Solpadeine Addiction

Took the advice and told my wife, she had no idea as we addicts can be careful to conceal these habits. After her initial shock , she has been great and very supportive.
It is now 31 hours since last tablet and I have a really fuzzy head and abdominal pain, with a general unwell feeling but nothing that I can't bear as yet. Sleep was very good to be honest and I am sure the symptons will probably get worse as I stay off the tablets but at least the first steps , which I thought would be the hardest , have been taken so now there is no going back.
Keep you posted, which in itself is a therapy.

Phil

Took the advice and told my wife, she had no idea as we addicts can be careful to conceal these habits. After her initial shock , she has been great and very supportive.

😉 Well done... stage 2 complete.

It is now 31 hours since last tablet and I have a really fuzzy head and abdominal pain, with a general unwell feeling but nothing that I can't bear as yet. Sleep was very good to be honest and I am sure the symptons will probably get worse as I stay off the tablets but at least the first steps , which I thought would be the hardest , have been taken so now there is no going back.
Keep you posted, which in itself is a therapy.

You'll get there. Now you have the doctors support, your wife's support and the support of us complete wierdo strangers on the internet. (ok maybe I'm just referring to myself with the wierdo bit :D)... Seriously though... everyone's behind you. 🙂

Hugs

Giles

Hello again

Hi everyone, and welcome Phil

Sorry i havent been on for a while.
First of all, that's 8 weeks and 1 day since i took my last Solp.
Just thought i'd share that with you all!!
Dont get me wrong, during this 8 week period i did get a realy heavy cold, and i resorted to taking a couple of paracetemol each day for 3 days.
However, i know this is nothing and perfectly normal.

Anyway, i've been reading through all the posts and i just wanted to say that i think you've done the best thing Phil by explaining it to your GP and wife etc.
Well done on your time so far off the tablets.

The main thing to remember (in my opinion) is that the first 2-4 days are the worst, after that you're body gets back to normal and then it just leaves it up to your will power etc.
The hardest thing i found, and this did come back to haunt me about 1 year ago, was when i kicked the habit but then found myself in the grip of a major cold and i had also hurt my back at the same time, so i started taking some paracetemol.
Needless to say i took my eye off the ball and ended up back on solpadeine.

Not this time though!!
I now go out and about, overnights on business and dont even realise that i havent got painkillers with me.

Anyway, got to go and get some work done.
What i would say Phil is that support is crucial and you will get excellent support on this forum.
The guys have been great with me and please dont hesitate to get in touch if you want to discuss anything or just want to talk to someone.

All the best and just hang in there.
Regards

FS 🙂

Hello again
Just thought I'd post to keep myself on track. Today is my 6th full day without a Solpaol and it's been very hard. Stomach problems and general feeling of lethargy and flulike symptoms have made me glad I took my owed holidays and stayed home.
Starting to lift a bit and feel the best I have since stopping so hopefully, the worst is over but I am a long way from feeling well so I know it is a battle for a lot longer .
I can honestly say that, despite feeling terrible, I haven't even wanted to take a tablet, I know if I did I'd be right back at the beginning and the last few days would have been wasted, so I am hanging in ....just!
Phil

Good news

Hey Phil

Good to hear from you.
The worst bit is over in my opinion!
Just hang in there and i'm sure you'll start to feel better pretty quickly.
It was the same for me, its just you body basically going into "cold turkey" mode as it's now having to go without Codeine.

You're doing well matey, just keep fighting!!
FS

😀

Good to hear from you again Phil and well done for your progress so far. Keep looking forward, it can only get better... even if at times it can seem worse. 😉

Hugs

Giles

Well done! You're doing so well. I can relate to this kind of thing and I know it's horrible, but you are definitely over the worst.

