Long term use of codeine as pain killer? I have been prescribed 30/500mgs of codeine co codamol for over 20 years severe pain.

[Molefosey]

I do know that should i have to stop this for any reason that i would experience a bad withdrawal BUT if my pain ever came to be under control without the use of these weak opiates how bad would the withdrawal be or have any of you came through it I know i am PHYSICALLY hooked on this - no doubt of that but hate to think that this drug controls me maureen

[Bevvy]

It’s a difficult one isn’t it. I have similar pain meds to you and plenty of times even they are not enough to help the pain 😢. I try to use other pain medications or other methods to aid my pain and only use strong pain meds if absolutely need them. Am worried like you about dependency. Also am only 53yrs and worry where I would go if meds stopped working….. 🤷‍♀️

[etheral]

If the meds are working and you have an acceptable level of pain, I see no reason to stop them. However taking acetaminophen for that long would warrent a blood test to make sure you have no liver damage. If you were to stop them suddenly, you would probably experience stomach cramps, sweating, nausea and feel poorly for a few weeks. You could mitigate this by gradually reducing your dose. Best, etheral

[AML80]

If you decide to stop taking these drugs you need to do it very slowly.

[Evonne02]

Hi Molefosey, I had that dose x2 four times a day. Also had highest dose of Gabapentin and Zomorph. New GP practice were stunned and disgusted that my old practice had me like that for years rather than referring me to hospital as I have IBS and should never have been prescribed them. Cocodamol is no good for your bowels, especially if you have bowel issues. In conjunction with the NHS Pain Clinic I slowly reduced the Cocodamol and just had very minor side effects. I had to speak to my new GP regularly throughout to check that I was ok.

I had acute pains and was told I had Diverticulitis as a result of the Cocodamol so this made me determined to come off it. Miraculously the majority of my pains in my stomach went. Now if my pains get really bad I take 2 paracetamol which isn't that often.

Please speak to your GP about it as well as support to reduce the dose. Can you let us know how you get on? All the best 😍

[Jenles]

I also take heavy duty pain medications - currently Tramadol and Gabapentin, although I have had morphine in the past and cocodomal for a short time. When I came off the morphine - at my request - the GP worked out the dosage reduction over several weeks. The ccodomal was quicker as I wasn’t taking it for long. My problem is that ai need to take something pretty heavy- duty as the pain is unrelenting even with them and unbearable without.It’s always a difficult call since you don’t know what your reaction will be beforehand if you do,stop a drug.

[Peileen]

Hi Molefosey I have likewise been on codeine 2 x 30mg codeine twice a day and 300mg Gabapentin 3x a day for years. They are of great benefit to me. I prefer to take the codeine and paracetamol separately in case I might need a lemsip and don’t want to add to paracetamol load. Also the Codeine alone tablets are a very small size and I prefer the capsules or soluble for paracetamol. Pain relief is limited. Chronic pain won’t go away. A doctor recently suggested Nortryptiline at night and Baclofen, a muscle relaxant during the day. OMG! It was like being in a cloud. And with the Nortryptiline I was wakening after 2 hours sleep every night. I felt terrible. It is really an anti depressant. I couldn’t think straight and lost motivation. I stopped the Nortryptiline after a month ad the Baclofen after 6weeks. Thank goodness for codeine, paracetamol and Gabapentin. None of them affect my clarity of thinking. Why would you think of ditching codeine. The opioid crisis is so different from the likes of us taking a reasonable dose for pain. Watch some of the documentaries about the opioid crisis. Handfuls of pills so people can continue to go to work often starts the problem. Doctors refuse these massive prescriptions and people turn to street drugs. Where opioids have been stopped being prescribed the figures shoe increased deaths from street drugs. Don’t worry about these stories of addiction and suffering. We’re not in that category. I can’t take anti inflammatories because I am on anticoagulants. It’s anti inflammatories, opioids, paracetamol, off label anti convulsants or off label antidepressants. Good luck!

[Aoibheann]

I'm on 600mg daily of Pregablin, Tramadol, Methocarbamol and anti inflammatories. Advised to take Paracetamol with my Tramadol which I do. On Pregablin about 30 years now. Have a Happy ☺ and Healthy New Year.