local chemist the other day shouting me down I from of a shop full was the icing on the cake he as been sellin me them for years for me *a friend * my family ohhhhh believe me the lies I’ve told is shameful. Then when I asked a friend at work to get me some after a few months she said Debs you seem to want these every week and her own pharmacy had spoken to her. She said she felt like they was disbelieve her that they was for me. I cannot put a friend through it. 

    And at £4.18 a box per day it mounts up. Has for my doctor. I’ve told him a few times I was worried and even said I’m addicted he looked at me and said your fighting fit you are fine. Yet by the end of the day my body is bloated my hands tight and my feet so swollen they cut into my shoes. That’s not normal, my eyes are a very pale yellow and yes I’m SCARED now I have grandchildren and what if ever I left a cup unattended and they drank it thinking it was pop. I’m so ashamed that at my age I have allowed a tablet to rule my life and it does rule it cause that fizzy drink isn’t all I think of from the time I wake to when I fall asleep. 

    Do do you think the way I am going to try it tomorrow will be ok ??? Or is that to much to soon 

    again thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the reply’s xx

     

    • Danesreilly
      Danesreilly debbie76400

      Posted

      Hey.

      listen, you probably know this yourself, but the yellowing of your eyes could be damage to your liver. Given that you're saying you're taking 20 paracetamol a day, this is highly likely to be the case. You're saying you're on 20 a day, that's 10,000mg of paracetamol, the maximum the human body is supposed to take (regardless of body size, or weight) is 4000mg.  I suggest that you don't taper, but you quit outright. I suggest you tell your doctor as soon as possible and get referred for tests etc.

      It sounds like it's something you have done for a long time, and at this stage you're probably used to thinking about it, but you really are way over the safe amount. To do that in a single day is bad. But to do it on a repeated basis is very bad. I hate saying things like this because i don't ever want to alarm anyone or upset anyone.

      I think tapering is more for people who know they have to stop and don't want to suffer withdrawal. But with the symptoms you have described, especially the yellowing of the eyes, which could be caused by a chemical the deliver creates called biribulin. This would be a sign that the liver isn't functioning properly. Same goes for the swelling, i mean, there's a chance these things aren't even related, but the thing is, if they ARE related you need to do something now.

      The short version of what I am saying is you need to stop - and see a GP about your other symptoms. I promise you that actually sitting down with the doctor and talking to someone will help in of itself. Tell them how long you have been doing it and your physical issues and I promise you'll be glad you did.

      Honestly, Id stop doing ALL paracetamol as of right now, drink healthy amounts of water and see your gp.

      Good luck! 

       

  • debbie76400
    debbie76400

    Posted

    Well it’s 13:15 hours my last tablet was 20:30 hours last night. At the moment I am at work a few cramps in my stomach but ohhhh my the temper I feel is awfull. Think coffee a plenty is helping. But the mood I am in I could snap at any time. So have put my headphones on and just listing to music. I no it will get worse. But if this is all I have then I will be one happy lady. My friend as now taken all my stash and unless I really really beg she will not give me any. Think cold turkey is the way to go if I carry on taking just a few I no I will be back on them heavy x
  • debbie76400
    debbie76400

    Posted

    Day three !!!!!!! 07:30 here just ready for work. What a hell 3 days more mind than body I think. The runs oh my Lordy what ever I eat is back out within a few

    Min lol. I can live with that the cold

    /flu like symptoms are passing except this dry cough that is keeping me awake now my ribs hurt cause of coughing. But this is the longest I have ever been without it. I’m no where near of it I no that I ain’t kidding my self but if I had known it was going to be like this I would have done it years ago. I have been able to work through the symptoms. Where people think I just have a winter cold

    Coming. I’m so glad I have gone cold turkey rather than keep putting them I’m side my body. Cause deep down I think the few would have soon been back up to the 16/20 aday again. I wish you all good luck in this s**t journey we are all taking easy no but it’s very Very doable x

  • SaraGH
    SaraGH debbie76400

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, congratulations on your progress so far, and for wanting to get off these tablets! 

    How are you going now? When I read that you have yellowing of the eyes I was very concerned for your liver, I’m hoping that you have managed to keep your usage down. I’m trying to get my usage down too, but always keep my paracetamol down to under 8 tablets a day, as the paracetamol is very damaging for your liver. 

    Good luck and thinking of you! 

