Help - Trying not to relapse
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 95
Help - Trying not to relapse
Hi I'm new to the forum. Three weeks ago I went ct after taking 20 - 24 nurofen plus tablets (12.8mg codeine and 200mg ibuprofen) daily. Withdrawal was tough and I suffered mainly with RSL, insomnia and chronic lack of energy.
Now my main problem is my fear of relapsing. even though I believe my life is better I miss the codeine buzz. Will it ever get easier?
Now my main problem is my fear of relapsing. even though I believe my life is better I miss the codeine buzz. Will it ever get easier?
Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 23
Cista - Welcome to the forum. I'm on Day 8 so I don't know yet about easier (I sure hope it gets easier) but I do know you have the strength to do this. Post lots. This group is great - you can be honest and real. Share the struggle.
Stay strong today.
Stay strong today.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 95
Thx for your replies. I joined the group because I needed to know there is hope to beat codeine. I went through ct alone but I think staying clean is better with wise words and encouragement from others who understand the despair and self doubt addiction can create.
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: rockville
Posts: 126
Cista, I was on a long term ultram prescription (tramadol) for my bad discs in my back. I was on them for over a year. I liked the way the made me feel. Especially my mood. I won't lie about that.
I went off them in 2013 and suffered miserable withdrawal. I mean really bad. Stomach pains, awful moods, difficulty concentrating, to name a few. Doctor swore up and down that tramadol isn't additive. Total BS. Just google tramadol withdrawal. It's bad.
Anyways, the stomach pain and tough physical symptoms resolved completely in 2 weeks. But the mental stuff took nearly 2 months to completely go away. Apparently, tramadol (and other pain killers) screw up serotonin balance in the brain so when you go off them there is a price to pay.
The "life is better" feeling could potentially be part of that. It definitely corrects itself over time if that is the case. But you have to pass that time without taking pills for sure. Stay strong.
I went off them in 2013 and suffered miserable withdrawal. I mean really bad. Stomach pains, awful moods, difficulty concentrating, to name a few. Doctor swore up and down that tramadol isn't additive. Total BS. Just google tramadol withdrawal. It's bad.
Anyways, the stomach pain and tough physical symptoms resolved completely in 2 weeks. But the mental stuff took nearly 2 months to completely go away. Apparently, tramadol (and other pain killers) screw up serotonin balance in the brain so when you go off them there is a price to pay.
The "life is better" feeling could potentially be part of that. It definitely corrects itself over time if that is the case. But you have to pass that time without taking pills for sure. Stay strong.
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PA
Posts: 1,053
It will get easier but who doesn't like the codine high - that's why we get hooked.
What we don't like is the dependency and the withdrawls when we can't score some and the overall feeling like our life is now controlled by the pills and hte lack of money and the fact that we can't go too far from our stash (no vacations unless you have a supply etc) The fact that the habit is just getting stronger and stronger.
That's why we quit and once it's been awhile the remembering the high should fade. Stay strong.
What we don't like is the dependency and the withdrawls when we can't score some and the overall feeling like our life is now controlled by the pills and hte lack of money and the fact that we can't go too far from our stash (no vacations unless you have a supply etc) The fact that the habit is just getting stronger and stronger.
That's why we quit and once it's been awhile the remembering the high should fade. Stay strong.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 95
Sorry it was meant for segcurly congrats on 8 days.
I documented all of my ct days and hope to share them one day. I found it quite therapeutic and also a definite reminder of how physically and mentally challenging withdrawal can be. But it also helped me see how after the first few really nasty days it does very slowly get better.
I documented all of my ct days and hope to share them one day. I found it quite therapeutic and also a definite reminder of how physically and mentally challenging withdrawal can be. But it also helped me see how after the first few really nasty days it does very slowly get better.
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 750
Welcome Cista,
I used to take that OTC codeine stuff too. The opiates gave me energy and drive, but the prison it put me in was not worth it. The prison of relying on it daily otherwise being too sick to function. I went to such great lengths to secure it.
It did get better for me. The brain naturally produces those same chemicals, but when we provide them through pills, it stops producing them and relies on the pills to bring that chemical. It can take days to weeks to months for them to get back to their proper levels. I am 5+ months clean from methadone and feel for the most part better, but learning to deal with life without chemical coping is a skill I am still learning and getting used to. Definitely worth it though!!! Never going back to opiates!
Keep up the good work and stick around here, this place helps me so much.
I used to take that OTC codeine stuff too. The opiates gave me energy and drive, but the prison it put me in was not worth it. The prison of relying on it daily otherwise being too sick to function. I went to such great lengths to secure it.
It did get better for me. The brain naturally produces those same chemicals, but when we provide them through pills, it stops producing them and relies on the pills to bring that chemical. It can take days to weeks to months for them to get back to their proper levels. I am 5+ months clean from methadone and feel for the most part better, but learning to deal with life without chemical coping is a skill I am still learning and getting used to. Definitely worth it though!!! Never going back to opiates!
Keep up the good work and stick around here, this place helps me so much.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 95
Justincredible I think that's my biggest problem atm - coping with life while I wait for full recover. I find when I lack energy my brain tries to rationalise using codeine to give me energy.
I nearly gave in to it two night ago. I got to the front of the pharmacy and just about walked in before I thought what the hell am I doing.
I nearly gave in to it two night ago. I got to the front of the pharmacy and just about walked in before I thought what the hell am I doing.
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