Solpadeine Addiction

oldroadie,
i'm not roadie but seem to be old tho'
i was on these for years after a neck injury either from rugby or coal hauling with my late dad.
i never believed that i would come through the other side but i have and feel so good now it's incredible.
keep us informed and we will monitor your progress as best we can.

downs523,
agree with wackyjacky tho', do not alter tablets just either cut down little by little or, as a few of us did, go cold turkey.
not pleasant but if you really want to help your partner support her however you both decide to come off these dreaded "solps"

don't forget we are all with you! :dance:

Thanks for the comments

Hi Wackjacky/crazydave,

Thanx for the comments, just an update on the first 24 hours. Went to my GP yesterday about as much help as a chocolate fireguard. Couldn't wait to get me out of the surgery. Spoke to NHS Direct before my 2-10 shift and they couldn't have been more helpful.

Every withdrawal symptom they quoted I'm getting, as they said it's like coming off coke, heroin etc. They said if the pain becomes too much take a soluble paracetamol without caffeine/codeine. have you tried to find a soluble paracetamol tablet.

1.PM went to work, body wracked with pain every nerve and sinew screaming for a white angel, but not going to succumb, luckily wife had some soluble paracetemol in the cupboard. eased the pain, refused to take any with me to work. Went through my shift aching, mind kept playing tricks with me, kept fighting. Finished shift, feeling quite good, only my knees and lower legs aching, showered, went to bed, managed to get a good nights sleep.

Day 2. Got up feeling like I'd been run over by a bus, but having no white devils(that's what the're called now) fought it. Again every nerve and sinew is screaming, pain in lower back legs not too bad, will take a paracetamol if the pain becomes unbearable, but will not take any more, will use my work shift to sweat it out, drinking plenty of water, to flush my system. As I said felt like brown smelly stuff first thing this morning, but starting to beat the pain barrier. will let you all know on progress 2Moro.

Cheers

oldroadie,

everything you have happening to you seem to have happened to most of us.
keep at it and it soon eases.
lower legs still irritate me but no more than the normal growing old pains seem to.
like i said all the best & carry on.

crazy dave

Oldroadie....we are gunning for you from this side of the pain barrier. Good for you!!

Keep us all in the loop in case there is anything all these brilliant conquistadors of those fizzing demons can help with.

Jade

thanks for the info not to change tabs, shes been using these for 3 days now i think and seems no different from the solphadine max so might just keep to them, still same on 6 a day which we will reduce in a week or so, maybe to 4.

Deep brown smelly stuff

Hi folks,

Just an update, now been ten days, felt OK over the weekend and till Tuesday night.Didn't sleep, woke up, raging pain, wifes voice going through me, getting no support from her what so ever. Flew into a rage when I came round surrounded by two ambulance men and two coppers. Couldn't understand what had happened. They showed me the wall where I'd head butted it, now a big hole in plasterboard, wife OK would do nothing to harm her. Taken to hospital, finally getting something sorted, had loads of tests, psychiatric nurse came to talk to me, I'm not alone, the doctor said all my kidney and liver functions were fine, just got to sort out these little devils. If this carries on I'm going to lose the four most important people in my life. Daughter phoned just, gave me both barrels, now in floods of tears, Cant take this any more, dreading going to work, just want to run away from all this. To add insult to injury, when my business went bust, now received letter for the van lease that they are taking me to court for the money despite the fact I'm now in a not very well paid job and looks like the house is going despite keeping up the mortgage. I don't know how low I can go. What ever I say or do never seems to help relieve the situation, I feel so pressured, god this year has been s. Knowing my luck 2010 will be the same. I don't know what to do, can't think straight, every time I see the light at the end of the tunnel someb** turns it off, fed up of taking one step forward and ten steps back. Sorry for the rant. Got to get back to patching the hole up.