  • debbie76400
    debbie76400

    Posted

    13  days now. And I feel amazing. Yes my bones ache and I still have the runs. But my god do I feel so much better. My head is clear when I wake up. I don’t crave it cause I feel to good to want to feel like crap again. I was away the weekend. And do you realise how great it was not having to do chemists runs. And google the closest chemists when I was away. I have owned up to my doctor he is happy with what I’m doing and did bloods for me. Results should be back this week. PLEASE if any one reads this it can be done 20 years I’ve taken co-codamol with up to 25 or more a day. It can be done with success cutting down don’t work for me cold turkey was the best thing I have ever done. Yes I felt a tad rough for a few days. But nothing to how those tablets made

    Me feel. Good luck everu one xxx

    • hannah_47557
      hannah_47557 debbie76400

      Posted

      Hiya Debbie I'm so pleased for you! Your story has given me hope. I keep trying to taper and get down to 3 a day then start taking more! Atm I'm taking 4 a day but I think I'm gonna give cold turkey and go and hope I'm as successful as u! Just one wee question did anyone know u were on cocodomol? My friends and family don't know I'm addicted to them and I'm frightened what the symptoms of cold turkey are and they will realise something...I am so ashamed but u r and inspiration...thankyou xx

    • debbie76400
      debbie76400 hannah_47557

      Posted

      Hannah my close friend at work new and I have her every single box and tablet I had hidden. We had a cup of coffee and she got a bowl of cold water and dissolved every single table then flush them all we made a few jokes about how clean my insides must be deep down I was crapping it, I have never gone cold turkey. Cut down loads but always crept back up. 

      Now now I really thought my family new nothing and this is God’s truth. Since I have stopped my husband has noticed he said the weekend while we was away. I haven’t seen you drink you’re tablets for a few days. 

      It it was our anniversary the weekend 30 years. So I opened up Hannah he new !!! he as known for years. And tbh he is so supportive now 

      symtoms I will be honest I was dreading the worst with what I have read but I still worked through it day 1 I had a almighty headache and I aches all over. Before bed I took 2 normal paracetamol.... day 2 it kicked in a cold from hell. But so many have a cold at work I just put it down to a very bad cold sore throat streaming nose and a awful cough that kept me awake night times for a week. Olbis oil helped in bed I found. Again I took 2 only paracetamol before bed then the runs 😖 that I still have what ever I eat within a hour I see back out. Other than those symptoms I have had nothing else. I haven’t really craved them yes I have thought about them and how relaxed I used to feel for 10 minuets after drinking them. But hand on heart the way I feel now out ways that feeling 10 times over. I’m sleeping amazing deep good sleep, I don’t wake with what I can only say was like a mild hang over every single morning fuzzy cotton wool feeling in my head. I no wake and feel fresh. Yeah I have backache and my knees hurt with arthritis but I’m in my 50s. Lol I have to except I will hurt now and again. 

      I wish you every success in your journey and if ever you need a chat or any other question you have I will always be here for you. Take care and remember you are stronger than any lil pill xx

    • hannah_47557
      hannah_47557 debbie76400

      Posted

      Hiya Debbie thanks for the reply. I'm like yourself I'm in my early 50's and my doc prescribed cocodomol 30/500 mg to me about 15 year's ago for fibromyalgia and arthritis...I never realised u could become addicted to them.. my bad experience happened just in August past my hubby and I were in the Isle of Man for holiday and I didn't take enough tablets with me. I took my last one on a Thursday and on Sunday I started being really sick...dioreahh....anxious...sweating and very restless. By Monday i was really ill....couldn't even keep water down and other symptoms were getting worse. ...then on Tuesday morning I had to get to a hospital and doc there thought I had either food poisoning or gastroentritis. I was totally dehydrated and had to go on drip. I had to come home on Wednesday and was still feeling a bit the worse for wear but when I got home and took my Meds I felt fine inside an hour. When I think on it now I was probably over the worst part of withdrawals! If I had knew I was sick becoz of not taking these bloody tablets I would never have taken another one. I'm dreading feeling as sick as I was before coz I honestly felt like I was dying and didn't sleep for 3 nights. I'm praying if u go cold turkey I'll not experience anything as severe as that again or I will be tempted to take a tablet! xx

    • monkeypearl
      monkeypearl hannah_47557

      Posted

      Hiya,

      Could I ask how many of the 30/500mg was or are you taking, I'm on 8 x day with 4 x codeine 30mg, the 4 codeine sometimes goes up to 8 on a bad day.

      Stay safe 😀

      Pete

    • hannah_47557
      hannah_47557 monkeypearl

      Posted

      Hiya Pete......I think at my worst i was taking 10 30/500 mg cocodomol a day.....I'm now taking 4 to 6 a day but tomorrow I'm starting to taper again and hopefully get off this poison for good! I know I definitely can't go cold turkey.......i thought I was gonna die on holiday without them...it was horrendous.....good luck Pete and keep in touch x

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.