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Melbourneguy · 03-03-2009, 11:35 PM

Hi everyone

Firstly, I'm very sorry if this is the wrong place to start this thread. I'm terrible at internet-related things.

Secondly, this is the first time I have ever 'opened up' about what I've been going through for the past 2 years so I'm not entirely sure of what I should say.

I have quite a terrible codeine (Nurofen Plus) addiction, which sees me taking roughly an entire pack of 24 in just 24 hours. Today is my first day off them entirely (nearly 20 hours and counting) though I'd reduced my use over the past 2 weeks (which has resulted in me suffering from flu-like symptoms for about a week).

By looking through other codeine threads, I noticed that symptoms seem to be quite relative with them lasting from a week to a few months. I was wondering if anyone could estimate how bad mine would get, considering my use of 24 NP's a day?

I have flu like symptoms, cold shakes and sweats, dizziness and a dull headache. I'm quite anxious about how bad the symptoms will get as I work full time and I really don't want my detox to interfere with my job. I work in a hospital, so any flu-like symptoms are taken very seriously as they become a public health risk when around people with lowered immune systems. That means when I appear to be sick, I have to be sent home. I don't want to shift my addiction onto something else by taking another drug to combat the symptoms, so is there any way of controlling them naturally?

I drank quite heavily before I started using Codeine, so now I am over-joyed by the prospect of being chemical free for the first time in 5 years. My abuse of codeine started when I finished university and went to work in a major hospital, where I had free access to medications like valium and Panadene Forte - though I avoided valium as I knew how hard it is for people to get off it. My supply of meds stopped when I changed jobs and I turned to Nurofen Plus. I've become terrified that I'm on the verge of giving myself an ulcer, or kidney failure. I dare not even imagine how much money I've blown on my stupid addiction as well.

So sorry for the very introspective post, but I really needed to get all of that off my chest. This addiction has ruled my life for 2 years and I'm sick of it dictating my actions. I'm sick of pharmacy visits and being constipated!

If anyone has any advice, then I would love to hear it. I don't know anyone in real life that has been through anything like this. I'll be so happy when I'm finally free, I already feel a lot prouder of myself just for making it this far.

Thank you.

03-03-2009, 11:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Melbourneguy Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3	Codeine detox Hi everyone Firstly, I'm very sorry if this is the wrong place to start this thread. I'm terrible at internet-related things. Secondly, this is the first time I have ever 'opened up' about what I've been going through for the past 2 years so I'm not entirely sure of what I should say. I have quite a terrible codeine (Nurofen Plus) addiction, which sees me taking roughly an entire pack of 24 in just 24 hours. Today is my first day off them entirely (nearly 20 hours and counting) though I'd reduced my use over the past 2 weeks (which has resulted in me suffering from flu-like symptoms for about a week). By looking through other codeine threads, I noticed that symptoms seem to be quite relative with them lasting from a week to a few months. I was wondering if anyone could estimate how bad mine would get, considering my use of 24 NP's a day? I have flu like symptoms, cold shakes and sweats, dizziness and a dull headache. I'm quite anxious about how bad the symptoms will get as I work full time and I really don't want my detox to interfere with my job. I work in a hospital, so any flu-like symptoms are taken very seriously as they become a public health risk when around people with lowered immune systems. That means when I appear to be sick, I have to be sent home. I don't want to shift my addiction onto something else by taking another drug to combat the symptoms, so is there any way of controlling them naturally? I drank quite heavily before I started using Codeine, so now I am over-joyed by the prospect of being chemical free for the first time in 5 years. My abuse of codeine started when I finished university and went to work in a major hospital, where I had free access to medications like valium and Panadene Forte - though I avoided valium as I knew how hard it is for people to get off it. My supply of meds stopped when I changed jobs and I turned to Nurofen Plus. I've become terrified that I'm on the verge of giving myself an ulcer, or kidney failure. I dare not even imagine how much money I've blown on my stupid addiction as well. So sorry for the very introspective post, but I really needed to get all of that off my chest. This addiction has ruled my life for 2 years and I'm sick of it dictating my actions. I'm sick of pharmacy visits and being constipated! If anyone has any advice, then I would love to hear it. I don't know anyone in real life that has been through anything like this. I'll be so happy when I'm finally free, I already feel a lot prouder of myself just for making it this far. Thank you.