Solpadeine Addiction

crazy dave, 37 years?????? :eek::eek::eek:

can i take a hazardous guess into why you are called CRAZY dave?

LOL yeah thats prob why i choose the nick wackyjacky nearly 30 years for me too. Nowt to be proud of or to laugh at but i think if we dont we may just crumble. I went to GPs and had liver and kidney function test came back ok, so it just goes to show people are so different. I had my last solp on the 3rd of sep not had any yet dispite being offered one by my FRIEND lol. Its been nearly 2 weeks since i had any solpadol although i must keep stressing (for new readers) i only took 2 a day and in halfs. Still taking anidin max 3 a day it helps my osteo, my plan is to allow the body to do some recovering then approach Gps for pain mangment. hope your all ok and in a good frame of mind. jaxxxxxxxxxxxx

tadhg,
yeah a good thought.
Sometimes during a heavy "spell" of solps I felt just as though I was going crazy.

Jacky,
It only goes to prove that you don't have to have loads of solps to become an addict.
Do heroin users not become addicts if only inject once a day??

Yes Dave, i make a prediction that pain pill addiciton will become more and more reconised over the next ten years more and more people will own up to there addiciton and seek help to do something about it, its been hidden for way too long in my opinion one of those things people like to sweep under then carpet then deal with it (government). So to those of you reading time to get rid of all crutches and stand on your own two feet, one crutch at a time bit by bit change your life and live a little. jaxxx;)

just wanted to share with others that it's 3 weeks tomorrow that i have not taken the SOLP!!
And hand on heart i urge you to do the same if you are taking them daily, i feel like a different man honestly.
Although the first 2 weeks were not so easy, in particular with heavy restless legs but all those symptons have passed now and i feel good.
I have no desire to take them at all, and to be honest don't find myself even thinking about taking them anymore. I'll suddenly think oh, didn't take again today as an after thought to the day where as a month ago my day would have been counting hours between doses and working out when i could have 2 more.
IT CAN BE DONE, SO AS NIKE SAY JUST DO IT!! YOU WILL FEEL BETTER FOR IT.

3 weeks eh tadhg how time flys well done you hun. Hows everyone else doing on thier road to recovery? jaxxxxxxxx

No thats tadhg on the 3 week mark.
I gave up during my holiday on June 18th so its 4 months now.

Time flies when you have fun eh?
:p

oooppppsssssssss brain pickled lol. well done you anyways lol.

Hi everyone!

Still here, still alive and kicking! (That'll be the restless legs, then! lol - Nah! Just kidding. The legs are fine.) Doing fine thanks Jacky!

Big congrats to tadhg for the three weeks - life's good isn't it?!

Jacky, must be four weeks since going cold on the Solps? And reduced dosages before then - long process for you! That took some doing. For us turkeys (lol) we at least had the knowledge that it was over in a short time! Well done you!

Crazy Dave - 4 months - did you ever imagine you could do without them? (have you done your hospital visit yet? everything ok?)

Louie147 - does that make you the old hand at this? (so old and yet so young! lol)

I think there are some real lessons there for anyone reading this thread.

1. It can be done!
2. On the whole, when we look back, we wonder why we didn't do it earlier.
3. The first few days (generally 3-4) are the worst
4. Main withdrawal symptoms are headaches, fuzziness, lack of focus, leg cramps and restlessness - esp at night, upset tummy (polite version!).
5. Restless legs - appears to last for a longer period.
6. Method of stopping use has to come down to the individual.
7. Cold turkey doesn't suit everyone - for some it's better to gradually reduce the dosage before stopping altogether.
8. You don't have to be on high dosages to be addicted. The addiction is shown by regularity not quantity.
9. Sharing with someone who's gone through it helps!
10. Underlying health problems need to be taken into account - always take medical advice.
11. Other pain management techniques should be tried to see what helps - keep an open mind on alternative treatments and techniques.
12. Sometimes, you may still need to take other painkilling drugs which can have wider effects - like reducing natural endorphin levels, and building other drug dependencies, they may also make the life more bearable! Keep yourself informed.

Oh yeah! ... and wear sunscreen!

Jack_J

JourneymanJack,

Hospital in 10 days.

I had one similar 5 years or so, therefore should know the score.

Congrats to everyone for "our" efforts, seems sharing a problem eases it a little.

We still need to praise each other thou' don't we?

thanks journeymanjack and others for your kind words.