Oldroadie

oldroadie,
it is six months vitually to the day since i took my last "solps"
it did get worse before it got better.
all my family have said that my attitude to them all has changed for the better.
the other problems you have will seem different in a world outside of the "solp" haze we all were in at one time.
please stick at it you will pull thru' it now you have help.
we all wanted to rant like you and probably did so best of luck old roadie

downs 523,
good to hear you are getting thru' it but when you get to not taking anything you know you are coming thru'.

best of luck to all of you

Oldroadie im so sorry i was not there for ya when you needed someone. Yes everything seems dark right now but even though you prop wont believe anyone it will get better, it just takes time and hard work hun. Dealing with life on lifes terms is never easy but its so much harder when you take mind altering drugs. Wade your way through and you will come out the other side. Im a believer in lists why not write down what your prioritys are right now i.e debt pills marriage and try to work your way through them. Giving up any addiction is not easy especially when you have other factors it just gives you an excuse to use. What you need right now is supoport have you considered going to yoru GP maybe get some outside proffessional help someone to talk you through your problems help you see what is the most impotant right now?. Now is not the time to go it alone hun you have come a long way into your recovery it would be a shame to give up on giving up. Let us know how best we can help you to help you. ((((((hugs))))))) incase ya need one. jaxxxxx

My heartfelt thanks

Dear wackyjacky/downs,

Thanks for the encouragement, as daft as it seems the hole in the wall is now 75% repaired. I've taken this as the first step to repairing all the broken things. I'm just about to write the most difficult email I shall ever write. The Hosital have given me contact details of my local counselling service and have suggested I write everthing down, my feelings etc, they said it would help me realise the issues I am facing. From there hopefully I can move forward. I'm just so grateful i've found this forum and hope others who are viewing but not participating have the courage to come forward and allow their feelings and issues to come out and relieve the burden.

Went to work actually enjoyed the shift for once but still raging pains and thoughts.

Thanks

oldroadie

Oldroadie hows things hun? hi to everyone else and merry christmas jaxxxxxxxxx

quick update were now down to 4 tablets of 8/500 co-codamol now, she takes 1 in morning and lunch then 2 before bed. 30 down to 4 so far...

very positive keep it up!!

happy new year all.

Happy new year Dave and all jaxx

I've just come across [url]this article[/url]. If only the info was put out beforehand many would not be in this predicament! Keep up the good work all who are trying to keep off it!

hi, im a long time codeine user and im trying to do the quit thing i've taken about 800mg to 1000mg of codeine a day for years. i really think this is the hardest drug to try and come off just because i can't seem to find any feeling of empowerment like i'm winning. i'm on night three of going cold turky and struggling on... i haven't been able to sleep for more than 40 mins at a time for the past 3 days due to the restless legs, the rest of the badness that comes with it i can handle its the loss of sleep due to my legs thats killing me. i am wondering how long this will last as i had to take huge steps to even get myself in a position to quit. i've quit my job put any money i have into my wifes account and we have had to move to the country where there are only 3 or 4 chems within an hours trip. i would like to thank all the people who posted there tales of woe here, sometimes reading the about other people has been behind my doing this. so thanks.... god i feel like crap, but ho ho life goes on. any advice about restless legs would be welcome. other than walking cause i have done that for short trips the whole time and it does help during the day... thanks

hunter-aus

these cold turkey symptons you seem to be experiencing are just like most of us had particularly in the early days of giving up the "drug"

It will get tougher before it begins to ease but after 6 or so months now of being drug free I am feeling quite "normal"

blood pressure has returned to normal which was becoming a worry

keep at it and if you are willing, let us know of your progress

it's good knowing someone else shares your experiences and to some it really does help.

:soapbox:

omg think the last few days have been the hardest in my life, up and down like a yo-yo. did anyone get really paniky feelings they have been very hard to handle, still not much chance of sleeping maybe had an hour last night then awake for 3 hours after a long night walk think i slept for another hour or two. becoming very worried about not being able to fall asleep... any advice. thanks...

a bit of advice please, my partner has cut from 30 solphadine a day to 6, we stuck to this for about 4 weeks maybe, now were on 4 a day, when is it best to cut down to 2 a day or even none at all?

also on new years eve i broke, i was for sure she was taking them behind my back, like at work and in the toilet, this is due to me finding empty solphadine packs on her car and work bag, which she insists are from before we decided to quit, i know there not, also i have heard her in the toilet a couple of times but she always has an answer saying there imodium tablets. i also found 3 empty strips of 10 solphadine in a bag of hers yesterday, again she said there from before, but there not as i have checked that bag more recently, she is in constant denial and will never admit it, she has even said if she has taken them she will leave, i have no real way of proving that shes doing it, i need to to finally put an end to all this suspicion.... help!!!!!

Hi Downs523,

Having cut down that much she should be ready to give up altogether now, however as you say you have suspicions that she is sneaking extras then perhaps not. If she has just halved the number she was taking it is a giant step!

