After 10 weeks of cold turkey the stomach problems have seemed to have eased a lot with an odd case of severe heartburn like symptons.
The restless legs are still evident with each of the main arm & leg muscles aching after using them for an hour or two.
It seemed easy to give the addiction up but thinking of the last ten weeks it was a struggle but I'll never take anything to ease "aches & pains" again.

Take heart everyone if I can do it after all those years of addiction then anyone can.

You and me both crazydave.....you and me both!! I've got to say it takes a huge amount of endurance and stamina.
I'm taking a holiday for two weeks and the thought of not having to source and pack dissolvable Solpadeine to last the fortnight and then some "just in case I get stranded on a desert island where they don't have any" just fills me with immense satisfaction. I just hope the restless legs and arms don't kick off on the plane! Jade

Hows things going jade?

Symptoms so soon?

Hi everyone,

I've been having to use a bit more subterfuge of late to be able to get my fix. New regulations coming in etc. So late last night started to wonder how hard it will be to quit, what's the best way, how much do doctors help (don't feel everso confident with mine!), what can I expect. I'm sure you know the type of thing that runs through the mind.

Well long story short, I came across this thread amongst others, and was impressed by the success stories. Is it sheer willpower? Is it the support from here? Is it superman/woman?

So-o! I took the big step there and then. Having got a new box of 32 yesterday and used four, I decided to say to hell with it. I'm coming off them - now. That was at 12.30 midnight/this morning (whatever).

I would normally have had four before going to bed and another two at first waking, two more an hour later and probably another two toward lunchtime. My normal amount is around 16-18 a day. I've never really counted, but a box will last me a couple of days.

I've been using them increasingly more in the recent four years or so but started regular use about 11 years ago.

I told my wife what I was doing at which stage she objected that I hadn't consulted her, it will affect her too, who's going to be around if I need help, and I'm just being inconsiderate. I hope I'm not. Suffice to say she's gone shopping on her own. Oops!

Have I really been that inconsiderate - should I replace the tablets with a large slice of humble pie, and then re-instate them for a while? Don't misunderstand, I understand that she is concerned both over the tablets and other health matters.

Anyway, the morning has surprised me.

I expected a huge headache and I've had huge headaches in the past. This morning, it was more like a muted rumbling awareness that a headache should be there. A sort of nagging, 'I'm really going to pounce and make you suffer' headache. But it hasn't got worse.

I have had a couple of strong yearnings for a couple of tablets but have resisted - it goes if you don't fuel the feelings.

On the other hand, I have had awful backache (sort of bottom of the ribcage) and neck ache. I am arthritic and it could be from that. I can honestly say that I've taken nothing.

Meanwhile, my abdomen is cramping and trips to the loo are more like Farmer Giles sileage spreader - which is more than sufficient detail I think.

At this stage I have to say, I'm surprised that it's not as bad as I anticipated from the headache viewpoint but I am surprised at the tummy issues (- maybe I shouldn't the word 'issues', sorry!)

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for site, it is so-o-o inspiring! And if anyone wants to give an opinion I would welcome it. I shall keep you posted anyway!

Thanks again.

Jack

Hello from one Jack to another so to speak. First off what a great achievment that you have actually come to the relisation that you need to quit. Now in answer to one of your many question "am i being inconsiderate"? yes most prob thats what addition and being an addict does it lowers any standards you actually have. Another question you asked is "Is it sheer willpower? Is it the support from here? Is it superman/woman"? The first thing in answer is yes it does take willpower but will power alone wont ease the w/d from the chemical dependancy my advice would be to go on a tapering plan one that is manageable to you (each person is different) for as long as you think you can manage it. For some this is not possible me included i found whilst i started well my intake increased. Quiting is the very easy part im affraid whilst some people suffer bad W/d it wont last long and symptoms should subside and improve usually around day three or four. Support during this time is essential and in my experience loved ones who mean well actually get fed up with listening or just dont understand. There is not a lot of help at the moment for pain pill addicts the best i found was a clinic and for the tune of £2000 i could spend a few days there so now im thinking of opening my house lol (joke).
Along side the chemical dependancy comes the psycological side now thats the one that will get you every time. Well this is a long post for me i dont usually make long posts simply because most people only read the first three lines of any post. Please feel free to pm me if yoru in need of that vital support. jaxxxxx

Thanks for the reply Wackyjacky! I've taken on board what you said.