Well it's a month tomorrow, and i am confident that i've beaten this demon. I have no desire at all for them, i feel better than i have health wise for a long time, the restless legs are gone, the headaches are gone, and even the odd pains i used to get in my side are gone.

IMO solpadene should be prescription ONLY!! it is very addictive, be careful.

Great post Jack i got comp probs now and for those of you looking in no its nothing to do with pills lmao my computer is rebeling. Had test results back from my requested liver and kidney funtion test. I now have type 2 diabeaties not too suprised but very gratefull it now means i have a new challenge lose weight. hope everyone is ok jaxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wackyjacky,

Sorry about your illness but these solps do damage when used over a long period.
I've yet to find out anything thats serious enough to match diabeties but the message is to stop if using but best of all is don't start at all.

Thx Dave but i look on the bright side at least im still able to do the main things in life like see, hear etc so all in all im fine with it. You cant abuse yoru body and expect things to be fine init lol(as the kids would say lol) jaxxx

Hi all,

Posted back in July about my experiences and as someone who has now been off the old codeine based tabs for about two years, just wanted to re-affirm that, yes it can be done and life is good without them!!

Anyone can give up any addiction, just has to be the right time for them, absolutely no use playing at it, just go for it!! I think you are all doing brilliantly and really urge you all to not give up giving up!!!

As I said in my previous post, it was a potential accidental overdose that stopped me popping them pills, frightened me to death and would never, ever want to go there again!!

I still have migraines, but they are less frequent and I take one prescribed (naramig) tablet just at the start of the onset, which generally works a treat...before coming off them, I would take a double dose of the old solpadene and nurofen plus and it still wouldn't touch it!!

It is wonderful to be free from:

Wondering how I can sneak a tablet or four without my husband noticing!
Thinking of new places to buy them so people don't get suspicious!
Thinking of new places to put the packets so that no one notices!
Thinking of new places to throw the empty packets away!
Trying to work out how to take 2 weeks worth abroad with me, without hubby noticing! And panicking incase I ran out....

Crazy......actually put in bottles instead of packets and it sounds exactly the same as when I was drinking as well!!

Food for thought...

Good luck to you all....

Love

Crabapple xx

Nice to hear from you Crabapple.

I've just been back and read your July posting. I think it's the honesty of your story that I love the most. Not your honesty to the forum - although that's admirable - but more the honesty with yourself. I often wonder how many addicts don't get to their new life because they can't be honest with themselves. It's so easy.. and yet so very hard!

And then in your last post..

It is wonderful to be free from:

Wondering how I can sneak a tablet or four without my husband noticing!
Thinking of new places to buy them so people don't get suspicious!
Thinking of new places to put the packets so that no one notices!
Thinking of new places to throw the empty packets away!
Trying to work out how to take 2 weeks worth abroad with me, without hubby noticing! And panicking incase I ran out....

So-o-o honest. Many of us have been there, but it takes courage to own up to it!

I think the current phrase is "Respect is due!"

Keep going strength to strength Crabapple!

Jack

Jadesamantha haven't heard from you in ages. You doing OK?

Jack

Crabapple,

It was like reading a post that I could have put in.
I agree with all you have said and add that I have even added the solps to a small bottle of spring water and drunk that way, just to get my fix without anyone else knowing.

Holidays were a panic and my wife found them this year and counted them out so I started on the road to recovery half way through.
the second half of the holiday was different thats for sure likewise the plane journey home.

It's only when you come off them that you realise how much they take over your life.

Hi all ive had pc probs awe blesss lol. so hows everyone doing? Me im doing a good deal better these days but still a long climb one day at a time. jaxxxx

Hey Jacky!

Things are good with me thanks! Just moseying along watching and learning, keeping the negatives out and filling up on the positives, wherever and whenever.:)

You need to watch out for those PC gremlins. I have this personal theory that you get a new strain of them coming out each October and the best thing to do is have an annual PC check-up. Well, that and good anti-virus, regular de-fragging, weekly back-ups and always keep a spare boot-disk handy.

...and of course.. WEAR SUNSCREEN:cool:

Seriously..? You and I know that the road can be tough. I also know from your postings that you've REALLY applied yourself, AND you've given advice and encouragement freely without a second thought, AND you show care and concern for others whilst fighting you're own battles. You're a star! In fact, you're a SUPERSTAR! You're tougher than the road ahead and it won't beat you - ever! Unless you let it - and I don't think you'll do that.

Keep climbing, don't let anyone or anything stop you!

