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Codeine Withdrawal

I recently (two weeks ago) had microscopic back surgery. Although the surgical procedure was successful, I believe I am now paying the BIG price for those "wonderful" little pills that "held me over" in the interim for the severe pre-op pain that I experienced as well as the short period of post-op pain that I endured. I was prescribed Tylenol#3, Lortab 7.5, Lortab 10 and Percocet and LOTS of it. I was legitimately in a GREAT deal of pain! The problem was, the more pain medication I took, the more I needed (and the more I TOOK). NOW, I don't HAVE anymore. I also have no legitimate NEED for the pain medication to ask my physician for. It's not that I "want" to take the pills - but my "body" is telling me otherwise. I can't sleep at night. I'm breaking out in sweats and chills simultaneously throughout the day AND night. I'm extremely irritable, depressed and cranky. I am convinced that these are the symptoms of codeine/hydrocodone withdrawal. WHAT do I do about this? I can't STAND it!!! I have three children to take care of (two of them are babies). I can't take care of myself now because I am "sick" so to speak. I have been completely honest with my husband about this. He agrees that this is probably withdrawal, I need to do "cold turkey" (what choice do I have anyway?) and tough it out for the next week or so. IS THIS WHAT I HAVE TO DO or SHOULD I INVOLVE MY PHYSICIAN WHO PRESCRIBED THESE NASTY DRUGS IN THE FIRST PLACE? Like I said, what choice do I have but to do "cold turkey" and SUFFER anyway? You're prescribed all these highly addictive pain medications pre and post operatively. Then you're "cut off." Two days ago, he told me that he was "concerned that I was becoming addicted to pain medication." I think we're way beyond "becoming." I had my husband tell him that we were already concerned about addiction and I had my husband ask him what the symptoms of addiction and withdrawal were. All he told him was "daily, ongoing use." That wasn't the answer I was looking for. I wanted to hear PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS! Should I call my physician back and tell him that I am SUFFERING here??? My husband and I like and respect my doctor SO VERY much. We're not angry nor do we hold him responsible for this. We just want help in getting me "back to normal." I am TERRIFIED that I am going to go back into a "withdrawal" state again today. The last time I had codeine was 5:00 PM yesterday and I have NO more resources to prescriptions. I WANT TO STOP TAKING PAIN MEDICATION NOW! Would you please give me some GOOD SOUND ADVICE RIGHT AWAY SO THAT I MAY GET MY LIFE BACK??????? Thank You SO MUCH and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! Sonya :-)



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Avatar universal
advice please iv been on pain relief for over 20yearsthe last 12 mths taking upto 400 a week given by gp how long do you go through the withdrawl ?
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Avatar universal
Hi I first started taking over the counter paramol 8/500 about 6 years ago.. I was in a very abusive relationship & they made me feel calm.. But have been on co-cod 30/an.. I can't talk to anyone about it & don't want to go to the doctors.. I'm ashamed as we have been trying for a baby & I have Misscarried 3 times.. I'm sure this is because of the tablets but my GP wasn't concerned at all?? I take 3 tablets at a time & around 15 a day.. Today I have taken 3 but normally would have been 6 by this time of the day.. Trying to just stop.. Is this possible? will it hurt me? Need some advice please.. xx 500 for the last 18 months for a shoulder injury which my abusive ex inflicted.. I get 100 tablets from my GP EVERY week without any questions being asked... I have just had surgery on my shoulder.. so it does feel better BUT Cant stop taking pain killers.. even though I'm now married to a lovely m
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Avatar universal
Hi Devonex16

