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Hello again, Emmer
Good to hear you are going forward in the right direction.
Ideally I would always advise against use of any other medication here - I truly do not believe that doctors who prescribe anti depressants and benzodiazepines are doing their patients any good in the long run. (But I understand that everyone is different and must take proper medical advice. Sometimes though, it may be prudent not to go to a doctor - use your own judgement. Most doctors are not well versed in problems of addiction. I have recently had experience of observing babies born to heroin addicts - and these babies suffer withdrawal symptoms at birth - but the situation is often so much worse as doctors often prescribe a benzo during the pregnancy - and while a baby can be easily detoxed off heroin - it is far far harder to detox the baby from the ativan/valium/klonopin or whatever. And you would be appalled at how easily doctors prescribe benzos - and to heroin addicts too.)
This problem of withdrawal from codeine is a problem of the brain readjusting to having had the codeine taken away and so needing to produce - in the correct quantities - the neurotransmitters that the codeine replaced. You see posts in here about serotonin, gaba, endorphins...etc - these are the naturally produced chemicals which allow the nerve cells of the brain to "communicate" and send the right messages for the body to function properly. When you take codeine - the codeine replaces these transmitters and so the brain stops producing them. When codeine is taken away again - the brain gets a shock and starts to produce these again - but it takes about 5 - 7 days for the production to be adjusted and corrected. Hence - the withdrawal symptoms which are similar to flu. The production of other substances like adrenaline etc has to be balanced by these other neurotransmitters - and in those few days when you have symptoms this isnt done - the naturally occuring pain killers (endorphins etc) are missing and you suffer withdrawal. Now I know this is an oversimplified explanation - but I am trying to state the case for not taking any other chemicals at this time................................. the brain just never gets the opportunity to figure all this out for its self. I just dont know why so few doctors take this approach. After all - withdrawal from codeine is not like withdrawal from methodone or sub or benzos - it is not drawn out - it is a very short straight forward process (altho I know its certainly very unpleasant!!) - and is over in 5 - 7 days. Surely its worth it to get thro these few days to achieve your goal? Some things in life just have to be bourne? There really is not a pill to fix every problem - altho to look at US society - you would think there was.
Emmer - good luck! I hope you find some help in NA - but if you dont - keep looking - there is plenty of information and help at hand - you just need to find the support which works for you.
woops
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