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Hey,
Relapse can happen ( more like a little blip in the road) but you caught yourself in time and stopped. That’s an amazing achievement so don’t be hard on yourself!
I think stress, worry and some life events can make you think you need codeine. It’s your brain tricking you from its previous memory. Sometimes it’s so strong, you can give in but ultimately it’s about bouncing right back which you did. I think finding a coping mechanism is the key to staying away permanently. That can be hard to do but once you find it, codeine isn’t needed in those harder moments.
I hope you’re doing ok now. It’s day 13 so hopefully you’re feeling bit better!
Wishing you all the best,
Rach x
Hi everyone,
I haven’t been on here recently( life got in the way!) but I am around still if anyone needs help.
As encouragement, I am now codeine free 18 months! Saying that feels surreal. Genuinely if I could do it, anyone can. I was completely addicted for 6 years taking 30 pills a day.
The withdrawals are horrible. There is no way around that if you go cold turkey but it does pass. I think online sites make it seem like after day 7 the withdrawal go but from my own experience and listening to others, it takes nearly 3 weeks to get to a state where you feel anyway like you again. The worst of the physical withdrawals are gone by day 10/11 but the emotional and anxiety of that second week is tough. Having a support network really helps; be it support here online or from loved ones. The physical symptoms are rough. If you have a doctor that knows what you’re doing, they can give you something to help you sleep and to help with the restless legs. If going cold turkey, it’s best that you’re eating well, taking all the supplements spoken about here ( magnesium etc), drinking plenty water before you even start. Give yourself the best chance you can!
If you taper, please do it slowly. Otherwise, you will throw yourself into withdrawals and you are just prolonging the agony. Reduce by 1 pill and don’t reduce further until you know your body has coped with the initial reduction. Then continue with a further 1 pill until you get down to 1-2 pills and then reduce by halves if you have to. If you go slowly and do tapering properly, symptoms can be minimal. If takes so much discipline but its definitely the more humane way to get off these pills. I simply couldn’t do it this way!
You think the withdrawals are the worst part and physically they are! However, keeping off these pills in times of hardship is bloody hard. I’ve had a curveball thrown at me this past year and I thought about pills at times but luckily my husband is a star and he reminded me I don’t need them. He was right, I didn’t but my brain was very quick to tell me I did. If you get off this drug, don’t be lured back in. It really tries to get you!
Finally, never feel shame for being on this drug. It lures you in until you are so addicted it feels like there is no way out. We all started for genuine issues. We never set out for this. If you’re reading this and are still taking codeine, I urge you to tell someone and get support. It’s hard and lonely on your own. Talk here if you have noone you trust around you. The one thing I’ve always said is you won’t give up until you really really want to. I tried loads when I didn’t really want to but felt I should. It never worked cause I liked taking codeine, it made me feel so good. You have to get to a point where you have enough, the drug isn’t having the effect you want anymore and you want out. You then find the strength to give up and deal with the withdrawals!
Being codeine free is liberating! No chemist runs, no lying, no dodgy stomach, no constipation! I promise you can do it to anyone reading this. Take control back!