Today is my second day without. My head hurts, my back hurts (near the kidneys like Jadesamantha), my legs are hurting, particularly behind the knees. And I've taken a couple of Imodium for the tender tummy which had become pretty unbearable. They've helped.

I've taken encouragement from your advice that the worst is over in three or four days, although CrazyDave's comments on the upset stomach still there after nine weeks made my heart sink and nearly reach for the red box!

I shall ask my nearest and dearest her opinion whether I should just try one or two on the basis that I should have tapered it off rather than going complete cold turkey. I have to admit, having gone this far in I'm more of the opinion that I stick it out come hell or high water. I am struggling to take any food at the moment so it's the nearest I can get to humble pie! lol.

Bless you and thank you for your time, information and support.

Jack

PS Yes I have been having a wonder around your excellent site Wackyjacky!

Hi Jack yep seems a good plan to stay where you are at at the moment, hot baths for helping to sweat out toxins is great, exercise for helping to get your endorphins back to where they should be (although this can and will take time). drinking plenty of water too. I always say it took long enough for you to get this way why expect it to change over night;), day at a time is great advice i was given many years ago. Im now day 10 without solps so i understand what you are going through. My goal for the next month is a fat 0 im just going to take little steps to improve my body and when i can manage anything i will. 27 years of this yoyo ill pill syndrome. Its difficult to explain the frame of mind you get when you first quit you think you can rule the world then out of the blue a relapse but hey ho im still here and never giving up on giving up. (((((((((hugs))))))))))) incase ya need one jack. jaxxxxxxx

Things are going well thanks! I've been away on a holiday and to be honest it is all begining to seem like another life.The odd headache feeling comes along but that is usually because I need to stop for a minute and stretch or have some water. I've been looking at posture and that really makes a difference when I am working at the computer or behind the camera. I also had an eye test and glasses were long overdue for reading small print. So many ways to shake the pain and they are not in a fizzy drink!! Thanks WackyJacky for the q?

Hi JourneymanJack,
Just to say good luck and please stick with it! The journey is really surprisingly hellish but these guys on this site have been amazing and take the fear of the unknown out of the ordeal. It doesn't last forever the cold turkey pain but it stays as a reminder.
I too was met by some incredulous reactions from loved ones as to what I was doing and why and why now!Not the greatest understanding I must say.....but now all I get the more they learn about how addictive the painkillers are and how hard it is to come off them cold is WOW! And you did that on your own? Even my doctor was amazed and impressed.
So good luck and hang on in there....all the pains you have been putting a dampner on will scream for a week....but then the freedom from the Solps is worth every drop of sweat and every moment braced against the ache. With you all the way at this end. Jade x

Day 4

Hi All, and esp WackyJacky and SamanthaJade!

Sorry for missing a day. You last heard from me a couple of days ago when life was awful ad I was having serious misgivings about coming clean! That was day 2.

Day 3 was a whole lot better. The headaches were much less and the tummy was recovering. Still aches and pains in the back and kidneys though and I spent much of the day just laying with cushions and pillows after a lousy night's sleep.

The worst part of Day 3 was the same as Day 2, trying to sleep at night. At the moment I find that I am less uncomfortable sitting up than laying down. I have underlying issues causing pain and as SamanthaJade says,

....all the pains you have been putting a dampner on will scream for a week....

Truth is I plan on seeing doctors soon to get some more usable pain management advice.

Day 4 started this morning after another lousy night's sleep. That said:

[LIST=1]

What I'd like to see go now are those moments when the head gets sorta swimming. Moments of 'head discomfort' rather than headache, kinda hard to explain, a sort of pressure ball bouncing inside your skull. I haven't had as many today, but will be pleased to see them stop altogether!

The other thing is that feeling of not having the 'buzz' or alertness that was there before. I feel as though I'm only running at 60% efficiency. I really hope that goes too. I suspect that will take a little time as toxins disappear, hormone levels re-adjust and organs like kidneys and liver return to normal working.

It may all sound a bit negative. I don't mean it to. I'm now glad that I did it this way, and I wouldn't turn the clock back now, but I wouldn't have said that 2 days ago. I may well have off days, I may well have some longer term recovery to go through, but I believe WackyJacky was right when she said,

Quiting is the very easy part im affraid whilst some people suffer bad W/d it wont last long and symptoms should subside and improve usually around day three or four.

I know it ain't over, but I'm pretty certain the worst of it is over. I'm so glad that you've been there. I went into it blindly and naively, and not knowing that there was that Day 2 hump. Knowing I just had to come back to you was a huge help, and the hugs were really appreciated even if I didn't respond straight away.