Love and light

Louisa

Hi all,
I have never posted a message on anything but felt compelled to join in here.
I am 51 and have been dabbling with solpadeine for about 25 years. However, not seriously until the last 5 or so. Until last week in the last 6 months I have had a dose on waking and then between 1 and 3 doses every say. For the last 10 years I have also suffered from chronic migraines. The last time I visited my neurologist I was told I really needed to kick the painkillers, but it needed to be when I was ready and he told me what sort of symptoms to expect. I have tried before and failed using naproxen.
The last 6 weeks have been constant migraines with nausea, which have required lots of solpadeine and also several doses of sumatriptan. Last weekend I started to think the time was right as how could it be worse without the solpadeine? I took my last dose on Monday, as on Monday evening I discovered this site! Many thanks to you all, as you provided the stories that gave me that extra push. I also visited GP on Tuesday, he said get out and exercise and drink lots of water. My GP was great and told me not to go to work-he signed me off for a week -I can go back for longer if I need to, but don't want to.
Here I am on my 5th day without. Ok so the symptoms for me are: extreme fatigue, a bit difficult to get out of bed, flu like symptoms with runny nose and some aching of limbs. I have generally been sleeping better than usual (though I had a period of wakefulness last night with night sweats). I have the"muzzy headache" -though headaches are not as bad as my migraines.
My dog loves me even more as he has been well exercised every morning!
I am taking the cold turkey option and I am determined to succeed!:)
Thanks again to you all for your inspiration.

Struggling with solpadeine addiction on and off for over 30 years. Down to 4 a day at the moment and trying hard to have courage to stop

Hello

Hi Carrie

And welcome to the forum.
That's great to hear that you're now on day 5 off those solps!!! WELL DONE......

Just stick with it, and keep telling yourself that things will improve, as i know it will.
Its also good that you have a supportive GP, the practice i go to is pretty rubbish, so i've had to tackle this myself and research on the internet etc, so that's also a positive for you too.

This forum is great, and it really is inspirational at times.
I dont where i would be without it!!
The main thing is on here is that everyone knows what you're going through, this is the key.

Keep strong and you'll be back to normal in no time.
Remember, dont hesitate to get in touch should you need to talk.

All the best
FS
🙂

Hi CarrieT - Welcome to Healthypages :wave:

Delighted you have joined and to hear you are well on the way to kicking the habit. It really is an effort, but as you have learned the consequences of not doing so are not good either.

You have got over the worst, but any journey has its ups and downs. keep posting and know you have support here.

You might like to look at (Emotional Freedom Technique) supporting your withdrawl symptoms - it has had some [url]amazing results[/url].

Cyber hugs :hug: and keep in contact!

Hi

Hi Harv 🙂

How are you and welcome to the forum.
Well done on being down to 4 per day. The way i done it was just to say that today was my last day on them, and that i would need go cold turkey.
I knew that it would be tough, as i had done it before and then let myself go, but this time i just said "right, that's my last one and i'll have to do without!"

To date, it's worked and i havent been near them for over 10 weeks.
Just build yourself up for it, stick the date in the calendar and make it ur last one, you'll only suffer (a wee bit) for a few days and then it'll boil down to willpower.

All the best with it and keep us posted on how u get on.
You can do it Harv!!

FS
🙂

8 days clean

Hi everyone...I have been lurking on this board for a while reading stories of people who are struggling with addictions to OTC codeine containing pills..I can see myself in all of your stories...I have been addicted to codeine for about 8 years..I am on the 8th day of cold turkey and how do i feel? A bit emotional, prone to getting a bit weepy for no apparent reason....ashamed that I let myself get into this state...humiliated that I am probably well known amongst the chemists in my hometown as a pill popper...terrified that I will relapse as soon as a stressful event occurs which used to send me running to the chemist....Hoping that I can make it this time...

My physical symptoms are slowly getting better...3rd day was the worst.....the restless leg problem was driving me mad but an early night after a very hot bath with lavender oil followed by a glass of water with valerian in from Holland and Barrett is helping....today is day nine and hopefully the physical aches and pains will diminish.....I feel as if i have had a case of the flu....

anyway..sorry to rant!!!

Hello

Hi Seanie

How are you?
Welcome to the forum.

To be honest, i did the same, lurking about in the background for a bit then decided to join and make some comments.

The first 3-5 days are always the worst for me without doubt.
You're probably over the worst, just focus on how good you'll feel when you eventually get off these things.
I also know exactly what you're saying regarding the chemists, i used to get paranoid about it thinking they knew how frequently i was coming in to buy them.

You're doing well, just keep up the good work.
You'll get some great support on here and we're all here to help.
Dont hesitate to get in touch if you need a chat.

All the best
FS 🙂

day 12: nearly slipped!!!

