I'm addicted to codeine?

Question

I've been taking paracetamol w/ codeine tablets 60mg 4 times a day (as suggested by my doctor) I WANT to come off of them but how? I suffer with pain from previous car accidents. My doctor doesn't seem to care. He'll just write the prescription and bam! Got them!

Answer 1

Codeine is very addictive and is now generally considered a poor choice for pain management . Codeine is also shown in clinical studies to be little more effective than basic paracetamol (I think I read something like 7% ddifference!). Speak to your Dr regarding this again. Just reduce your daily dose before stopping completely (wean yourself off) Withdrawal is a common problem with Codeine. Physical withdrawal will take no longer than a week, however psychological withdrawal may take longer. There are no drugs that can be given in this instance to help with withdrawal from this drug. Simply, the risks associated with this drug outweigh any benefits.

No don't listen to the others who are telling you Codeine is harmless, not addictive and has no side effects, they should check their facts before giving incorrect advise.

For those who keep saying Codeine isn't addictive, Codeine is an opiate! It's very bloody addictive! The problem is Codeine's addictiveness is hugely underestimated by some health care professionals.

Answer 2

If you have been taking these for a prolonged period of time there is a good chance the pain is partially if not completely in your mind.  If the pain is real and you can't function normally without some type of pain killer you need to use something else.  Change the pain killers so you don't stay hooked on them.  

Other than that you are just going to have to work it out of your system.  Try and lower the dosage you take gradually until you aren't taking any at all.  Your will is stronger than the pain if you will let it be.

Good luck

Answer 3

The doctor is writing your prescription because it is fairly harmless;  the only problematic side effect is constipation, and you may or may not have some impaired thinking or concentration.  Regardless, it is far better than being on a narcotic, and it is a hassle for doctors to prescribe & provide.

If you want off this merry-go-round, tell the doc, go to 2/3 then half doses, then 1/4.  Maybe you don't need a painkiller, if it is something you can exercise or stretch or take physio for.  Otherwise find another drug, perhaps a muscle relaxant.  If it is about pain, look under painkillers till you find one suitable.

Answer 4

There is an increasing use prescription drugs among teens, the most common prescription drugs are Oxycontin and Vicodin. Prescription drug addiction is the intentional abuse of prescription drugs and these are most commonly made available through family and friends for addiction treatment. There is a high prevalence of prescription drug abuse among teens. This increasing usage of prescription drugs is with a misplaced belief that these drugs provide a medically safe high as compared to street drugs. The intentional abuse of prescription drugs to get a high, include the use of pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives.

There are 3 major classes of prescription drugs:

1. Opioids such as codeine, oxy-codone, and morphine;

2. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines;

3. Stimulants such as dextro-amphetamine and methylphenidate.

It is further observed that girls are more likely to intentionally using prescription drugs (abuse) rather than boys to get high. Adolescents are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than young adults. Close to 16% of teenagers (age 12 to 17 year olds) are abusing prescription drugs as compared to about 12.7% of young adults (age 18 to 25 years). Research shows that around 57% of teens who abused prescription drugs say that they got these drugs from relatives or friends for free. Most alarmingly (62% or 14.6 million) adolescents say that they were able to get these drugs easily from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Prescription drugs are second most abused drugs among teenagers (prescription drugs are the most abused drugs among 12-13 year olds) after marijuana and are a growing phenomenon. In 2004 there were close to 29% of teens that were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, amphetamines and other stimulants. Research shows that earlier the incidents of prescription drug abuse the more probability of it becoming a severe drug abuse problem at a later age.

Cost of Addiction Treatment

For effective treatment the drug addict must remain fully committed to the entire treatment plan. As there is a tendency for addicts to leave treatment prematurely, de-addiction and addiction treatment programs must include means to keep the patient engaged, involved and in treatment. Analysis, as well as behavioral therapies, is crucial components of all effective and successful treatments. The first stage of drug addiction treatment is the medical management of the isolation indicators. Residential addiction treatment programs can be very effective in cases of very severe drug abuse problems. Addiction treatment does not need to be voluntary for it to be effective. Nevertheless a strong motivation to quit the habit is a great facilitator but sanctions or coaxing by close and family members or even justice system can increase substantially both the entry to treatment and the retention of the individual. According to an estimate the cost of illicit drug usage to society is close to $181 billion (2002). And when drug abuse is combined with alcohol and tobacco, they exceed $500 billion which includes cost of healthcare, criminal justice and lost productivity.