Really. Thank-you both so much.

Jack

Keep at it Jack!
It only gets better.

After a 10 day holiday break, I found that I had to readjust when I arrived there and when I got back home.

"Restless legs" hit me on the plane but no cravings for anything which fizz.
No headaches or other related problems occurred both away or on return so it does ease.

Stick at it through the bad days & there is a big glowing light at the end of a long tunnel....... honest!! 😀

Firstly Jack well done you, i sure understand about the fuzzy head. Im not sure if you are aware but pain pills do actaully create pain go fiquire lol but they do. Im now edging the 2 week mark of no 20 plus solps aday and still have symptoms of fuzzy head on days, it will improve but as to when i have no idea each person and each person intake is different, what i do know is how well your doing in confronting your addiction.

Dave hiya restless legs has to be the worst part of any w/d. I sure hope you enjoyed your break must of given you that much valuable time to think about things important either that or you layed on a beach cold drink in hand oooooo jealous now lol. Quick question if i may have you sorted out what your main triggers are? The reason i ask is sometimes out of the blue it can catch you out. well done for coming this far day by day we will improve. jaxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Gang! lol!

Day 5: Pretty good.

Feeling a lot more 'with it' today. Sleep pattern is still not right though. I'd got into the habit of staying up late each night (in fact morning) and the last solps of the day seemed to help me sleep. Very deeply for the first hour and a half, more unsettled after that. Probably a battle between the codeine and the caffeine. Still, last night was a bit better than the previous two nights. Things are definitely getting better.

Anyway, I've now taken to warm baths with lavender (but keep it to yourselves - I need to guard my street cred lol!) before going to bed earlier.

Yeah, just to confirm Jacky, I've been everso aware that overdoing painkillers can cause headaches. It's why for the time being I'm staying off ALL painkillers. It's probably adding to my total discomfort but I think I need to know what pain levels I do get these days without anything. Then I know what I'm dealing with properly. There's also that matter you mentioned a couple of posts ago:

Along side the chemical dependancy comes the psychological side, now thats the one that will get you every time.

It's easy to 'think' that you 'need' painkillers when maybe you don't - and I mean any painkillers.

Dave, welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your hols. Aeroplane seats are bad enough without the restless legs methinks!

Personally speaking, I think that we should all give ourselves a clap on the back and a 'jolly well done!' We've each stepped into a fearful unknown, fought our own demons and can see a brighter future. That's gotta be good!

Jack

I'm amazed at how many people are addicted to this stuff, until I read this thread I had no idea it was addictive.

I took 30/500 Co-codamol for a few weeks but I had to stop because I couldn't stand the constipation. Doesn't it bother any of you?

Anyway, just wanted to say best wishes to those of you who are trying to reclaim your life.

Being an addict is HARD

Beating addiction is HARD

Life is HARD

Choose your HARD!

(saw this originally on a site about being fat/losing weight/maintaining weight and it helped me so I modified it slightly - I know it's cheesy but it's true ;))

.

[
Hi Jack i just want to say well done and keep at it as you can see from this thread ive survived giving them up and ive been clean a few months now and i feel great,no more headaches or migraines and no more stomach aches or restless limbs,the reason...my endorphin levels are back to normal,i wont type out the same advice again its all here in the thread but DONT substitute your addiction for paracetamol or any other drug,cold turkey is the only way and yes its a personel battle so if i were you id tell the wife to go to work and not to worry while you beat your demons,
and after years of constipation due to these you will spray the toilet for a while but it does pass !!!
stay strong and be proud of yourself your clean now 🙂

Hows everyone doing today? jaxxxx

JourneymanJack well done and good on ya! Yes do go and see the doc if there are other underlying pain issues. I had a series of ops on knees after a nasty car crash and the painkillers were a comfort reaction partly from that.But again well done!

Hi Louie147 and Wackyjacky. good to hear you're good too!

I went for an Alexander Technique Introduction today and let me tell you the pointers they give you for working at a desk, lifting and my use of the camera were amazing. I feel a new person already and I am sure i was getting headaches from bad posture in everything I did. I'll keep you posted but it could be useful for otheres to know.

Jade x

Well it seems we are all positive going into the autumn.:D

wackyjacky -
Triggers I take it, being headache trigger?
These have stopped completely, that is a plus point.