Day 12 and I think I might be going a little insane!!! Somehow convinced my self this morning that it would not hurt if I had a few soluble co-codamol from Boots as now I had been clean for 12 days..’I could control it….’Bought the pills in my lunchbreak, sat at my desk, stared at the pills for an hour and then….ran to the loo and flushed the lot away!! Why did I buy them in the first place??! I scared myself with how easily I nearly rationalised using again….I guess this proves that once you are an addict you are ALWAYS an addict..it can creep up on you if you are not careful.. …I don’t understand why I nearly used after all that I’ve been through…My physical symptoms are much better, I am sleeping better, not so many aches and pains, at leat nothing that can’t be got rid of with normal paracetamol…why did I nearly put myself back to square one? Just goes to show that I absolutely CANNOT go near chemists shops…

I guess this proves that once you are an addict you are ALWAYS an addict..

No, with time the addictive desire fades away... it's the same with any addictive substance.
Take smoking for example, people stop smoking but can feel the desire to 'just have one' every now and then... but as time passes, those desires start to disappear.

It will pass. 😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

[QUOTE= Just goes to show that I absolutely CANNOT go near chemists shops…

Thats a pity because your pharmacist could be a source of help and advice.

Well done on recognising and taking action on your problem.

Energylz is right, over thime this does go away.
I used to be a smoker, so i know from experience etc.

Over the next few days / weeks, you'll probably wont even give it another thought.

Stay strong!!
All the best
FS
🙂

Hi there Seanie

you have taken so many steps in the right direction - just keep going and don't look back! 🙂 I'm sure you'll get there. Lots of excellent advice on this forum.

All the best

Seanie

Youre doing great. Just remember when you get a craving that it is only temporary and will pass, so all you have to do it get through that moment.

With regards to being an addict etc, Narcotics Anonymous type approach is to think you will always be one, but my friend told me about something called Intuitive Recovery that has a very opposite approach that sounds better as I think affirming every day that you are an addict is most likely to be unhelpful!

Maybe you could have a look on google?

Good luck and hugs!

Stormjewel

Seanie just one more thing - you probably have a genetic reason that means you metabolise codeine in a way that that makes it more likely you will become addicted. I know one of my research friends is trying to develop a saliva test that could identify if people have the particular enzyme type that means addiction is likely. So please do not think you are weak willed or silly . If I am right things were stacked against you.

You may also be interested to know that given my specialist knowledge of drugs and my skills with hypnotherapy I am going to see if there is some way I can work with local pharmacies to reach out to and help other people in this situation

day 14

I am now on day 14..I think!! I have stopped counting exactly as the physical withdrawal symptoms have subsided…still have some problems sleeping but am trying non chemical remedies….no alcohol in the evenings….bathing before bed with lavender bubble bath..an earlier night…still feel a bit tired during the day but doesn’t everyone who works a full time job Monday to Friday?

My thoughts on withdrawal: The first 3 days were the worst..once you are over that hump it is liveable…it is not going to kill you and is only temporary…the depression can be bad..but I have rationalised it by saying that it is codeines’ last ditch attempt to get its claws back into me….my mood will get better in time..

Has anyone ever tried narcotics anonymous meetings? I did actually try them for a few weeks..at the time it made me feel good, but for all the wrong reasons….I used to sit in the meetings listening to people who had really messed up their lives due to drugs such as heroin…losing jobs, homes and marriages, having children taken away..ending up in hostels etc..i used to think…I am NOTHING like these people..I am definitely not an addict…I suppose every addict goes through that sort of denial…

What sort of approaches and/or treatments have been successful for other people??

Syndol to Solpadein..

Hi all

Can I firstly say wow, thank you all the posters who've contributed to this thread, and another thank you to all the 'recovereds' still hovering around to hold virtual hands.

Im a new member today, and have spent the last hour, reading through (Ive skipped a bit in the middle, so apologies to pages 10 to 20 posters!) but what a fantastic thread on this subject.

I first discovered Syndol in my 30's. I suffered terribly with tension headaches, really debilatating, a 'saturday morning head' was an absolute certainty and with a family, life was a difficult balance. Then I found Syndol. I just thought Id found my miracle cure, and yes, those regular tension headaches became a thing of the past. I found that my life worked really well with 2 at night to sleep and 2 in the morning to take the edge off the rest of the day.
Ive known about painkiller addiction for a while, but thought it only applied to those taking a full box a day....what harm would my 4/day do. Now, of course after 10 years, I knew this was a lifestyle thing for me. I would panic if I found myself without a box, (3 cheers for 100 hour pharmacists!) so ensured there was a good supply always dotted around the house. Well a year or so ago, Syndol suddenly became unavailable. Oh my word, what a panic, hours spent in the car driving miles to random pharmacists, orders online from overseas suppliers, at that stage, I knew my 4 little "mummies helpers", were a BIG problem. So my answer, find something else readily available.... Solpadein!!!

