Trying to go cold turkey off codeine

Posted , 2 users are following.

Only been taking codeine since November but stopped helping with back pain so was given tramodol, tramodol made me feel very sick after few days so stopped taking it and as codeine hadn't been helping thought I'd just stop all meds, now i feel dreadul.... anyone had similar experience?

Would appreciate any advice as when i called drs they advised i just lower tramodol dose but still to take it

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Gray,

    I think I replied to your other post too. Both Tramadol and codeine are addictive. If you were sticking to the prescription your withdrawals MAY be fairly late as withdrawals normally depends on the amount and for how long. As it was only since November I would personally believe the withdrawals may be light, by this I mean the first few days could be very uncomfortable but hopefully you'll be on the road to recovery fairly quick. Where as I was taking a very high dosage for a prolonged amount of time.... My withdrawals took about 3 weeks prob abit longer to start to feel normal.

    I don't think you'd have to worry about that especially if you have stuck to prescription.

    The dr may be saying that so you taper off to reduce the withdrawals.

    Any questions at all I will do my best to help

    Sweatz

    • Posted

      Hi again,

      New to this forum so hadn't checked here first!

      Yes I'm really hoping w/d won't be too bad, just glad i now know how addictive

      my meds are!

      I've been very emotional today, like you said on & off but no reasoning at all.

      Also, diarrhoea/nausea headaches etc

      Thanks again for getting back to me

    • Posted

      Hi Gray,

      It's all very common symptoms of withdrawal. Try taking some Imodium for your stomach. You may find it hard to sleep too and get sweats, this is very uncomfortable but again very normal. I was also addicted before to Tramadol before codeine.... Physical withdrawals I can tell you last roughly 4-5 days the worse being day 3 and 4. I know it's hard but whilst your going through this really try to go for a walk, it doesn't have to be far just get the body going. At the moment your brain is realising it has to start working again and some sort of activity like walking helps.

      Good luck, withdrawals are hard but it's temporary, it's only a couple more days and then the physical aches and pains should be gone!

      Here for you if you need to talk or just get anything off your chest!!

      Sweatz

    • Posted

      Hi Sweatz,

      Just talking to someone who has been through it helps, i can't really

      walk very well with my back but should prob go to drs to inform i gues

      so I'll try to do that later.

      The lack of sleep tough too esp as mind is just whirring almost in overdrive.

      I know my w/d are light compared to most on here but its still hard knowing

      I've got to still go through the time scale, today (day 3-4) I'm still shaking

      between hot & cold, skin almost crawling, could go on as I'm sure you already know.,

      How are you feeling within yourself? Really appreciate your replies.

      Thanks Gray

    • Posted

      Hi Gray,

      Yeh if you're in pain may be best to rest up your back. The sleepless nights were horrible. On day 3-4 I would feel tremendously sick all day but I would only throw up from 9pm-5am, I too had no sleep.

      I don't think there's such a thing as light withdrawals, when I said I hoped your withdrawals were light I meant the period of how long they last. People who have taken codeine for an extended amount of time can develop PAWS which is where the physical withdrawals go and you're left with almost emotional problems which is what happened to me. Again though even that went after 3-4 weeks.

      How I feel in myself now is really good! I'm no longer a hermit relying on codeine to make me feel happy. I've reconnected with a lot of friends I neglected, my social life has never been better haha.

      I still think about codeine rarely but I see that for what it is and I ignore it.

      I know the lack of sleep, sweating, restless body movements and everything else is hard, trust me I do but I can't stress enough that it's temporary, you will start to feel much better very soon.

      I'm here for you :-)

      Sweatz

    • Posted

      Hi Sweatz

      The great that you've reconnected with friends, you're doing so well!!

      Did you take anything for nausea/sickness? I'm struggling to eat coz

      of sickness but then obv feel sick coz of not eating....

