Codeine withdrawal?

[thirtybubba]

Hey y'all... sorry to intrude in y'alls forum.

Normally, I'm just an alcoholic. Haven't done drugs much since I was a teenager, and I could always put them down... liquor is another story.

But I went and did something mighty stupid last night, and started popping codeine pills. I thought I had a reason, but right now I gotta say it wasn't worth it.

Was always smart enough to stay away from opiates back in the day, mostly 'cause I was born addicted to heroin and I figured it'd be the thing that'd do me in--too much like comfort, that whole back-to-the-womb thing. I don't know. My brother started on Oxy, and well, let's just say it seems my theory was right.

But right now, I'm sick, and I tried to run a search on codeine, but I got so much stuff and nothing answered what I'd like to know right now... so I apologize.

But, how long does this last, any surprises to look forward to, and anything else y'all could tell me about this, I'd appreciate it. I musta done 20 or so... popping them 2 at a time about every hour. Before that I was sober 8 days. I never been through withdrawals like this, and I've had a few touch and go alcohol withdraws.

I already know not to do it again (might not stop me, I've got issues I reckon), but I'm sweating cold sweat (?!?) and can't last more than a few minutes without being sick. And if I drink water, it comes back up even faster.

Please help me, if y'all would be so kind...

-TB, not having much fun at all

[NAchic]

Hi thirtybubba

some w/d symptoms would be sweating, vomiting, restless legs, overall flu symptoms. with intense anxiety.along with not being able to sleep. I just reached 2weeks clean from oxy, and i have started to feel better today. how many days have you been taking the pain meds? if it was only one day full of pills which is the impression i got from your post, i wouldn't think w/d would kick in, but i may be wrong. I hope your feeling better, and please, please, please get rid of them.

[thirtybubba]

Thanks.

Yeah, only one day. I thought like you, that it wouldn't be any withdrawals. One day drinking, I wouldn't expect withdrawals. Boy was I wrong here. I guess I overdid it.

I don't even take asprin, and I jump right into this. I guess it's a very clear lesson in case I had any lingering doubts about my addictiveness, which I don't think I had, but I'll remember this for a while I think.

The pills are gone. Unfortunately, they all went in me.

[emmer]

hmmmm, I've taken 1000's and 1000's of codeine pills and never felt withdrawal form one day of using.

IMHO, I don;t think it's possible. I can see (maybe) a bit of hangover, but there is no way you would be in withdrawal.

[thirtybubba]

Don't get me wrong, that makes sense, but I am sick... and I wasn't sick before.

Never threw up so much in my life.

I suppose I'll go back to being just confused.

Thank y'all for the time.

[wanttolive]

Do the codeine pills have acetaminophin in them? It is very hard on your liver. Maybe a liver already unhappy from alcohol would get more irritated with the addition of acetaminophin to the mix. I'm not doctor but when I told mine how much I had been driniking when I was quitting he told me in no uncertain terms to avoid that stuff. It is in many prescription and over the counter meds. If you took 20 in one night on an unhealthy liver and got those symptoms I think you should go to the md and get checked out. Your discomfort may be the combos you've been doing.

Best of luck and make that appt to get checked out! Sooner than later if no improvement.

[SteppingItUp]

Hey ThirtyBubba!

I think I might know what you're talking about -- no acquired tolerance and then a very heavy dose all at once -- you should expect to feel crappy, and you should be grateful that you're not dead.

Years before I started abusing drugs in an even bigger way, I did something similar to what you described. I had bottles of opiates left over after a scalding accident, and I would take a pill on occasion. Then I decided it would be an okay idea to take 13 of them in 1 night (Vicodin). I didn't sleep much, but I can remember feeling rather sick and "off" the next day.

Does the codeine you took contain Tylenol? Excessive amounts of Tylenol can also be dangerous (and sickening), and you wouldn't be doing your liver any favors by putting it in on top of the work it needs to be doing to repair itself after prolongued alcohol abuse.

20 is a lot. Cold sweating, temperature alternation, nausea and vomiting are classic opiate withdrawal symptoms, but people usually won't go through those to any serious degree unless they've been taking them for an extended period of time. With 20, though, it could very well be that you're feeling some acute effects with it. Rest, take in fluids, soak in a nice, hot bath.

If you're really feeling sick, call your doctor. That would probably be the best thing to do no matter what.

I would take the out-of-nowhere pill popping very seriously, especially since you're still in the early stages of dealing with your alcoholism. It's very easy for us to transfer our behaviors into other things. Do everything you can to make sure you don't go into something else that could be just as harmful to you long-term.

[emmer]

yes, taking it with booze is bad. I would NEVER recommend I used to take 60(or more) tylenol 1's a day,but i never mixed it with booze.

Booze compounds the affect of tylenol and causes some really severe liver damage or complete liver failure.
The tylenol is bad enough and can kill a liver, but with booze added to the mix? Not good.

Whe i used to take a S load of the things, some times as much or more than 100 (in a day) it would take a few days to start feeling better.

try to stay away from the booze and the coedine too

[thirtybubba]

I fell asleep shortly after posting that, and slept for almost 12 hours. I guess I slept off the nasty side effects. Haven't slept 12 hours in I can't tell you when.

SteppingItUp, you may have the answer with the acute effects... I don't know either, obviously, but it's starting to look like that. I feel fine, just a little weak is all.

Yes, there was Tylenol in them, and oh yeah, my liver is half shot already. Dr told me that already. 20 years of hard drinking, all kinds of drugs for the first half of that... Never even crossed my mind that mix (Tylenol & bad liver) would be dangerous when I did it, but yeah, come to think of it, I knew that.

Shoot, I'm always grateful to be alive, this is just one more time... Can't keep doing this, pushing the limits here, obviously there will be a terminal point. Doubt I'll do this again, luckily for me there was far more bad than good out of the experience... But yeah, I have a lot to think about here.

I thank y'all for your insight and take care,
TB