codeine addiction

[smellzy]

Hi everybody have posted couple times got no replys so wasn't sure if i had been posting in the right forum....I am addicted too panafen plus tried C/T  lasted four days so sick in bed ended up takin some slowly went back up to taking 45 a day 3 lots of 15...i have good intentions everyday to start but when morning comes the first thing im thinking of is which chemist can i go to today..so sick of this merry go round im on need the will power to start this again while im on holidays , just someone to talk to would help me greatly to start doing doing this again just want to be normal again..it all started when i had a bulging disc came out of hospital with some strong drugs which i never abused but these panafen plus have got a hold on me and i want to stop but seem to be to weak in my mind to do it...Thanks to anyone who reads or answers this ...Debbie

[smellzy]

So glad  that you are clean must be the best feeling i cannot wait too have that feeling that its all over no more worrying were im getting next pkt from i went into a chemist the other day and asked for a pkt then realised the pharmasist was one from the chemist were ii live she made a face as if to say what she doing here i walked out before she had a chance too say anything slowly running out of places to go....But i know what your saying if i go for a day with out taking the codeine my back does hurt more but you are so right give it a couple of weeks and the pain won,t be near as bad...definitly  the opiates make it worse thanks for your encourangement..how long have you been clean for....if you dont mind me asking ...Deb

[abritt121222]

You hit it right on the head about making the pain worse. I am only 27 and have had two back surgeries and now clean my back feels better than it ever did on pain meds. The reason this happens is because once our mind becomes addicted to the opiates it will physically make us hurt worse than we really do to get what it wants and that for us to take more and more opiates. When u do stop taking them for the first 2-3 weeks the pain will get worse but just be strong and hang in there because that is your mind making you hurt worse in an attempt to get the meds it wants and after 2-3 weeks or maybe sooner you will notice the pain getting better and better.

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[smellzy]

Thanks to all you guys so much for replying it means alot...To addictedmom they are the same as nurofen plus bought o/c ....I have been taking them for a good 5 years ,i have tried too taper but that lasted for a few days then back to what i was taking...i know i need too just go c/t a bit scary just from the last time i went thru it couldnt get out of bed vomiting,runs,restless legs so bad,back ached couldnt sleep...you name it i had it....when i decided to stop didn't realise i was going to have withdrawals only if i had known maybe i wouldn't have got myself in this mess...i have 3 discs out still but im sure the pills are making the pain worse  I think i could just take something that is not addictive...Thanks for the advice everybody i will check the Thomas recipe out and get what i need,as i have taken my last pills i had....going to give this a go tomorrow,now i have support i think i might be able to do this...Thanxguys..by the way i live in tasmania Australia:)

[toothfairie]

hi and welcome!  just wanted to lend my support as well....very good advice above....i also could not do the taper method....i knew if i had them i would eat them like candy...so i went CT...but everyone is diff....but def stay hydrated and eat as much as you can...ensure, boost...gatorade...and i agree about the imodium and also hot baths with epsom salts helped me tremendously with aches and also calmed my anxiety...i was taking 2-3 baths a day at first....just know you have our support whichever route you take and just keep posting and asking questions and for help....we all want you to succeed!!  

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi Debbie, Congrats on reaching out for help! We've all started out with good intentions, but as you found out the hard way, opiates are totally addictive to say the least. Fortunately, unlike some other drugs that require much longer withdrawal times, most opiate withdrawals don't last very long. Stopping is entirely doable. It takes surrendering and admitting you're powerless, which you've done by stating "seem to be weak in my mind to do it". And then the willingness and desire to get your freedom back. WDs from that amount? Yes you'll be sick for a few days, like you've already experienced, no way around it. But doing the WD alone is really tough. Now you're reaching out for help. That's going to be the difference. The help and fellowship from others who have been there can in-turn can help you. This is your absolute ticket to freedom.

Abritt mentioned tapering, if you can, without back-sliding to your normal comfort level. I couldn't taper. So I just went through the tunnel, catching glimpses of the wonderful life on the other side, and kept going, and now I'm free. If you feel you have the time and willingness to go through CT... you're the one who knows best for yourself.

[marycarmel]

It can be a little slow here on the weekends and with the holidays, it's been a little quieter here.  Lots of people get in this situation by starting out taking them for a legitimate injury, post-surgery, etc.  Is your pain gone now?  If you are still having pain, how do you plan on dealing with it?  Sometimes being on narcotics cause hyperalgesia, which is an increase in pain brought on by the medications.

It will be hard for you since you can buy them over the counter.  I would disagree with the statement that codeine is the weakest drug and your withdrawals won't be as bad as other drugs.  That may be true that oxycodone is stronger than codeine, but everyone is different.  Some people have very little trouble going CT and others have a very hard time.  What your using, how long you've been using and how much you've been using are all factors.  So is your overall health.

Tapering can be more comfortable if you're able to do that.  But a lot of addicts can't do it that way.  Only you know if you are able to follow a strict taper.  Ideally, the taper should be very slow and that way you'll feel minimal withdrawals.  I did a taper and I tapered too fast and I didn't have that easy of a time.  

You should look into some aftercare, whether it be AA/NA, counseling, etc.  This is a great forum and people will give you a lot of help and support whether you go CT or taper.  There are things that can make both the CT method or the taper method more comfortable.  Look at the Thomas recipe; it really does help.  In general, you'll want to stay hydrated.  It's very easy to get dehydrated while detoxing and that will make everything worse.  Eat if you can and what you can.  Imodium helps not only with the stomach issues but also with a lot of the withdrawal symptoms.  Melatonin or Alteril are both helpful for sleep and non-habit forming.  Hot soaks in the tub with Epsom salts will help a lot as well.

You'll get a lot of support here but the fact you can buy them so readily will make it a bit harder but you can do this.  

[abritt121222]

Welcome to the forum sorry you didn't get replies before to. Can you do some kind of taper? most addicts including me just can't do a taper because we just can't stick to the taper and pretty much if we have the meds we eat them up and just can't take only x amount a day. If you have someone you trust and can give them the stuff and let them give u the pills everyday and only as many as the taper calls for that is the best way. But the only problem I see with even this is the fact that I'm guessing you aren't in the U.S. cause that cannot be bought over the counter here so being you can just go get them from the pharmacy with no script is going to make this harder because even on a good taper you are going to feel a lil sick because the point of a taper is just to slowly let your body adjust to taking less and less meds. If you cannot do a taper I would suggest looking up the Thomas recipe and going that way actually In my opinion just going cold turkey and starting the Thomas recipe would be your best route here because codeine is one of the weakest off all opiates so compared to oxy or opana or heroin or any of the strongest opiates the withdrawal are not to bad so just going ahead and going cold turkey and getting the thomas recipe is going to just get it done and over with while the taper is going to for lack of better words just drag it out a lot longer. Well feel free to shoot me a private msg if ya have any questions or just wanna talk for whatever the reason may be and I will gladly help ya any way I can.

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[addictedmom37]

im not sure what panafen is..what is it? Pain meds?