I may have to see a GP about minor & continuing stomach upsets also the muscle aches in thighs and lower arms.
I don't have any cravings for painkillers any longer just concerned about the conditions noted previously. The last 2 paractamols I took was on my first holiday in June, (when I made the decision to quit solps).

Hospital for a minor op soon just overnight & I hope they don't fill me with p/killers there.:eek:

If you only took solps for your headache then thats fine Dave but if you took them when not required thats what i mean by triggers, sometimes we get low and need a boost so to speak or stressed or even thirsty can bring on the urge. Why not do what i did i asked what drugs they were and stated NO codiene based drugs due to addiction. I always made sure to tell people just incase they gave me a drug that would be in conflict with solps when in active addiction. With reguards to your stomach upset why not try imodum first. Aches and pains well i say if in doubt check it out you never know. On my first attempt at recovery it lasted around 3 months (aches pains etc) like ive said before each person if different. Please let us know if you go to GPs any help for others on w/d is a great help. Good luck and well done. jaxxxxxxx

Hey Peeps!

Sorry for the absence - family crisis.

WackyJacky - I'm doing fine today, thank-you. How are you going along? To be honest, I had visions of suffering bigtime for months and months. I've been surprised. Yes, I still get cravings but they pass, in fact, it gets easier each time. No headaches at all, and no tummy problems. Twitchy legs continue to annoy, with the biggest problem being that they are worse at night and keep me awake for hours. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep! It'll pass. I still also get that 'fuzzy' head - not painful. It's just unfocussed and very disconcerting. It's not half as bad as last week so I can see things improving there. All-in-all, It's a really positive outcome and experience for me.

For anyone else reading in on this thread. Here's a short note: I get the impression that for me, maybe the process hasn't been as long or as desperate as for others. In that I am fortunate and very aware of it. We're all different. There are other people who will go through getting clean quicker that me. Others will take longer. The time taken is not important. Getting through it is. I made the decision to come off solpadeine (type) tablets on an impulse. Although, I had considered that I was addicted I thought it wasn't an issue - it was. The first three days were the worst and then it started to get better, you can follow the blow by blow earlier in this thread, along with others. My decision was straight forward. Not so much "can I do this?", more like, "I'm doing this however much I suffer withdrawal or anything else!" Getting through it is easier if you have no self-doubt that you will get through it. It is also a lot easier if you know that you have friends who support you and help you. These pages were a big help for me. You will survive and then things will get better. Never, ever, doubt that!

Louie147 - Hey, thanks for the kind words. More importantly, congratulations and a big well done to you too! It's the positive stories like yours, and sowing the seeds of belief that others can do it that actually helps others do it!

JadeSamantha - Hiya, knee operations can be one of the most painful to have. I'm sure you know that now huh?! I'm intrigued by the Alexander Technique let us know more of your experiences and how it helps, maybe? Although we might need to change forums! lol!

Crazy Dave - sorry to hear about the minor op, I hope all goes well. I liked Jacky's advice for you on the painkiller drugs in that situation. For interest, one of my triggers for the solps was the fact that I liked them as a physical and mental boost, and I also found the 'drink' refreshing. A lot better than any other cold drink! Truth is though, these are drugs first and foremost, not drinks. I have the same attitude over alcohol and energy drinks these days. They are drugs more than drinks. They're just not labelled!

Ah well, time to get off my soapbox - lol.

Take care everyone.

Jack

What a exellent post jack. jaxxxxx

re. triggers

Jacky,

Now I see what you were asking about triggers.

Yes for the last few years it was as jack said, they are taken for the boost you got from them not for headache relief!
I did kid myself and my family that I had pains that needed relieving, so in my mind I was allowed to take these pain killers!

Does anyone believe that this addition masked real aches and pains?
I have an idea that they might have to a certain degree.
I now ache in places apart from the restless legs but not worthy of taking any solps.

C'mon and we all "will" beat this.

Glad you got it Dave sometimes im not that great at saying what i mean lol. And in answer to your question "Does anyone believe that this addition masked real aches and pains?" In my case it did. During my pill taking i developed osteo which went un diagnosed for years. My osteo is real bad right now but like you i want to get free from solps (im now taking in halfs 2 solpadol per day) and also get free from solpadol too but not so quick that my mobilty suffers even more. Im aware that the codiene content is far greater in the solpadol hence only 2 per day and in halfs. When i last saw my GP and explaining my dilema pain pill addict and having osteo he gave me solpadol go figire lol. It is a good job im an expert on me cus he sure as hell isint. Change GP? makes no odds they dont understand and i dont have time to persue one that maybe does, i think they are over stretched as it is oppsss off on a soapbox myself with that one lol. Anyway glad your doing well. keep it up its a hobbie now. jaxxxxxxx;)

Hide and Seek

Hello Everyone and here's hoping everyone is doing good and staying effervescent without the fizzy buzz!