I too have just started coming off the codeine phosiate have been taking up to 5 - 6 30mg tabs on a daily basis off & on for the last year or two. Just started withdrawring from sunday. Started with flu like symtoms & yesterday I had horrible fever hot then cold every hour. I have been taking strong iburprofen to counter this but i know thats not good. Since last night the diorreah has set in which has not been pleasant. My partner thinks im just ill how much more days do you think I have of this withdrawral process left?? the worst think is I still have 60 tabs of codeine in house too but I have been good so far well since sunday. god bless
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am a 37 year old mum of 2 and have a lovely husband, I have been getting prescribed co-codamol30/500 for over 5 years.  I have tried to stop many times but the withdrawal symptoms has always made me go back, I am normally prescribed around 400 tablets a month.  I first started taking them when I had laser treatment on my face and liked the way they made me feel.  I didn't think my husband knew how bad it was but he found tablets I had hidden from him, we spoke about it and I broke down, he wanted me to go to the doctors but I don't want that I am addicted to codeine in my medical records.  I know its my fault I am in this situation but also the doctor has been prescribing almost twice the recommended dose and never ever questioned what I was doing with them. I have read all these posts and although they are old they have shown me that I am strong enough to beat this addiction.  I am going cold turkey cos I want off these asap, on day 3 without any and I don't feel to bad a bit of a sore stomach and sweats but I can cope with that.  I would like to say most people start to take these to relieve pain and do not know how addictive they are, doctors don't care they are to busy working towards yearly targets so they can get more money in to their practice for the next year. If I can beat this then I know other people can, reading all these posts is certainly a wake up call for me, I hope that you all find the strength to beat this highly addictive drug, even feel a bit better getting all my feelings out as it is really hard to explain it to someone who hasn't been through anything like this and feeling like they are judging you, best of luck to you all xx
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am a 37 year old mum of 2 and have a lovely husband, I have been getting prescribed co-codamol30/500 for over 5 years.  I have tried to stop many times but the withdrawal symptoms has always made me go back, I am normally prescribed around 400 tablets a month.  I first started taking them when I had laser treatment on my face and liked the way they made me feel.  I didn't think my husband knew how bad it was but he found tablets I had hidden from him, we spoke about it and I broke down, he wanted me to go to the doctors but I don't want that I am addicted to codeine in my medical records.  I know its my fault I am in this situation but also the doctor has been prescribing almost twice the recommended dose and never ever questioned what I was doing with them. I have read all these posts and although they are old they have shown me that I am strong enough to beat this addiction.  I am going cold turkey cos I want off these asap, on day 3 without any and I don't feel to bad a bit of a sore stomach and sweats but I can cope with that.  I would like to say most people start to take these to relieve pain and do not know how addictive they are, doctors don't care they are to busy working towards yearly targets so they can get more money in to their practice for the next year. If I can beat this then I know other people can, reading all these posts is certainly a wake up call for me, I hope that you all find the strength to beat this highly addictive drug, even feel a bit better getting all my feelings out as it is really hard to explain it to someone who hasn't been through anything like this and feeling like they are judging you, best of luck to you all xx
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Avatar universal
Hi, I know this is a very old thread, but everyone's stories of getting clean and the ones that had been going through the withdrawal of codeine are an inspiration :) I'm on day 2 of cold turkey myself for the second time know, I went CT last year my baby was only 4 months old it was terrible, I did t want to tell anyone because I was so ashamed of myself for getting addicted to codeine 30/500 prescribed to me by my doctor, I went through cold turkey the first time it was awful, and with such a little baby to take care of as well as 3 older children, I had to force myself to get up in the morning to get them to school. But I got through it, and went 3 months with nothing then injanuary I was in terrible pain so took 2 this was the worst thing in the world I could have ever done, because now for the last 5 months I have been hooked :( today though I have spoke to my husband and told him what I'm going through (something I didn't feel I was able to last time) I feel this time with his help I will get through this FOR GOOD! I have gone 2 days now with nothing and as I have done this before I'm sure I will be able to again, only this time after having talked to my husband we have decided I should take 2 tablets a day for the first week, then 1 and a half the second week and 1 the week after and so on.... I hope that this way it will be easier on my body, as I don't have a mental dependency on them it's more like my body needs them I have never taken more than 4 a day so I'm not popping them left, right and centre, nevertheless my body has still built up a dependency on them, I will carry on updating every now and then as this may help someone else going through the same this and as previous posts have helped me. Good luck to anyone reading this thread, and there is light at the end of it all, I have been there! I'm just back on that same track again, but with the help of my husband, this time I shall not be going back I will let you know how I get on with the weaning, rather than full cold turkey for me thus time xxx
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