In my opinion, I feel you have become far too embroiled and involved in her addiction, all for the right reasons, but it is not helping your own wellbeing. The way you write about it, saying 'we are down to 6 a day' worries me and makes me think that you need to step back a little. At the end of the day, she will give them up as and when she is ready and not before, like any addiction.

I had a drink problem and part of the 'excitement' at the beginning was trying to get away with it...without others knowing. I gave up when I was ready and did exactly the same with the old codeine products. You need to be there to be supportive when she has the withdrawals and aching legs, grotty moods and major mood swings, but it really won't help you or her by checking up on her so much, as hard as it may be to stop doing it.

I am sorry if I sound a little hard, but I say everything with the best intentions and from a great deal of experience.

Crabapple xx

Hello Dawns523,

Crabapple is so right....motivation to give up this addictive Solphadine, has to come from your girlfriend, to make a life long, change for the better.

Secrecy, denial, resitance are sings that she still has many benefits that far outweighs her giving it up.

Remember Solphadine not only has addictive Codine phospate, and common painkiller like Paracetamol..but also Caffeine..which she may be benefiting from for all sorts of purpose..like maintaining weight loss, keeping her alert, giving her energy and a certain upbeat vibe when she may be affected clinical depression..or even to avoid the horrid headaches when coming off it and so on and so forth!

You not only need to stepback a little to truly help her, but you could use your care and love for her in channelling your efforts in sitting her down to asking her "why she feels she has to take them..and how she is benefiting?" .

Then you have a common place to start really helping her..rather than rescuing her and feeling frustrated .

Good luck! I wish you both well .

with warm wishes

Vathani

Hi downs the advice you have been given above with reguards your own well-being has to be taken into consideration. Tapering for a lot of people is not a way forward due to the level of intake creeping up. As addicts we all assume once down to a reasonable level that we can control our intake this is not so. Can i make a suggestion please get her involved in this site herself let her do things for herself. good luck jaxxxxx

downs 523
good advice off wackyjacky, & the rest of the crew.

cold turkey was the only way for me as it showed commitment to wanting to stop taking these drugs.

my wife was supportive and eased me into giving them up.
supportive but not forceful.

get her involved in this page then we, as ex addicts can talk and advise her.

best of luck

Amazing Past Advice

Hi All! Long time no speak, hope all good and getting better!

Just signed in after a long but clean absence and hit the July 2007 pages with threads from Bloke_1981, Wackyjacky, Dallas etc...

Amazing info there. Hard science I find is always a great support in the battle. Understand the physics and chemistry of the addiction and the stealth and mystery of the problem is no more. All the easier to combat.

More please!

Jade

Hey great to see you and im pleased your still clean. jaxxxxx

not good...

today i have found an empty sleeve of solphadine max in her hand bag!!!!! when i confronted her she said she found it in her work jacket and it fell out, so she put it in her handbag... this has got to end, countless times i have found tablets or empties on her and everytime theres another excuse....she will never admit it, what do i do?

a result atlast???

yesterday i confronted my partner about the empty solphadine pack in her handbag, after about 10 mins of constant denial and semi arguing she finally broke down and admitted it to me that due to stress at work (new job) she took them a few days ago, she also told me that over the past month she has been taking them on and off.

im so glad she has admitted this too me, even tho i have been fed a pack of lies and arguments have been caused for no reason. i just want to help her, i had to push her hard to get this from her, im so glad i did in the end. now i just hope she realises what damage this is causing on our relationship. whats everyones views on thes? is this progress? or not.
thanks

Hi hun do you feel its progress? if you feel you are making head way then thats good you know her best. in my opinion you can only help someone willing to be helped. Addiction is a life long process there is no quick fix and its dam hard work. Maybe its time to ask yourseof how to actually help yourself? you can love someone but not actually like them at times, you will feel resentment that your help goes un-heeded. At this stage i think you should be concerned with your well being and quality of life. Altimatums wont work, bribery wont work and arguing will only cause more denial. Im sorry if its sounds all negative but unfortunitly an active addict,s life is very negative and distructive to themselves and those around them. Try to see if she will seek proffessional help. jaxxx

Hey Peeps! I really hope everyone is well.

Yes, Jadesamantha shamed me into it :D. I thought I really should write!

There are times when life gets messy, you give yourself a week’s thinking time and before you know it three months have passed! My apologies for the absence.

Anyway, what I failed with in timing, I'm hoping I partly make up for in quantity and quality with the following thoughts:

Jack

:1kis:XX <--- for the girls
:047:…and manly handshakes for the boys!

