I know this is not something I should be doing, but I have been reaching and begging the doctors for help with my chronic pain and they have really not been any help, I’ve finally been referred to a rheumatologist but the waiting list is so long. Anyway on one of my very bad days my friend offered to try her codeine to see if it would help, and it helped so much in fact it made me feeling completely normal and all the pain disappeared (I took x2 30mg)
She had a lot of codeine at home as she doesn’t use it anymore and said I can have it until I get referred. I’m aware it’s addictive and not good to take long term, so I have been taking it when I really need it,it’s such an amazing feeling that I have something that takes the unwell feeling away.
I can now make plans again and visit family and pop out to the shops. I can sit at home and smile and feel like a normal person.
However I’m scared because obviously this is going to run out and I cannot bare to go back to not having something to take the pain away, do you think it’s likely the GP will prescribe me this long term? My friend was prescribed it for many years with no trouble. I’m scared other pain relief won’t work. Can I be honest to my doctor and say I have taken codeine from a friend or will I get in lots of trouble?
I’m so scared as I’m finally able to be pain free and I can’t bare living in pain all the time again.
Thank you
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Coleyyywo
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Sorry your Doctor put you into this spot where you are taking someone else’s prescription for pain… shame on them but in my opinion you should come clean to your doctor and explain to the Doctor if you would have helped me when I asked you I may not have resorted to taking my friends meds.
Its very easy to become addicted to medication when your in chronic pain even if you never intended for it to happen … My sister in law hurt her back in and accident years ago and she got hooked on pain pills not because she wanted too but because she was in relentless pain everyday and I can tell you it destroyed her life and her body she is 53 and in liver failure from these pain pills and its not looking good.
Firstly, You should never take any drug prescribed for someone else. Your friend should have taken them back to the chemists to be disposed of.
It is Illegal for a person to supply a drug to another person unless they are a doctor and with a prescription only. Codeine is technically a Controlled drug, so your friend could be accused of dealing.
How do you know the drugs were still in date?
Out of date drugs can cause side effects in even the person they were prescribed for. It was incredibly dangerous.
Give them back to your friend and tell her to take them back for disposal.
You could confess to your GP, and he'll probably give you a telling off, but if you explain just how much pain you are in he may be able to give you something different.
Please don't be so foolish again. I was a nurse until I retired, so I know the regulations pretty well.
I hope you can get something to help from your GP, but don't continue with these pills.
Hello Mindori - you can buy 500 paracetamol and 8mg codeine over the counter. If you go to your regular pharmacy they can advise if suitable with other mix of meds/conditions you may be prescribed. You could try these and see if they give you some relief. Then when you go to Docs you could ask for stronger codeine. When I was in my teens we could buy 100% codeine over the counter which was great for menstruation pain. We took 2. I do not know their strength but to my sisters and I they gave a way of not missing a day off work as we not paid when ‘sick’ and wages very low. I have found most rheumatism/arthritis meds make me woozy & feel I am in fog. but not so with codeine. Good luck
Have you looked into seeing a rhumatoidologist privately to get seen quicker. It’s money of course but once seen you can ask to be re referred back to NHS.
It’s not good to take prescribed meds it could do you some damage. It could also cause you and your friend some issues if the doctor reports it.
You can get over the counter codeine which isn’t as strong but may be an option to manage symptoms until prescribed.
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Weak Legs and very tired 
Can't honestly cope with the brokenness of me, completely and utterly at the end of my rope 
Possible nerve pain 
Peripheral neuropathy or what 