thank you for your help on my previous post regarding my upcoming operation, stating post op I will only be able to take codeine.
One reply stated it could actually help my restless legs, I’m going to the doctors this morning before my op and n the 27th of this month I would like to try codeine, as long as i carnt become addicted to it, I would like to decrease my Pragabalin, I too have gained weight, I don’t eat much, don’t drink try and exercise, suffer from arthritis.
I’m not a medic but I think using codeine at night while we are sleeping is not going to make us addicted. Right?
There is a possibility of “needing” it to help symptoms but that’s dependence not addiction.
I’d also like to reduce my pregabalin. I don’t think it helps the legs, but maybe helps the sleep? I’m not sure.
I take cocodamol which is 30% codeine. I have it for severe back pain, but I have discovered that if I don't take my full dose each day, it definitely has a bad effect on my RLS.
So I believe it can be helpful.
I've taken one or two pills of codeine-tylenol at night for the past three years. No sign of addiction yet!
Many people report codeine helps RLS. If you take it for pain for a short while after an operation I doubt it will become addictive. I have taken Codeine for back pain and never found any inclination to continue.
Hi Hublot, I have a prescription for 2 x 15mg Codeine per night for my restless legs I take both when it kicks in usually an hour after falling asleep. It's not perfect and I usually have to get up at least once more through the night, maybe have a cup of tea and then I'm able to settle again and sleep. I went to my GPa couple of years ago because I was concerned about self medicating with cocodamol and I was pretty sure the paracetamol wasn't affecting my RLS and also generally concerned about taking the codeine. My GP reassured me that 30mg Codeine was a low dose and should be fine and if it worked for me it was likely to have less side effects than taking Pragablin. A few months ago I had a fall and hurt my hip and I needed more pain killers. I suggested to my GP that maybe I should try Pragablin (the neurologist had advised that this would be a better alternative to Codeine). I tried it for a week or so but Pragablin really didn't work for me. It did hit the hip pain and enable me to sleep but it left me feeling completely ragged and slow throughout the day. So I'm back on the Codeine. I'm consciously keeping to the 30mg but never have any desire through the day to take more (however I only suffer from RL at night). I have a good diet and make sure I eat plenty of veg, fruit and fibre to avoid the possible side affect of constipation that Codeine can cause. I'm pretty fit and active for 70. There is info I'm sure on the RLS website stating that Codeine used for RLS rarely causes addiction. Please do look that up for yourself, I don't want to misquote. To conclude I'm very happy taking Codeine for my RL and for me personally I have no side effects or feeling that I'm at risk of addiction by a desire to take more than my prescription. My GP said when I told her I was struggling with the Pragablin that sometimes it doesn't suit people. I guess that the same can probably be said for many drugs. I'm lucky this small amount of Codeine works for me. I hope some of this info helps you.
Thank your for that, if codeine works i would like to decrease the Pragabalin , your for ever increasing it, as you say you feel very sluggish and with me bloated.
I'm glad you found something that worked for you but would like to say something about your trying pregabalin for others who might read your reply. It takes 3 weeks for pregabalin to become fully effective so would not know whether it helped after 1 week and you may not have taken enough and you also didn't have time to determine if the side effects would lessen or disappear.
Hi borrowedlight, Thank you for your post above, I appreciate hearing positive experiences with Codeine. My main concern is difficulty falling and staying asleep as I reduce Ropinirole. I will start the new Codeine dose today 2 x 15mg from GP, having previously used Solpadine Max, which contains paracetamol and caffeine—both of which I want to avoid.
I am withdrawing from Ropinirole due to augmentation and impulse control disorders (ICD). I have reduced my dose from 3.5mg in Nov/Dec to 1mg but find each step harder. I am hesitant to start Pregabalin or Gabapentin and hope to manage restless legs syndrome (RLS) with Codeine alone.
You are absolutely right, it was my personal experience and choice not to persevere. It was a very low dose of pregabalin and I only tolerated it for a week. I know that for many people it works well. Good to point out for others, thanks.
I took Codeine for 12 years for pain with no issues of addiction. In 2000 my dr said I must switch to this new "non-addictive" medicine called Oxycontin. I did not want it or like it. I did get addicted to it!
Again, no problem for 12 years of taking Codeine.
Thank you fir your reply a great help
Hublot, are you still taking iron?
No, and now with my operation in just over 2 weeks I don’t think I can take it.
No worries. It’s just a supplement. You can start and stop at will. When you’re ready give it another whirl.
Codeine 
Codeine
Oxycodone, Pramipexole and Codeine.
some advice on Codeine and Ropinirole.
Codeine for RLS