Best wishes to everyone,
Rach x
Hi Rachael,
Well done! You should be so proud of yourself! This isn’t easy but so worthwhile! ❤️
You are doing so well. The anxiety can be tough to overcome but always remember the pills are trying to lure you back in. You don’t really need them! My anxiety is so much better now I’m pill free.You are strong and determined and you’re going to do this! I hope the night goes well xx
Dotty, you are doing amazing! Going from 13 to 3 is brilliant. Well done!! I hope you’re feeling ok ? ❤️
Brini, I hope you’re ok. We are here for you no matter what. There is zero judgment here, only support if you want some xx
I always say we all have our own journey and you need to do what’s best for you to help you get through this. You can do this!! Best of luck Dotty xx
Thanks Dotty. I never thought that first week I joined here that I’d get through. You are right about the restless legs. It is the worst symptom so taking enough to keep that at bay is a good tactic! It’s hard when you have a health condition that genuinely needs pain control but I agree nothing is worth your mind. When it comes to the point the pills aren’t doing anything but making us feel normal, it’s time to take back control and find ourselves again. I feel like a different person to the one that took pills for 6 years. I wish you and Brini99 the best of luck. This forum is testament that it can be done with determination and support. Always here if you need a chat xxx
Hi Dotty,
It’s great to hear from you. You gave me the advice of a weighted blanket at the start of my journey and it really helped, thank you! You are not a failure. You are trying to navigate your pain and codeine pills which is really hard. I had to go cold turkey as I could never taper myself. I simply didn’t have the discipline to do it. Like you, I no longer felt euphoria with the pills in the end but I took them to feel normal. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey Dotty! xx
Hi Brini99,
I really feel for you. It was back pain that started me on the pills and I spent 6 years living my life wondering had I enough pills for that day or the weekend or holidays. It was exhausting! Withdrawals are hard. It’s a tough week but know it is all temporary. You just take it hour by hour, day by day. You are stronger than you think. I always say when you’ve had enough of the pills, you develop a strength to get through the withdrawal period.I tried to give up a few times but I didn’t really want to those times. Last November, I’d had enough. The pills made me feel crap but I had to take them to feel ‘normal’ and avoid the withdrawals. I was spending close to 8,000 a year on pills and I just couldn’t do it anymore. I promise you life is much brighter without the pills. I’m off them nearly 9 months now and I hope it gives you comfort to know this is all doable although tough. Wishing you the best of luck and as mentioned, if you want more support join the WhatsApp group. xxx
Hi Laura!
So after a year and a half your body would definitely be physiologically dependant on codeine even if you’re not actually addicted. There is a difference between the two. So continued codeine use makes your body hypersensitive to pain in order for you to take more pills. When you stop, all your nerves are heightened. Hence the pain you’re now describing. Those physical symptoms last 7-10 days roughly.
Finding non addictive pain relief can be hard and something we all struggle with after giving up codeine. Talk with your GP and explain you’d rather not use codeine and what are your other options.
Best of luck x
That makes total sense SoWeary! Your brain was used to the reward and didn’t appreciate it when it wasn’t forthcoming this time. I think not being able to get codeine OTC is needed here too as we supplement once our script runs out but it appears no matter what way it’s managed, addiction is so easy with these drugs. They just lure you in. X
I’m glad you’re doing so well! You are through the worst and everything else will click into place as time goes on. It really does take 4-6 weeks to feel totally normal but in comparison to those first 2 weeks it’s amazing! Anxiety can linger a little while as you learn to deal with situations pill free but you’ve got this now. I’m so proud of you for pushing through! Well done xxx
Hi SoWeary, how are you feeling? You must be 3 weeks in now? How amazing is that! You’ve done so well xx
It makes total sense. At the start, they give you a little energy and make you feel good but you have to keep taking more and more to achieve that original ‘high’ until eventually you’re merely taking pills to feel ‘normal’! For me, that normal with the pills wasn’t nice in the end. I felt sluggish and just crappy in general. I had zero motivation to do anything!
I’m glad you’ve joined us for support x
Hi Mastbruch,
Well done for doing this and getting to day 3. Today is a tough day but you can get past it. The restlessness is awful. It was my worst symptom. My restless legs lasted until around day 10 I think. But wasn’t as bad from day 8 on. If your GP knows, it’s possible to ask for something specific for your restless legs. There are medications that can help that you could take short term. However, the temazepam will be great once you get to day 6/7 when the physical symptoms start to go and you need sleep.
Some things that can help the restlessness are magnesium (supplements and a spray you can rub onto your body), drink plenty of water even if you can’t really eat at the moment, get some light exercise, warm baths ( one before bed will help soothe your muscles to get some sleep) and a hot water bottle on your legs etc. can really help too.
Take it day by day and just focus on getting through a hour at a time at the moment. That first week is hard physically but it’s temporary and will pass. Best of luck with it all. We’re here if you need any support x