I'm addicted to codeine?!

I have commented in a large number of answers, over the last year and a half, of the perils of codeine based analgesics!. I have a great deal of sympathy for you, and I am afraid that the majority of doctors, both in General Practice and in hospital medicine, seem blissfully unaware of the medically well known fact that codeine has a high potential for addiction!. Currently nearly 80% of paracetamol is prescribed as 'co-' analgesia, which contains codeine and it also represents a large percentage of the paracetamol preparations sold over the counter at chemists!.

There is a variation in usage, both prescribed and over the counter, depending on geographical location!. Scots consume more codeine than the English, more is used in the West of Scotland, than in the East and most is taken in Lanarkshire, where I was in practice!

I tried unsuccessfully for some 15 years to publicise and campaign locally against it's use, criticising both other GPs and local hospital prescribing practices!. Unfortunately doctors and as a result patients are under the mistaken impression that adding codeine makes a great difference to a painkiller's efficacy!. In fact numerous papers in medical journals over many years have shown this potency increase is no more than 5% and cannot in my view be justified by the increased side effects!. These include severe constipation, headaches, abdominal pain and addiction!.

Patients who become hooked suffer mild versions of the opiate withdrawal experienced by heroin addicts, irritability, anxiety, muscle pains and nausea etc!.

The only real answer is to withdraw very slowly and gradually!. I would advise getting your GP to give you straight paracetamol together with gradually reducing doses of codeine, as separate tablets!. He really is duty bound to help you, as to be frank, his lack of knowledge of the drug got you in to this in the first place!.

I wish you luck, but even with this sort of help you are bound to have an uncomfortable few months!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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Codeine is very addictive and is now generally considered a poor choice for pain management !. Codeine is also shown in clinical studies to be little more effective than basic paracetamol (I think I read something like 7% ddifference!)!. Speak to your Dr regarding this again!. Just reduce your daily dose before stopping completely (wean yourself off) Withdrawal is a common problem with Codeine!. Physical withdrawal will take no longer than a week, however psychological withdrawal may take longer!. There are no drugs that can be given in this instance to help with withdrawal from this drug!. Simply, the risks associated with this drug outweigh any benefits!.

No don't listen to the others who are telling you Codeine is harmless, not addictive and has no side effects, they should check their facts before giving incorrect advise!.

For those who keep saying Codeine isn't addictive, Codeine is an opiate! It's very bloody addictive! The problem is Codeine's addictiveness is hugely underestimated by some health care professionals!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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The doctor is writing your prescription because it is fairly harmless; the only problematic side effect is constipation, and you may or may not have some impaired thinking or concentration!. Regardless, it is far better than being on a narcotic, and it is a hassle for doctors to prescribe & provide!.

If you want off this merry-go-round, tell the doc, go to 2/3 then half doses, then 1/4!. Maybe you don't need a painkiller, if it is something you can exercise or stretch or take physio for!. Otherwise find another drug, perhaps a muscle relaxant!. If it is about pain, look under painkillers till you find one suitable!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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There is an increasing use prescription drugs among teens, the most common prescription drugs are Oxycontin and Vicodin!. Prescription drug addiction is the intentional abuse of prescription drugs and these are most commonly made available through family and friends for addiction treatment!. There is a high prevalence of prescription drug abuse among teens!. This increasing usage of prescription drugs is with a misplaced belief that these drugs provide a medically safe high as compared to street drugs!. The intentional abuse of prescription drugs to get a high, include the use of pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives!.

There are 3 major classes of prescription drugs:
1!. Opioids such as codeine, oxy-codone, and morphine;
2!. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines;
3!. Stimulants such as dextro-amphetamine and methylphenidate!.

It is further observed that girls are more likely to intentionally using prescription drugs (abuse) rather than boys to get high!. Adolescents are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than young adults!. Close to 16% of teenagers (age 12 to 17 year olds) are abusing prescription drugs as compared to about 12!.7% of young adults (age 18 to 25 years)!. Research shows that around 57% of teens who abused prescription drugs say that they got these drugs from relatives or friends for free!. Most alarmingly (62% or 14!.6 million) adolescents say that they were able to get these drugs easily from their parents

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