[unlikelyaddict]

I am here 🙂

Roger – I can only tell you what worked for me – your own situation may be very different. And its important to note whilst I’ve overcome physical dependence, psychological dependence is the next stage – and this has caused me to relapse.

I have always used a taper method, with other supplements to help.

As per my first post – I use the short taper method at first – dropping from high doses (300mg+ a day) at 60mg less each day – then lengthening the taped at low doses – dropping 30mg and then 15mg a day after that.

The supplements I take are 5-HTP and vitamin B these really help. Anti-diarrhoea medication will be needed at some point – this also needs care in its use – allow yourself some visits to the toilet each day before taking a tablet.

This method will cause discomfort, but it is not too bad – exercise of any kind, even just going for a walk helps immensely.

If you feel you can or want to share your own situation maybe we can help more?

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Ameila,

I think you and I have a lot in common – we’ve both come of codeine and realised the physical part is the easier bit – the mental part – the cravings and relapses are the second.

I guess there are few ways to go – join a support group – there are a few, pay a therapist, or try to find out why you have the addiction.

For me, I have a really stressful job, I’m well paid but have huge costs at home and live a very frugal life because of that.

I’m trying to find a way to become happier – so I’m trying to find a new job and perhaps even move to a cheaper part of the country so my incredible size mortgage is smaller.

Codiene itself is not that harmful unless you overdose or have an accident driving etc, its the nurofen etc that damages your stomach. So if you can taper off without the nurofen plus you might find your stomach improves. Also immodium do a stomach settler version which is quite effective for stomach pain.

I am in a place now where codeine doesn’t even give me any good feelings – even at 600mg – which is a massive dose. I’m hoping for that reason logic will stop me from buying more – that, and finances – I could have bought a very nice car or motorbike for what I’ve spent on codeine!

Good luck!

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Codeine free,

This is going to take a while but there is a lot you can do to make it easier/more comfortable.

Sounds like you have gone cold turkey and although this is quick it can be awful and a physical strain on the body.

The best way in my opinion is a taper. There are long tapers that are relatively pain free, but I like to taper quickly, dropping the dose a little each day.

For your stomach pain: allow yourself to go to the loo as much as possible and then take a low dose of Imodium – most boots do cheap diahorrea relief tablets now.

Fibre will help as it will regulate your bowel movements. They take about 2 weeks to settle in my experience. I find oranges or orange like fruit to help with stomach pain. Coke with the fizz gone out is also good.

It’s going to be a hard couple of weeks so if you can accept that and do as much as you can to keep positive this will help.

Exercise is great for easing the symptoms and helping with sleep – even an evening walk will help.

Good luck – you’ve taken the first steps and that’s the hardest part. Keep up the momentum and remember the suffering you have been through already – it motivates me to keep up the tapering plan.

Good luck with the new job!

[unlikelyaddict]

Thanks – its getting better.

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Codeine free,

Zapain has paracetamol in it right? I’m worried for your stomach and liver – as ironically the worst part of codeine addiction is the quatities of ibruprofen/paracetamol you end up consuming.

Can you switch to a codiene only product and taper down on that?

For sleep, there are a lot of medications that can be habit forming too.

One that is not is Doxylamine Succinate. It will make you drowsy and help sleep – I have used it successfully to come off zopiclone – which is addictive.

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Roger,

Yes – three times. Which means no.

I was doing great and have had a few codeine free months. Unfortunately I broke my back last month. This obviously has needed pain control. So I’m sort of back at step 1.

But….I do have a good quitting plan and know the process well now.

I started drinking recently, but have been drink free for a week. Its a process……..

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Roger,

I’m not a forum regular. But I am around to reply to this thread.

Let me know if you want to talk.

[unlikelyaddict]

Did this help?

I hope you are ok

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Bethany,

I sympathise with where you are. Its not easy being a parent and anything to take the edge off is soo tempting. I find that the average GP doesn’t have a clue about addiction of any kind and so my response will be coloured by that.

In my opinion no-one else can do this but you and your desire to do so. You need to harden your will to acheive the outcome of being clean and each moment of difficulty is a victory.

The hard truth with all opioids is that any feeling of happiness or euphoria is transient, and the more you have, the greater the price. I’m sorry. I reached a point that any dose of codeine would not give pleasure but the side effects were appalling.

In my opinion what you need to do is remove any temptation from your life. So calculate how many tablets you need to taper off, and dispose of the rest. Don’t be over ambitious with the taper – a gentle reduction is always better. Then accept you will have about a month where you will suffer a bit each day. Mornings are worst. But in a month you could be free.

