Feeling a bit duped

[ChilliGirl]

How can you get addicted to Grandpa? Its just paracetamol and aspirin, isnt it? No Codeine.

Grandpa is asprin.

Though not as addictive as codiene, it still is. Watching someone taking over 20 powders a day is scary.

Paracetamol eats away at your liver. That is why regular consumption of panado is bad.

For mild headaches I drink lots of water, as I've found they happen when really busy, so not enough fluids taken.

For migraines I use really strong stuff or see a chyro. The latter if it persists for a few days and meds only help reduce the eina head for up to 6 hours. Fortunately migraines only happen 2 - 3 times a year. Feeling due to even mild light around you is not fun, and driving is a curse. Strong meds and a 3 - 4 hour sleep is best.

 

[Datura]

Holy Cr#p that is low, I think mine was a little higher.
I didn't realize what was happening, the one minute I was walking around and the next I couldn't even get out of bed
Worst experience ever.

It's really bad. I won't get too graphic but the blood started coming out of everywhere. People don't realise how much damage off the shelf stuff does. Mine was a combination of alcohol and grandpa abuse (used the grandpa to dumb down my hangovers).

 

[The_Unbeliever]

For mild headaches I drink lots of water, as I've found they happen when really busy, so not enough fluids taken.

This. Water is the best. Forget the coffee, tea, cooldrink.

Your body need to flush out the chemicals, and coffee (and some cooldrinks) will only impede the process.

If you're really cold, and need something warm to drink, get chicken noodle soup and water it down a bit.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

It's really bad. I won't get too graphic but the blood started coming out of everywhere. People don't realise how much damage off the shelf stuff does. Mine was a combination of alcohol and grandpa abuse (used the grandpa to dumb down my hangovers).

 

[ChilliGirl]

Why do I need to only see my family twice a week and have my cellphone confiscated for this? It's not related to each other at all. I can't cope without my family so locking me away from them would make the stress 20x worse and the headaches unbearable. And some random Dr there that tried to convince me to stay told me they won't give me a pain killer anyway and I won't see a Dr until tmrw and what is another day with a migraine when I've had it for days already anyway. Really comforting stuff.

The way I understand...

It is best to change things for a bit. The process is designed to allow you the most possible dignity. Or do you think they will enjoy seeing you withdraw? Or if you call them on your cell, in the night, threatening suicide?

The way your doc did it was unprofessional. The intentions were good.
Perhaps go to another institute, say maybe Crescent Clinic, ultimately you are the one that needs to help yourself. You can chose one of three things

1
Stay addicted, ultimately die young as a result

2
Go cold turkey and burden your family

3
Get help from people that know how to support you. Your family will not go away, but are not trained to help you. They won't love you less, coz they see you less.

Your family will be proud of you kicking a bad habit. And most importantly you can be proud of your achievment.

Just remember to not take it again and advise future docs too, as one dose can send you down a slippery slide...

 

[KingRat1]

How can you get addicted to Grandpa? Its just paracetamol and aspirin, isnt it? No Codeine.

Grandpa has caffeine. Careful paracetamol damages your liver and pancrease and kills at 8 grams

 

[Ancalagon]

Grandpa has caffeine. Careful paracetamol damages your liver and pancrease and kills at 8 grams

Yes, my point is paracetamol is not physically addictive even if it is dangerous to your liver.

 

[porchrat]

Sounds like the OP needs help. I can see the logic behind not allowing access to family. I'm not sure if, when faced with that situation, I wouldn't smuggle something in to help the suffering family member cope.

Perhaps just try the rehab thing and see if it helps. If you go in voluntarily you can always just leave if you find it isn't working. (or can you?... can someone more knowledgeable confirm this?)

 

[AstroTurf]

If you don't come right with cold turkey give elim clinic a call.
more lax about family, phones and such.

 

[Hosehead]

You are correct you've been completely duped. Adcodols/Tensodols only have 10mg coedine each tab. Other OTC preps have 20MG Coedine each and the price is similar for all.

You'll have to taper off with your GP's help and stick to plan. A normal 12 step rehab unit wont take you until detoxification is complete (they only have limited facilities) and this is a lengthly detox over some time -It can be done in hospital if you don't taper off at home per GP plan. Then it would be advisable to go for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I no longer endorse the 12 step model of Narcotics anonymous or Alcoholics anon. I have been against this model for some time including the Matrix model. The program is a life long committment and I've just seen too many people over the last 20 years in this city for who have relapsed. The actual recovery rate in these rehabs is 3% and they are nothing more than band -aids before highway robbery. I believe CBT addresses behaviours and seeks to modify those behaviours and it's drug seeking behaviour that needs addressing and the issues around them.
There may well be a genetic component we just can't prove it.

PS it's never a good idea to cold turkey as there could be complications. It's better to have supervised tapering off and while also uncomfortable it's not unbearably so.

 

[AstroTurf]

lol, you could also look for a ibogane treatment clinic.

 

[noxibox]

Tapering your dose is always the thing to try first.

There are also drugs that have been shown to reduce opiate tolerance and withdrawal.

Ye, I **** on my wife whenever she pulls out a pain killer for headaches. I know that headaches and Migraines are different things. But pain killers are for bad period pains, or broken bones, or root canals or post opp pain. The more you rely on pain killers for things that your body should naturally be able to deal with, the worse your body gets at handling that pain.

That's a completely arbitrary distinction. You can call headaches not legitimate pain if you wish. If someone told me to just ride it out I'd stick something sharp somewhere really painful, then tell them to just ride it out.

How can you get addicted to Grandpa? Its just paracetamol and aspirin, isnt it? No Codeine.