Drug addiction is a serious and at times a life threatening condition. Drug addiction is characterized by a compulsive craving for drugs that persists even in the face of severe consequences. Drug addiction takes a form of a severe problem when an individual after leaving the drug addiction habit for a long time shows signs of a relapse. Craving on drugs not only affects the drug use but also impacts those around him. One of the most important things from an individual’s perspective is to realize that craving on drugs is an issue and requires external help to get off the drug addiction habit. An individual with a drug addiction problem may experience a feeling of shame, isolation and may take recourse in dishonesty and in ‘personal exceptionalism’. Personal exceptionalism refers to the drug addict’s belief that he or she has the right to justify any action and behavior that may contradict his or her personal beliefs while continuing his or her drug habit. Addiction treatment from drug addiction is a complex and a multi stage process. It begins with addiction treatment, which is not only physical addiction treatment but also mental and emotional addiction treatment.

Answer 5

Hello,

(ANS) No.1- YES! I'd have to definitely agree with the previous respondent, there is "nothing" contained chemically in either paracetamol or codeine which I am aware of would be habit forming from a physiological point of view.

No.2 - However, I sense that you are very anxious about continuing to take this amount of pain killers. I would suggest that its NOT an addiction as such but more the desire or habit to remain pain free. If wanting to be pain free is an addiction then yes! you could kind of say you have a habit. But that's quite understandable under the circumstances.

No.3 - NOT all GP's or family doctors are that uncaring. Sadly, many doctors are extremely cold emotionally & quite unable to be caring. Many GP's have compassion fatigue due to the sheer number of patients they see in one day. My dad was a GP in Toxteth in Liverpool for close on 35years and he regularly would see anything from 25 - 40 people in one day.

No.4 NOT that you aren't but. Please!, Please! be extremely careful with your dosage of Paracetamol, please DON'T ever exceed the dosage guidelines. I used to work in the intensive care unit of a large NHS teaching hospital and we often saw Paracetamol overdose cases and it was horrific (its a horrible way to die honestly, even those people who often escaped death ended up with liver transplants. Also horrific too). Please take care of yourself.

**NOTE: If your present GP is just fobbing you off with a repeat prescription & if you are unhappy with the level of care received. Then my honest advise would be a) seek a second opinion from a different doctor within the same practice or b) change doctors as you are fully entitled too. Too do this refer to the NHS website were you can put in your postcode and all the doctors surgeries within your area will show up.

Hope that helps?

Kind Regards Ivan.

Answer 6

Try and reduce your dosage gradually. 3times for a week than two then one, then stop. It's better to do it gradually than cold turkey, you and your body will adjust gently and you will find it easier to cope with and continue to do so.

Your Doctor's a bit of a prick Codeine is so addictive he should be a bit more caring.

Anyway, as I said do it gradually or you will get bad withdrawal symptoms which can vary from person to person but when it's bad it can lead to fainting and seizure.

Answer 7

It's all in your mind. There is NOTHING in codeine to make it addictive.

Answer 8

I have commented in a large number of answers, over the last year and a half,  of the perils of codeine based analgesics. I have a great deal of sympathy for you, and I am afraid that the majority of doctors, both in General Practice and in hospital medicine, seem blissfully unaware of the medically well known fact that codeine has a high potential for addiction. Currently nearly 80% of paracetamol is prescribed as 'co-' analgesia, which contains codeine and it also represents a large percentage of the paracetamol preparations sold over the counter at chemists.

There is a variation in usage, both prescribed and over the counter, depending on geographical location. Scots consume more codeine than the English, more is used in the West of Scotland, than in the East and most is taken in Lanarkshire, where I was in practice!

I tried unsuccessfully for some 15 years to publicise and campaign locally against it's use, criticising both other GPs and local hospital prescribing practices. Unfortunately doctors and as a result patients are under the mistaken impression that adding codeine makes a great difference to a painkiller's efficacy. In fact numerous papers in medical journals over many years have shown this potency increase is no more than 5% and cannot in my view be justified by the increased side effects. These include severe constipation, headaches, abdominal pain and addiction.