Well on saturday I got down to my final 2 in the box. Went to go and pop out to pick up some more, and thought, lets see how we go. Take 1 this evening and 1 on sunday evening and lets have a bash at stopping this... Well saturday and sunday were surprisingly good. By monday, Id had a bad nights sleep and was feeling a bit rough, but thought wow, this isnt anywhere near as hard as I thought it would be, then Tuesday happened.

So Id taken my last tablet sunday night, Tuesday morning (yesterday) I wake up with the mother of all headaches, (the ones that make you cry) awful diarrhoea, nausea, etc. "Could be a badly timed bug" I thought, "it cant be withdrawal I only ever took 4/day", and by 2pm yesterday afternoon and absolutely no sign of the headache improving despite, bed rest, cold compresses, lots of water etc, just had to go out and pick up a box, and popped 2 tablets. Well that 'bug' cleared up in a couple of hours! And I think that was what then shocked me, and sent me searching online to find you guys! I so wish Id found this thread before yesterday, as if Id manned up, and ploughed through the day, I probably would have cracked the mother of all Solpadein headaches, as it is, I took 2 yesterday afternoon, and Ive reset my withdrawal clock.

Im so hoping that I dont get hit again as hard as I was yesterday, but without this thread, at least I do know what to expect, and yes the next one, Im absolutely determined to ride it out. I keep telling myself, what if we're away, what if its a family wedding and I run out and am WD ill? I really cant rely on these things any longer!

So thank you guys, and Id very much like to keep my online diary here for the next couple of weeks, and hope that my posting may also help others too.

So day one, after a relapse, and looking forward positvely Gasper xxx

Well todays thursday, and just 48 hours after my last dose. Feeling surprisingly well (Look absolutely rubbish...theres a pale peaky face in the mirror) BUT no major headache just a muzzy one, and no tummy upset today. Really tired, sleep is an issue, and I have broken in that department, in the early hours last night, ordered myself some Kirkland Sleep-aid tablets. Im still happy to ride this out so hoping tomorrow they may arrive and Im sooo looking forward to a good nights sleep on friday!
I keep telling myself, lack of sleep wont kill me, but getting up this morning was awful. Definately mild flu like symptoms, achy legs, but nothing too bad to stop me working. (Though the lack of sleep may!)

I am a little anxious that I may get to depend on a sleeping aid, but if I can just break the codein monster, Im happy to then in a month or so, break the sleep aid thing. In the early hours of the morning, when you have to be up for work, the frustration is just horrible. But overall, so far no repeat of my Tuesday disaster! Fingers crossed this may be as bad as it gets 🙂 xxxx

Moving thread.
Good luck to all of you! xxxx

My Story

Hey Everyone.

My name is Kat and i'd like to share my story with you because I need help.

When I was young (around age 11) I started getting frequent tension headaches due to being under a lot of stress. Normal paracetamol didn't help much and I'm not too great at swallowing pills because i'm convinced i'm going to end up killing myself doing it one day (ironic given this post, I know). My mum often had migraines and she took over the counter soluble Solpadeine to relieve her pain. She didn't like to see me suffer with my headaches and she gave a couple of tablets to me when I was particularly bad.

At first I hated taking them and loathed it when she came to my bed with a glass and 2 tablets and I had to take them. I am now 20 years old and I have been a Solpadeine addict for around 7 years. It's the usual story; first I only took them when I had a headache, then it was in case I got a headache, then it was to relax me, and then eventually for no reason at all other than I don't feel able to function as a normal human being without them.

I have read a lot of the posts on this thread over the past couple of days, and whilst my addiction is not as bad as that of others that have posted here I am in great need of help. I take around 8-10 tablets of Solpadeine per day (so that'd be like 2 tablets 4/5 times per day). I am in most need of them in the morning when I wake up with a crippling headache and when I go to bed at night to help me sleep.

At the moment I have only had 2 tablets today and it is now 8:15pm - this is the longest I have gone without in I don't know how long. I managed yesterday to only have 2 tablets also, and today I can safely say that I feel like I am dying. I wasn't going to post on this forum, merely read it for guidance, but I feel so physically and mentally ill right now that I have literally burst into tears and cannot stop crying. I feel like such a failure for having this addiction.

I have stopped a few times before however it has never lasted more than a month. I really really need to get off this stuff, it's making me ill and I can no longer cope. I am hoping that by posting here it will give me the strength to quit as others on here have done so that I can function as a normal human being. I cannot face the fact that I am addicted to a drug, I am so so ashamed of myself.