Be aware jumping back on to get rid of the withdrawal feeling can create ‘kindling’ which can be catastrophic for withdrawal effects.

But also, if you fail first time – you can try again. It took me 4 attempts.

I hope this helps. My thoughts are with you.

Generally I found a 30mg a day reduction acceptable. Each person is different.

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi Bethanyjx1,

Not sure if its me you want to talk to, but I’m here.

I don’t think there is a DM function on this forum, but let me know if you want to chat directly on a non-public forum.

Edited to remove a sentence when I realised I was repeating myself.

[unlikelyaddict]

Hi KiraZ,

I hope you are doing ok today.

It’s sounds like you have made 2 big steps – recognising the problem and wanting to do something about it. Many people never reach this stage. It sounds like your tooth is going to be a complication – so maybe a doctor can help with that. Oil of cloves really helps with tooth pain – I used it when my wisdom teeth came through impacted in a remote area.

You know this I’m sure, but try to be very gradual in your tapering. Accept some discomfort but also realise every minute of discomfort is achieving something. And soon you will feel better. For me, even after 3 relapses have got to a clean state. You feel some discomfort even once clean, but it diminishes ever day. Feeling free is the most amazing feeling – it’s worth it. I wish you the best!

[unlikelyaddict]

Thankyou for reaching out to me icarus – I am intrigued by the support you offer people who are off drugs/addictive behaviours and trying to stay clean. I may very well need some support of that kind.

I’ve tried the NHS with over GP 12 appointments, but not received anything meaningful in terms of direction or resolution, I’ve had both judgemental and sympathetic GPs but none of them have had a clue frankly.

I’ve just been back and read my first post. Despite being appalled at how many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors there were is quite a way back from where I am now.

Today I took 90mg of codeine and feel OK. That’s 510mg less than I was taking at the height of the problem.

Unfortunately the children have had a tummy bug that they passed to me and codeine withdrawal and a virus of any kind do not make for an easy day. However I have had no thought other than the determination to continue my taper.

Tomorrow I will drop to 60mg. I’m just a few days from being clean. I feel still not great but…the mornings are a little less appalling each day and I imagine I’ve got a month to tough out now.

I get my exercise and this seems to make the feelings of flu/achy joints/anxiety/nausia take a break from beating me for a few hours so is always good to do. I’ve also taken on a personal trainer to help get me back to my previous health (I did compete nationally at one point in my chosen sport).

I hope my next post I will be writing to you without any codeine in my system at all and my body repairing itself.

[unlikelyaddict]

I thought I’d write where I am now.

Its not been an easy couple of weeks AND its not gone as planned.

But…I am now at 180mg per day after having a relapse a weeks ago. I was very frustrasted with myself. I took a larger amount of codeine after an hour justifying it to myself (I hurt myself doing sport). I had the tablets available so was able to just take what I wanted.

To avoid this mistake I now have calculated what I need to taper down to and disposed of the rest.

The last week was absolute hell as I took a much shorter taper to get back to where I am now after relapsing – dropping 30mg a day. The worst was the depression. The other physical symptoms were hard, but I’ve sort of accepted them as part of life – that way they don’t seem like a shock when I wake up. Unfortunately the depression has led me to self-harm quite a lot and I have cut myself all along one arm – I have to wear a bandage as my workplace is not one where any weakness, mental especially is tolerated. The urge to self harm has now gone – like a switch. I take the maximum recommended dose of 5-HTP and it works like magic….if you remember to take it.

I’m still shaking, and hot and cold etc etc, but I feel I can see the end now of the physical part of the dependency. In two weeks I will be completely clean if my taper plan works. Because I really hate this drug and I never want to go through this experience again I am hoping this will help with the psychological dependency that will be a ‘thing’, no doubt. I can’t actually afford to buy anymore codeine – so there’s that. If i ever find myself thinking about buying more, I threaten myself that I will add up what I have spent. That seems to do the trick for now.

[unlikelyaddict]

Sorry to hear of your situation and pain.

I am in no position to preach as a painkiller (codeine) addict myself. My experience with doctors, previously admitting to diazepam misuse has been very bad, and a note on my file was put that marks me out as a potential drug addict and I can’t get anything on prescription now. Your experience may vary – GPs are people and will all have their own prejudice.

I am not in Scotland, but I am trying to find independent help, from a charity or independent service – that way the doctors file will not haunt my future.

I hope things work out for you.

Things that really help with me:

Make sure I’m hydrated.

Take 5-HTP

Take vitamin B

Take exercise every day – even a walk is good.

Sleep as much as you can – but also make sure you get up when the alarm goes off.

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