Codeine Withdrawl

[Gunsmith]

Today is four days clean from codeine.  I've gone through some bizarre reactions, e.g. nightmares, twittging body all the time, arms and legs jerking without control.  When does this stop?  What can I do to lessen it.  I took ambien to help sleep last night.  It didn't help.

[littlebit667]

This is an old thread from 2010.  I want you to get the help/support you need..go up to the top of this page and click on the orange ask a question button. Copy and paste your question/need to start a new thread so you can get the help and not get missed by posting here.

[cames1]

I sure hope this ends soon, I am just starting day four of codeine withdrawal and the first three days were hell, last night was the first time I didn't actually want to kill myself, then, I tried to go to bed, I slept alot the first few days helping me get thru it, but last night I almost ended up insane, I cannot sleep and my legs are killing me, I have to keep moving them, they hurt and are so restless, does this really subside in a couple of weeks????  PLEASE DEAR GOD TELL ME IT DOES....I was taking 200mg sometimes a little more a day for about six years, I read on one site that it could last up to a year for these two problems to subside and I sat here and cried, I fear I am not going to make and I am going to give in....

[Gunsmith]

Thank you for the encouragement.  It is so damn hard.  I can't see any progress so far and it is miserable.  I've been on codeine for over 20 years.  A real fool.

[dominosarah]

Soaking in a warm bath can help with the RLS too.  This part doesnt last forever and will be over soon.  Stay with it.  

Congrats on 4 days!!!  You are doing great!!       sara

[Gunsmith]

Thank you for setting  me straight regarding the ambien.  I'll tell you it has created nightmare dreams and constant leg movement.  Going through this is no joy...but, having you help makes it a whole lot easier.

[tjrox]

Hi, I had the restless legs for a couple months, but I was withdrawing from 100mcg of Fentenyl patches so hopefully yours won't last as long.  I agree with above, eat lots of bananas for the potassium.  I also hear Ambien isn't a great sleep aid, it makes you do weird things, I've been taking Trazadone for sleep since I got off the opiates and it works wonders but you need a script for it.  If you take too many or too much of an OTC sleep aid it has the opposite effect and can cause the twitching to get worse.

[Danny111]

Hey Gunsmith,

The great thing is that you're on the fourth day.  Opiate withdrawals typically worsen for the first 2-3 days with days three or four being the worst.  After that things get better noticeably each day.  The length of time it takes until the physical withdrawals are completely gone can vary depending on the length of time you were using and the amount that you were using daily, however for most people the symptoms are completely gone by 10 to 14 days.  

Things will be better tomorrow, even better the day after that, better still the next day and within a few more days after that symptoms will be gone.  

[laurel453]

Hi, gunsmith and welcome to the forum !!

you should start feeling better in the next two days but the arms and legs jerking would take some more days , it's called Restless Legs syndrom ( RLS ) and the same with sleep...it will take some more days..

but there are some stuff you can take to help you with RLS...there is an OTC remedy called Hylands to take at nights, you should also take some magnessium+calcium suplemment and drink apple juices, tonic water... or eat as much bananas as you can because they are rich in potassium, take lots of hot baths ( with epsom salts ) and you'll feel much better, trust me. A good B's complex will help with the lack of energy . As for the sleep, you could try melatonin (otc) or valerian root or both ...

have a look at the health pages ( on the righ side of your screen) and read the thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol.

stay here and keep us posted telling us how are you doing , ok?

good luck :)