_______________________________________________

There are only two reasons why people do things:

The first reason is because doing it will move them closer to what they want.

The second reason is because doing it will move them away from what they DON'T want.

If they don't do anything, it's because their aggregate belief is that they are OK in the situation or circumstance that they find themselves. (They may not like where they are, but they don't dislike it enough to do anything about it. The reality is that many of us learn to live with things in our life that we don't really like).

**oOo**

This thread of the forum is about Solpadeine Addiction.

It brings together those people who have moved, or who want to move away from Solpadeine Addiction (or addiction to similar drugs). It brings together those people who want to move closer to a lifestyle and life experience with greater feeling of health, personal accountability, emotional stability and a higher degree of personal physical responsibility.

If you read the stories in this thread, you can see these principles at work:

There are the people who have moved away from the feelings of guilt and shame that they associate with their addiction. There are people who have moved away from the financial pressures that the addiction causes or contributes to. There are people who have moved toward the feeling of freedom from addiction, or have moved toward the feeling of gaining control over their life again.

**oOo**

For many of the people who help and support on this site, that move has already been made.

They know that the decision to DO something, and the ACT of doing something about their addiction isn't always easy, but in each case they know that it has been worthwhile.

In other words, the people who help and support on this site know what it's like to go through the withdrawal, they can tell you what to expect - even how unpleasant it can be. They can also tell you that it won't last, and that whilst it may feel like you're going to die, you're really not going to die, you're simply moving through an unpleasant transition period toward a much, much better life here on good old planet Earth!

Most importantly, they can tell you that they've done it, and that other people have done it, and that YOU can do it too!

**oOo**

The help these people give, is supportive, it is understanding, it is encouraging, it is comforting and yes, it is even loving. It helps the recovering addict move through the pain and discomfort of withdrawal toward a much, much better life.

They give the support, understanding, encouragement, comfort and love because they know instinctively from their own experience that it's exactly what the recovering addict needs. And I do mean EXACTLY.

The recovering addict needs a non-threatening, trusting environment. You won't see posts on this site that say, "you'd better do this or else such-and-such will happen". You don't see, posts asking whether newbies have 'slipped'. You won't see posts asking, "Have you been taking tablets secretly"? And you won't see posts saying, "I want you to agree to a reduction of...".

**oOo**

For the people who have come off Solpadeine (and similar) the decision has in every case ultimately been a personal one. This forum helps people ready to consider making that decision.

**oOo**

There are other people who visit this forum.

They maybe want more information about painkiller addiction generally. They maybe have concerns about someone they know, and want to know what's involved in coming off the tablets. They maybe even care deeply for the addict and want to do all they can to help them get clean.

All of them great reasons to visit the site.

But, to those people I would say this:

An addict is a person. They are still deserving of your love and respect.

If you want them to come off the tablets, I understand. I can sympathise. I can empathise. But ultimately, I have to say that coming off the tablets is YOUR agenda, not necessarily theirs.

If you are to honestly love and respect the addict, you will recognise that they may have their own agenda. They may not know what it is. They may not fully understand it. But never the less, it is their agenda, and you should respect their right to have it even if you don’t agree with it. You are not there to control them or to run their life for them. If you do that you are merely keeping them in a position of low self-esteem and dependency. It will be YOU running their life instead of the tablets. From their point of view, that situation may not be better. You may also be highlighting an unhealthy need to control in your own life.

If the addict's agenda is to come off the tablets then this forum is here.

If the addict's agenda is something else, then do what we do:

Hold up the picture of what life is like without the tablets. Do it with tenderness, understanding and love.

Why? Because, there are only two reasons why people do things:

And the first reason is because doing it will move them closer to what they want. Holding up the picture of what life is like without the tablets is showing them what they really ultimately want.
_________________________________________

Jack

Hiya Jack i guess i should follow that with a song lol what an exellent post. I always look forward to yours and others contributions on here. Sharing is good for the soul and you have one of the kindest. jaxxx

Wow JACK!!

What a post.

I thought after my post on 10th jan that we were closed down?
No replies for a month almost.

Good to know that we can still offer support to people needing support, particularly downs523 who has to cope with a partner who suffers.

Shows that even tho' addicts suffer their partners feel suffering of a different type.

Jack says that others look into the forum for their type of painkiller addiction, I always note that there are other "guests" logged onto the forum whenever I look into it.

lol
Crazy dave