Humongous HUG !!!

Jack

:)Aweeeee Jack how kind thx for the compliments, i think im better at looking after people then looking after myself its inbuilt and stops me from dealing with my issues but no more i have to come first. I often wondered what it would be like to wake up and be someone different someone who is selfish and self obsessed then i come too and say no thanks i sleep easy knowing that i have done my best to be kind considerate etc to others. With reguards to my PC the insurance wrote it off so im now running on windows 7 and il tell you what its so good. Every cloud has a silver lining shame we cant see it sooner lol. jaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jack and all you guys who were such a fantastic support and help when I needed it most....sorry I have been out of the loop for a while. I haven't forgotten you at all.
All fine with me and still very happily not needing ANY painkiller of any sort these days. I look back and that habit that I had since my early twenties seems like it belonged to someone else.
I will come and chat for longer later.
All best and love to all Jade xxx

Glad to hear that all is well jadesamantha.

I've just been to local chemist for antibiotics after my minor op and had a feeling of deja vou when a sheepish looking guy wandered in and asked fo a box of the dreaded solps.
He then crept out without looking around him. I then thought that I must have looked like that for all those hundreds of times in the past.
Also after my op the hospital gave me a bix of painkillers in case they were needed.
Guess what, they were solpadols. Into the bin with them without a thought.
What a relief to be converted.

Carry on everyone.

just a quickie,

still off the solps, don't even think about them anymore!:D

cant believe i let them consume me! needing them everyday! what was i thinking?????

Telling someone?

Hi, i am new to this and on day 7 of withdrawal after nearly 7 years of dependancy on codeine based drugs; first tramadol, then feminax, and then solpadeine max etc. I have been having a terrible time since i stopped taking them, aches, stomach upset, cramps, nausea etc. I told my partner i have some sort of flu type illness as he has absolutely no idea about my addiction.
My question is this, after reading so many posts, has anyone had to confide in a partner that had no idea? How did they react?
I am embarassed & ashamed about all of this (feel like i have been lying to him and living a lie for 6 years) & have been too scared to tell him (or anyone else) in case he cant deal with it and leaves. That probably sounds really stupid but i cannot help feeling that way.
Deeno

deeno63,
all the after effects that you describe occur when coming off these dreaded tablets.
There are a few more that you seem to have avoided as per the previous posts.
Yes you do feel as though you have gone behind your partners back by taking them, but after a month or two of cold turkey, you will be amazed by how normallity & life returns to you.

Keep us informed of your progress because we seemed to feed of each others encouragement over the last months.

7 months on and all is quite normal now. No more hiding packs of tablets and many other devious actions that need taking when these solps envelope you.

Stick at your recovery..........crazy dave

telling soneone

Crazy Dave thanks for your message. Since my post i have told my partner and he took it well but now he wonders if he has ever known the real me.......he has a point, and only time will tell. But, he will give me encouragement and support i know that now. I felt so bad, he thought i was going to tell him i was really sick or having an affair, so i think he was relieved to hear that it wasnt.
Anyway, its day 8 and the aches have gone.......hooray for that.
Deeno

Hi Deeno and welcome to this thread. Being an addict not only harms ourselves but those around us especially when like you and many other we choose to keep it secret, lots of sposes and family members have an idea but are unble to approach the situation so keep quiet. Some get sick and tired of the empty promises made ( il quit etc) some even participate or become enablers its a tough road to travel but its tougher when alone. Im pleased your partner is now aware of your addiction but can i suggest that you both look up as much as you can learn about what addiction does etc although you might know if your partner sees it for theirself they might be able to understand a bit of what you have been going through. On a lighter note well done its tough but worth it. Jaxxxxxx

Hiya,just a short message,been off the solps now for 34 hours.been a regular user,8 or 10 a day for about 3 years.
yesterday was not too bad just a bit washed out in the evening but slept quite well.
today feel a bit depressed,bit anxious,and head buzz
but could be worse,and not as bad as i expected
try to let you all know how i progress

Day 9

Thanks Jacky, i will look up as much as i can and let him read it too as i dont think he really understands how someone can become addicted to something you can readily buy over the counter and the withdrawal you can go through. As for me, I didnt realise either, just how many people are, and have been addicted to these; funny, i thought i was the only one until i started looking on the net and found this site! Still suffering from a little anxiety, mostly in the evenings, but i am hoping over time this will subside and i will feel so much better than i do now, and have felt over the last few years.
Deeno x