Thank you everybody for taking the time to read this, I really appreciate it.

SeldomSeenKid

Just for the record. My ex used to take a box of soluble Solpadeine a day together with a box of Night Nurse capsules. He was also on Heminevrin and Prothiadin.

Hey Everyone.

My name is Kat and i'd like to share my story with you because I need help.

When I was young (around age 11) I started getting frequent tension headaches due to being under a lot of stress. Normal paracetamol didn't help much and I'm not too great at swallowing pills because i'm convinced i'm going to end up killing myself doing it one day (ironic given this post, I know). My mum often had migraines and she took over the counter soluble Solpadeine to relieve her pain. She didn't like to see me suffer with my headaches and she gave a couple of tablets to me when I was particularly bad.

At first I hated taking them and loathed it when she came to my bed with a glass and 2 tablets and I had to take them. I am now 20 years old and I have been a Solpadeine addict for around 7 years. It's the usual story; first I only took them when I had a headache, then it was in case I got a headache, then it was to relax me, and then eventually for no reason at all other than I don't feel able to function as a normal human being without them.

I have read a lot of the posts on this thread over the past couple of days, and whilst my addiction is not as bad as that of others that have posted here I am in great need of help. I take around 8-10 tablets of Solpadeine per day (so that'd be like 2 tablets 4/5 times per day). I am in most need of them in the morning when I wake up with a crippling headache and when I go to bed at night to help me sleep.

At the moment I have only had 2 tablets today and it is now 8:15pm - this is the longest I have gone without in I don't know how long. I managed yesterday to only have 2 tablets also, and today I can safely say that I feel like I am dying. I wasn't going to post on this forum, merely read it for guidance, but I feel so physically and mentally ill right now that I have literally burst into tears and cannot stop crying. I feel like such a failure for having this addiction.

I have stopped a few times before however it has never lasted more than a month. I really really need to get off this stuff, it's making me ill and I can no longer cope. I am hoping that by posting here it will give me the strength to quit as others on here have done so that I can function as a normal human being. I cannot face the fact that I am addicted to a drug, I am so so ashamed of myself.

Thank you everybody for taking the time to read this, I really appreciate it.

SeldomSeenKid

Do NOT be ashamed of yourself. be proud of the fact that you have recognised you have a problem. Be proud of the fact you had the courage to post here...and believe you CAN beat your addiction....because I KNOW you can.. Yes you need some help -but see if your local pharmacist can signpost you to local services. Or be honest and talk to your GP.

Good luck

My mother died from solphodine

Hi everyone please if anyone's thinking of taking solphodine don't its highly addictive and my mum died from it really young she was 44 years old she toke a over dose as she kept forfeit g when she toke it and the doctor said when he done a X-ray that her lungs was distorted by it. I tryed stoping her taking them by tell all the shops on Neath but then she would catch a bus and find anywhere to get them. They work extremely well there for people but them and get addictied. They should be band it's ruined my life losing sumone so close to me x

Hi everyone please if anyone's thinking of taking solphodine don't its highly addictive and my mum died from it really young she was 44 years old she toke a over dose as she kept forfeit g when she toke it and the doctor said when he done a X-ray that her lungs was distorted by it. I tryed stoping her taking them by tell all the shops on Neath but then she would catch a bus and find anywhere to get them. They work extremely well there for people but them and get addictied. They should be band it's ruined my life losing sumone so close to me x

Hi Kim I am so sorry for your loss - and I can understand why you feel as you do. But many people ARE helped by Solpadeine - and I can't see it being banned any time soon,

As a pharmacist I am WELL aware of the risks of addiction to some medicines that are available over the counter. Solpadeine, Co-codamol, and Codiene Lnctus are the main three. Indeed anything with codiene is potentially addictive.

It is a difficult line to tread tho. Why should people who use solpadeine responsibly and get relief from it be denied it because some get addicted? And that is the line patient groups take,

Drugs like Solpadieine are known as 'Pharmacy' medicines. they can be sold but only from a regsitered pharmacy and under the supervision of a pharmacist. At the moment those sorts of medicines cannot be on self selection. The person has to go and ask at the counter. It is proposed that in future under certain conditions this category of drugs will be allowed to be on self selection - something almost every Pharmacist I know is against precisely because we recognise the problems caused by some of these products.

I can't help thinking there will be more addicts if that is allowed to happen