Patients who become hooked suffer mild versions of the opiate withdrawal experienced by heroin addicts, irritability, anxiety, muscle pains and nausea etc.

The only real answer is to withdraw very slowly and gradually. I would advise getting your GP to give you straight paracetamol together with gradually reducing doses of codeine, as separate tablets. He really is duty bound to help you, as to be frank, his lack of knowledge of the drug got you in to this in the first place.

I wish you luck, but even with this sort of help you are bound to have an uncomfortable few months.

Answer 9

it gives some people the up buzz but listen to your question you say your doctor gives them to you for pain stop asking him,i cant I'm on vicodin and im really in pain and just cant stop do what i did cut down don't stop completely just take less a day or else you will get real sick and little by little you do well ive been off 2 months now and am starting to feel better you pray for me and ill pray for you you will feel better soon if you take 4 times a day do 3 for 1 week then 2etc.

Answer 10

Well codeine as you know is a narcotic, and your physician(who doesn't care..should have told you that from the beginning)..he is lazy, and rathr than discuss the root cause of your problems, wth cat scans, mri, referrals to spcialist's etc., or even a referral to a pain clinic, or detox(as the case me be!..Good for you!), he opted out for the 5second solution.write a script!..i don't know how long you have been on them, but genrally weaning off is recomended, so that the withdrawl isn't as severe.

Most go to a  30 day treatment centre, as you need physical, mental and emotional support, you need to work through your feelings toward 'thata physician..howver there is  quick method too, here's some info

Rapid Opiate Detox

A universal standard for the accelerated detoxification of patients from opiates ranging from heroin to prescription pain relievers, the Rapid Detox process is generally a series of safe and effective method used to bring the body at the receptor level of active opiates. In the process, it detoxifies the body of active opiates in 6 hours or less under the medical care of an anesthesiologist and skilled nurses and succeeding a 24hr stay in the hospital, helps the patient returns to life without addiction while ongoing treatment and support enables patients remain relapse free.

Rapid Opiate Detox

A universal standard for the accelerated detoxification of patients from opiates ranging from heroin to prescription pain relievers, the Rapid Detox process is generally a series of safe and effective method used to bring the body at the receptor level of active opiates. In the process, it detoxifies the body of active opiates in 6 hours or less under the medical care of an anesthesiologist and skilled nurses and succeeding a 24hr stay in the hospital, helps the patient returns to life without addiction while ongoing treatment and support enables patients remain relapse free.

Rapid Opiate Detox

A universal standard for the accelerated detoxification of patients from opiates ranging from heroin to prescription pain relievers, the Rapid Detox process is generally a series of safe and effective method used to bring the body at the receptor level of active opiates. In the process, it detoxifies the body of active opiates in 6 hours or less under the medical care of an anesthesiologist and skilled nurses and succeeding a 24hr stay in the hospital, helps the patient returns to life without addiction while ongoing treatment and support enables patients remain relapse free.

Codeine comesin the form of tylenol 12,3,and 4..t is constipating, it is an opoid, but it isn't as strong as morphine, oxycontin, etc.  unfortunately short acting pain meds, tend to cause eurphoria as well, which makes it even harder to stop..

i woud get another dr.,and go to this guy, tell him what's going on and tell him you want further investifation, referrals, etc. and see what he says..no doubt he will minimize it, probably tell you to go cold turkey, etc, and DEFINETELY NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.it was also your choice, but you didn't know the long term effects would be. now you need to find out the root cause. one that comes to mind is fibromyalgia, a painful all over painful illness, that is often caused by car accidents..just a thought..you need a full work up, find out if you have specific injuries from the car accidents.

Will frequent use of paracetamol products cause addiction?

A No. There is no physiological mechanism by which anyone can become addicted to paracetamol.(basically tyloenol).. There have been reports of addiction to combination products where paracetamol is combined with an opioid medicine, but this has nothing to do with the paracetamol component (4). so it seems is just the codeine that is problematic, however, over long periods of time both asa and tylenol are very hard on the liver and kidneys, and a pain clinic would immediately take you off them,..the other just reduces temperature and is an anti-inflamatory(you could take naprosyn sold over the counter instead!)

just some thoughts..i have to go(spent an hour on this already!)  god luck!