Well one thing you have to watch out for is many of these things contain caffeine. If you're taking 30 a day you're well into caffeine dependence territory. Stopping will probably result in a very serious withdrawal headache.

More addictive than heroin and practically over the counter in South Africa.

Go figure :/

Codeine? In those sort of doses it's over the counter in much of the world. As it should be. It's up to people not to take stupid amounts for extended periods.

This. Water is the best. Forget the coffee, tea, cooldrink.

Your body need to flush out the chemicals, and coffee (and some cooldrinks) will only impede the process.

But caffeine is one of the things that help with certain types of headache. Water only really helps if the headache is due to dehydration.

 

[johanopperman]

If you don't come right with cold turkey give elim clinic a call.
more lax about family, phones and such.

So much this. Elim is GREAT!

I did my 3 weeks there (alcohol) almost 12 years ago, and never looked back. As said by Astro, they are very relaxed about family visits (I got visits on a daily basis). In fact, not sure if they still do this, but back then it was encouraged that your spouse spends the last week of therapy with you in Elim (which my good wife did).

Whist in Elim, I have seen the effects of Codeine addiction (and withdrawal). It's an opiate, so part of the same group as Heroin. Gradual withdrawal can work, but it's safer to get your withdrawals whilst under the supervision of medical staff like at Elim.

If at all possible, get yourself a nice 3 week holiday in Elim, you won't regret it. It just makes withdrawal so much easier. And it really feels like a nice vacation.

And don't be embarrassed about your addiction. It should be the pharmacists and medical system that should be embarrassed for allowing such a dangerous drug to be as easily accessible as Smarties.

Yet Cannabis is illegal. I simply cannot understand this logic.

 

[AstroTurf]

Codeine? In those sort of doses it's over the counter in much of the world. As it should be. It's up to people not to take stupid amounts for extended periods.

Same can be said for any opiate in controlled and small dosages over short periods of time. The difference is that codeine is freely available and a legal cash cow.

Most abused prescription drug in the USA for a very good reason, it's highly addictive.

http://www.codeineaddiction.com/

 

[AstroTurf]

So much this. Elim is GREAT!

I did my 3 weeks there (alcohol) almost 12 years ago, and never looked back. As said by Astro, they are very relaxed about family visits (I got visits on a daily basis). In fact, not sure if they still do this, but back then it was encouraged that your spouse spends the last week of therapy with you in Elim (which my good wife did).

Whist in Elim, I have seen the effects of Codeine addiction (and withdrawal). It's an opiate, so part of the same group as Heroin. Gradual withdrawal can work, but it's safer to get your withdrawals whilst under the supervision of medical staff like at Elim.

If at all possible, get yourself a nice 3 week holiday in Elim, you won't regret it. It just makes withdrawal so much easier. And it really feels like a nice vacation.

And don't be embarrassed about your addiction. It should be the pharmacists and medical system that should be embarrassed for allowing such a dangerous drug to be as easily accessible as Smarties.

Yet Cannabis is illegal. I simply cannot understand this logic.

Yes, they will monitor her closely, stuff her with daily vitamin b12 shots, feed her well and possibly even use something like small doses of methadone to get rid of the withdrawals (depending on her heart rate, anxiety and other factors).

 

[Nerfherder]

I have an issue with using codeine medicine for headaches and migraines and it has somewhat spiraled out of control and now I get headaches just as a result of not taking 12 or so headache pills a day. I've had a headache since Sunday and yesterday the dr gave me a migraine injection but the pain returned a few hours later.

My husband went to see our dr this morning on his own to ask what we can do about the codeine thing and the dr said we have to go to a certain Life Health care hospital for a consultation. So we arrived there and they wanted to practically lock me up. Started admitting me, wanting to take my cellphone etc etc. I didn't even have a bag packed and my husband really had to fight with them to cancel the admittance. They only let you see a dr when you are a patient there it seems. My husband called our GP to find out what the heck is going on and the GP admitted he wrote an admittance script thing and didn't tell him because I would not have gone otherwise.

So now I am back at home without the help I need because they sprung this all on me so suddenly and treated me like a heroin addict. The sad part is I probably would have gone had I had some time to get use to the idea and restrictions. Also the med aid only pays 70% if you don't have a prior 72 hour agreement from them. So financially we would have also have been raped pfft.

Darling you are an addict, admitting it is the first step.

 

[johanopperman]

stuff her with daily vitamin b12 shots, feed her well

Aahhhh, the two things I remember so fondly...

1) That horrible wake-up when a sister turns you over in your sleep and slap a syringe full of B12/B-Co in your backside. Hurts like hell.

2) The food. I think the cook owned a copy of "1001 Mince recipes".....the only cookbook he has ever bothered to buy.


On a more serious note, people often downplay the dangerous side of withdrawal symptoms. It could be deadly (as I have witnessed personally). And strangely, alcohol withdrawal ranks as one of the most dangerous withdrawals.

Better to be under medical supervision when going through withdrawals.

 

[Jhbgirl]

Darling you are an addict, admitting it is the first step.

I haven't had any codeine since sunday and all I have is a varying in intensity headache so I don't think I'm quite a lost cause yet but I hear ya.

 

[AstroTurf]

I haven't had any codeine since sunday and all I have is a varying in intensity headache so I don't think I'm quite a lost cause yet but I hear ya.

if you can just not do it give it a week or 3.
go to chemist for vitamin b12 booster shots as well (daily, 12 day course or something).

 

[Celine]

oh...............mein.................gott.................and here i thought i was being so bad taking 6 tablets a day when in pain. sometimes if i stayed up during the night, which is always hehe, it would be 8 a day.