Just as a matter of interest and just to illustrate the addiction and OCD element of my Solpadeine dependency (almost forgot how to spell it that's a good sign) I had a clear out and hunt around in all my jackets and coat pockets and handbags and camera cases and luggage today to bag up any red and white sachets of "that medication".

Wow! It was amazing where I had stashed them....basically if I was going to wear or carry something when I was away from my medicine cabinet or the chemist I had a supply....not only of dissolvable but also tablets and capsules so that i could just pop a few without drawing attention to myself and people going " You alright love? Got another headache!!!"

So this morning in a large transparent plastic zip bag I have collected 112 soluble and 96 tablets......that does not include my medicine cabinet which I emptied on day one of going cold turkey and took back to my chemist 6 boxes of 32's for a refund.

Also as a matter of interest my local chemist would have 2 or three boxes of 32's in a bag ready for me to collect so no-one would see that I was taking more than was allowed....all without my asking. They also wrote me a pharmacists official note to say that my supply was for "Persistent Chronic Headaches and had been Prescribed" for when travelling through places like Dubai, Greece and Australia where it is illegal to have codeine without prescription (Australia disn't like the Caffeine Codeine mix)....again all free of charge so long as I was there spending money on my fix every other day!!

Now the question is what to do with my bag of stash? All ideas welcome!

Jade x 😉

Hi Jade well what i did on one of my many times of cold turkey was i put them all in the sink and had my own little solp party lol. Be serious i def would not keep them been there done that one and always thought i would be strong enough but alas addiction is what it is addiction. Tell you what i found eye opening was to count how much i had spent over my nearly 27 yr addiction oh i would be rich lol. Your doing so good keep it up. Me on the other hand im doing great too no solps for nearly 3 weeks and as writen before took 2 solpadol per day for my osteo (in halfs) not had anything except one anidin this am and hoping to continue, taking it hour by hour. so thx to al who contribute to this thread for helping me. jaxxxxxxxx

It's surprising to see how many people are addicted to this stuff. People don't seem to realise the likes of Co-Codamol, Solpadeine, etc. have codeine in them which is an opiate, yes, an opiate.
Over the counter drugs which include codeine won't have no more than around 8mg of codeine in them, however if you're getting this stuff on prescription then they can have much higher amounts of codeine in them such as 30mg +
Anyone taking this amount of codeine (even 8mgs) on a daily basis is going to get addicted to it, full stop! Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or doesn't have a clue.

Take it from someone who knows far too much about opiates than they ever wanted to know.

Short-term (and I mean short) use is OK, anything more and it's not!

Dave Jack Jade.

And anyone else ive missed hows things progresing? jaxxxxx

Jacky,
Things going well.
They only get better.
Still have slight stomach aches & all the associated things that go with this.
No headaches, no other aches except the back of the thighs if sat in one place on a hard chair or aeroplane seat as I mentioned in an earlier reply.
Wont go to a doc's yet thou' I will see it thro' as long as I can, and hope for an easing of this remaining "itch"

Thats great news Dave and such a positive post too. jaxxx

hi I am new to this,

I have been taking solpadene nearly everyday between 2 & 4 times a day for the past 10 years:eek:
enough is enough i told myself last week and i took my last dose on wednesday morning sept 23rd. I'm going down the cold turkey route. It's become a habit and thats not good, i do get a pain in the right hand side of my stomach which has worried me but low and behold it has stopped since i discontnued use, maybe it was a sign to stop?

It's been quite hellish, last night i only got about 3-4 hours sleep as my legs were so restless and heavy. I fidgeted all night long and feel dreadful today. I do suffer from the odd migrane and have had one today the first since discontinuing use, i wanted to battle through without anything but feel terrible as i gave in and took 2 x panadol paracetemol from a work colleague, they haven't touched the migrane and i will battle through regardless now.
I just hope tonight is a better night, i am knackered!! how long do these side effects last for? it's been 5 days now and have felt quite flu' ey since stopping on wednesday all i'm sure part of the process.
But i am determined NO MORE SOLPADENE, enough is enough!