      Gray

    • Posted

      I didn't.... I forced boiled veg down even tho I felt sick but I just ate whatever I could no matter how small it was. One point I threw up after it. My diet was dioralyte to make sure I didn't dehydrate from all the throwing up and diorhea. I had a banana and an actimel yoghurt to help my stomach daily. Banana is recommended for upset stomachs....

      I lost 1 stone and a half.... So now I go gym to build mass haha.

      Sweatz

    • Posted

      You sound like you're doing so well.

      Managed couple of crackers & half banana, took most of morning thou.

      Told 2 friends today as had to cancel plans we'd made, so hoping that will be

      easier when i see them.

      Actually spending time with my children, how had i not realised i was

      not only shutting myself away but almost pushing them away too,

      That sort of realisation is awful.

      Look forward to feeling well enough to doing things with them again.

      Thanks afain again for your support

      Gray

    • Posted

      Yeh, codeine is certainly a drug to numb your surroundings and the people in it.... Yeah try to get something in you just to help with energy levels etc.

      No problem Gray! I'm happy to help....

      After day 5 hopefully you will start to see the light at the end of this very uncomfortable tunnel!

      Sweatz!

  • Posted

    Gray would love to know how you're doing when you have a spare 5 minutes!

    Hope you're ok and things are starting to clear up!

    Sweatz!

    • Posted

      Hi Sweatz

      Did try to reply yesterday but error code cameup &wouldn't let me post it!

      I'm doing ok so far today, yesterday morning was tough but managed to get myself

      going, just making yourself get up, get in shower etc helps even though its

      last thing you want to be doing! having to make myself eat, my food diary pretty much

      dry crackers & very weak squash but actually managed half a cup

      of tea this morning, i seem to feel better as day goes on.

      How are things with you?

      Gray

    • Posted

      Morning,

      Glad to hear you're still battling! Yeh your appetite will slowly come back.... Just remember how far you've come in such a short time.

      I'm ok I'm hungover this morning, went out last night haha.... I didn't drink for such a long time whilst I was on the pills so make the most of it now I'm free from them smile

      You should be really proud of yourself!

      Sweatz!

    • Posted

      Hi Sweatz,

      Been trying to reply but an error message keeps coming up!

      Well done you're doing so well. Good for you for going out &

      catching up with your friends, at least a hangover only lasts few hours.

      I'm doing ok, still bit queasy first thing but better as day goes on.

      How's your job going? Hope you have a good week.

      Gray

    • Posted

      Hi Gray,

      Yeh the hangover sucks but it's nice to have one in a weird kind of way!

      Have the other physical symptoms gone yet? Queasy will last for abit it's been 5 weeks for me and only just got my appetite back to normal.... You managed many solids yet?

      My jobs going well.... I hope haha! How are you feeling in yourself? I know the physical symptoms suck but I hope you feel ok mentally too.

      Start of a new week, I'm sure you'll be back to normal soon.

      Sweatz!

    • Posted

      Hi Sweatz

      How are you?

      Keep trying to reply but error code comes up! Very annoying!

      Anyway, feeling much better in myself, still not 100% in mornings and

      still not sleeping properly. Also, have to be careful of what I'm eating,

      mostly plain things ie no spice or anything too greasy, really missing

      my takeaways but I guess I'll get there.

      Really reluctant to take any meds as tummy not ok, even though pain

      Is getting worse. I have a date for my cortisone injection so I'm on

      countdown for that......

      Hope all going well for you.

      Take care

      Gray

    • Posted

      Hi Gray,

      I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Good thing to remember is how far you've come.

      What you felt like at the start and how you feel now.... It gets a little better everyday!

      Yh the eating but sucks, I was the same for 3/4 weeks then started to eat what I wanted again. I lost a lot of weight as previously mentioned.

      I hope the shot helps relieve some pain!

      I'm good, still going to the gym and started to play squash.... Keep myself busy!

      It's good to hear from you and I hope you're fully recovered very soon!

      Sweatz

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