Psychologically addicted to codeine.

[Charles Bronson]

Even though I am physically dependent on benzodiazepines, or close enough to being fucked from the game from daily dosing clonazepam/alprazolam, I feel that codeine is taking an enormous toll on my life, psychologically I can't function without it. When I am on it, life seems so much easier/a breeze...I enjoy social interactions with people.

Point is, do I hit the problem on the head by going in to do the Subuxone taper program (for free, available at a clinic located in my city), stay off the shit, learn to be happy again without the aid of drugs.

FYI, I am scripted 6 mg of Clonazepam a day/2 mg of Alprazolam and an SSRI, sertraline 100 mg a day. I started taking the benzodiazepines in order to facilitate the process of the 4-6 week wait it takes for the SSRI to work on me, and this is my 4th week or so of being on the shit.

Point is, should I have a crack at the Subuxone program, stay on 2 mg of Clonazepam and 2 mg of Alprazolam while I am taking the Subuxone, or should I quit it all cold turkey after about another 1-2 weeks of being on the shit, in order to get my head clear for University (Starts up again on February the 28th). I've got 14 days to get my shit right. That means no more codeine for the duration of my life. Alprazolam and clonazepam are alright, given that I don't fuck up and fall back in to the pattern of daily dosing mega amounts of the shit.

I want to 'feel good' and be happy without the crutches that are codeine and benzodiazepines, used in order to 'cure', for the lack of a better word, my chronic, debilitating anxiety disorders. I feel alright taking daily doses of Zoloft 100 mg, because that shit doesn't fuck with ones mind/body as much as benzodiazepines do, and I use codeine to potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines, in order to feel 'Comfortably Numb'.

Help is appreciated.

 

[yteek]

I've thought the same thing, but since you not physically dependent I'd just avoid it...but thats just me. I don't think with the benzos and all...taking another addictive substance may just add to the problem...it might be a short term fix, but in the long run I think it would complicate your situation.

 

[theseeker]

How much codeine/day were you taking? If your liver is really good at converting codeine to morphine, AND you were taking a lot of codeine- maybe subs could help. That said, I rather suspect that you'd be going from the frying pan into the fire by trading your codeine addiction for a possible bupe addiction. Look at it this way- you may indeed have the best intentions of using subs for a really short period of time, just enough to get off the codeine. But what if a short time becomes a long time? What if you enjoy being on subs and you let that go on for a few months, maybe a year... maybe longer?? It can happen. I'm not saying that will happen, but it could. I'm told that sub w/d is one of the hardest kicks around.

 

[Beat Narrative]

I have just gotten over a 18 month poppyseed tea habit (seems pathetic i know but its like any other opiate) i did it cold turkey and it was very difficult but i am glad i did it without any maintenance

I would personally advise that you try and break the habit naturally, for me half the addiction is the process of consumption, by taking the subs you are getting off the codiene but not breaking the habit of consumption

By going on the subs your just replacing one thing for another and delaying the inevitable as you can't stay on subs for ever

By cold turkey your also making a lifestyle change which breaks the mentality of consumption and are therefore making one step closer to not be relying on the need to consume to get by and it will be tricky at first but the change of routine will take you one step closer to breaking the routine

I can only speak for myself but i am creature of habit, so breaking the habit is the trickiest thing for me and subs are going to become both mentally and physically addictive

This is just my opinion and what worked for me

 

[Mr. Tambourine Man]

I would be much more inclined to try something like kratom, and then weaning yourself off that, than starting on subs. If you think you have a hard time stopping your codeine consumption, subs are not going to make it any easier.

If at all avoidable, you don't want to get onto a stronger opioid than the one your currently addicted to in order to cure said addiction, even if it's part of a program. Consider it an unnecessary risk.

 

[webbykevin]

I had a massive long term codeine habit from prescription codeine for a bad back, I found that even after prolonged and high daily use it was pretty easy to stop, not really any bad physical symptoms, in fact weed really helped, i had not been smoking weed for a while and I had enough for 2 or 3 days when I stopped the codeine, seemed to really help in lots of ways, distracted me, relaxed me, loaded the body up with warm feel good waves.

I was quite surprised how easy it was, I had prepared myself for a much harder time that it actually was.

 

[Charles Bronson]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

At theseeker, I was taking 35 x 30 mg codeine tablets at the height of my psychologically. Broke the roof-top effect of codeine (sp) by 450 mg.

Ya know, I think I will quit cold turkey. Due tot he availability of said substance, it's going to be hard, but I will have to be strong at all temptations.

 

[herbavore]

Good luck to you. Remember that it can be a process that may include stumbles but it is achievable.

 

[endlessnameless]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

At theseeker, I was taking 35 x 30 mg codeine tablets at the height of my psychologically. Broke the roof-top effect of codeine (sp) by 450 mg.

Ya know, I think I will quit cold turkey. Due tot he availability of said substance, it's going to be hard, but I will have to be strong at all temptations.

35 x 30/500mgs? If so then for god sake man do please stop, your liver must be pulverised. Have you ever done a cold turkey before? If not, then its probably exactly what you need because when you go through it once, you definitely will not want to ever go through it again so it should scare some sense into you.

Best of luck mate, do keep the thread updated on your CT progress.

 

[paranoid android]

Using bupe to quit codeine is nut's in my opinion. A codeine habit may be a bitch right enough but it's a hell of alot easier to quit then bupe which you would have to taper.

Good luck on getting off the shit OP.

 

[endlessnameless]

@OP: How long have you been addicted to the codeine?

Heed what PA has said above, Subutex is an opioid and is much stronger than codeine measure for measure and you'll only be swapping one addiction for another. Codeine is at the bottom of the opiate scale in terms of strength (very little of it converts into morphine ie 30mgs codeine = 12.5mls of Morphine approximately) so you should be able to see why switching to something more potent is countering your chance of recovery.

I'm actually weaning myself off a small heroin habit (1g a week) with codeine and its going quite well (its far from ideal, however also far from cold turkey) - couldnt you wean with the codeine instead if the CT is unbearable? Do you think you'd have the discipline for CT? This is why I've asked if you've been through CT before.