Reliance on Solpadene

rosenstocktakeh

As a migraine sufferer I have developed a reliance on Solpadene to the extent that in the past 5/6 months I have been taking two Solpadene every morning to try and fight off any headache, I suppose mainly down to a fear of what happens when I do get a migraine headache, and a frustration at the way I often feel.

I have sought medical advice on the migraine headaches, and they have been diagnosed as such and the medication prescribed has had little or no effect. During the past 5/6 months I have not been using any prescription medication, and in general I have felt better while using the Solpadene but am aware of the long-term negative effects.

So my New Years Resolution was to kick the habit. It is an embarassing problem, and I have not brought it up with my doctor. I have not taken any for 3 days - doesn't sound like a big deal - but it is, and to be honest I have felt absolutely terrible. I woke up this morning with a thumping migraine and now have to sit at work for the day fighting to get through.

Has anybody taken similar steps with success or have any recommendations. Would be gratefully appreciated.

Taltos

Really hoping to see the solution here.

Family member in similar boat to you.
Normally pack of 24 is gone in a week or less - normally less.

Went cold-turkey before - same as you - thumper of a headache.

Maybe try slowly reducing the amount you take over a week or 2.
Be prepared for some headaches - but maybe take disprin / panadol instead.
But again - keep the amount down.

However - you might be far better off seeking medical advice on this. There is no shame in letting your GP know you have a reliance on Solpadene - everyone knows it can be addictive. Unfortunately this didn't work for my family member - put thru a battery of tests only to be told nothing was wrong and they didn't need the tablets - great advice.... Think I will suggest a 2nd opinion after reading your thread.

DotOrg

rosenstocktakeh wrote: »

It is an embarassing problem, and I have not brought it up with my doctor. .

It is likely you have an addiction to codeine and you are now suffering withdrawal symptoms. Codeine is a close relative of morphine and thus has very serious potential side effects if taken for any length of time. These can include serious headaches, nausea, vomiting, pain, insomnia, high temp.

Long term damage from codeine includes:
Damaged nervous system functions, stomach bleeding, kidney failure, liver failure, nausea, constipation, depression, sexual problems

It may be embarrassing for you but for any GP or any Pharmacist it is in no way embarrassing and they deal with solpadeine addiction on a regular basis. Go talk to your local pharmacist and they'll be able to explain the side effects you can epect, how long they will last for, and what you can do to counter the effects

LegacyUser

rosenstocktakeh wrote: »

As a migraine sufferer I have developed a reliance on Solpadene to the extent that in the past 5/6 months I have been taking two Solpadene every morning to try and fight off any headache, I suppose mainly down to a fear of what happens when I do get a migraine headache, and a frustration at the way I often feel.

I have sought medical advice on the migraine headaches, and they have been diagnosed as such and the medication prescribed has had little or no effect. During the past 5/6 months I have not been using any prescription medication, and in general I have felt better while using the Solpadene but am aware of the long-term negative effects.

So my New Years Resolution was to kick the habit. It is an embarassing problem, and I have not brought it up with my doctor. I have not taken any for 3 days - doesn't sound like a big deal - but it is, and to be honest I have felt absolutely terrible. I woke up this morning with a thumping migraine and now have to sit at work for the day fighting to get through.

Has anybody taken similar steps with success or have any recommendations. Would be gratefully appreciated.

reduce it slowly. there is only 8 mg of codeine in each tab. I got off a much higher dose by withdrawing slowly. mine had 30 mg in each tab and i took 6 a day for very severe pain.

just make out a written plan. reduce it by half a tab every few days, keep a record, and see how you do. if you need to stay more than a few days at any point do and write down how you feel each time so you can predict future reductions responses

Ulanzi

As well as the codeine addiction, the paracetemol in Solpadeine can cause long term liver damage. Well done for recognising you have a problem. You must be pretty smart and self aware. The thing is that you will be able to kick this now. If you don't the headaches will get worse and require more codeine - it becomes a slippery slope and very tough to deal with. Have a look at the sites below. There's also a British chap called David Grieve who speaks about this a lot - if you google his name and codeine a couple of bits and pieces will pop up.

Have a look at addictionireland.ie and http://codeinefree.org.uk/.

You wouldn't believe how common this is in Ireland. If you contact an organisation for help, they won't bat an eyelid. Best of luck and well done for facing up to it. Can't be an easy thing to do.

LegacyUser

rosenstocktakeh wrote: »

As a migraine sufferer I have developed a reliance on Solpadene to the extent that in the past 5/6 months I have been taking two Solpadene every morning to try and fight off any headache, I suppose mainly down to a fear of what happens when I do get a migraine headache, and a frustration at the way I often feel.

I have sought medical advice on the migraine headaches, and they have been diagnosed as such and the medication prescribed has had little or no effect. During the past 5/6 months I have not been using any prescription medication, and in general I have felt better while using the Solpadene but am aware of the long-term negative effects.

So my New Years Resolution was to kick the habit. It is an embarassing problem, and I have not brought it up with my doctor. I have not taken any for 3 days - doesn't sound like a big deal - but it is, and to be honest I have felt absolutely terrible. I woke up this morning with a thumping migraine and now have to sit at work for the day fighting to get through.

Has anybody taken similar steps with success or have any recommendations. Would be gratefully appreciated.

As with the others OP, I really think you should talk to your doctor about this, they'll be best placed to help you, and you'll have a better chance of getting things back under control with their support, even if it's only to talk it over once or twice. As other posters mention, problems with codeine are pretty common, and it's nothing to be embarrassed about seeking medical advice on. It is potentially a problem re your health and well-being though, so again I'd recommend you talk to your doctor about it. GPs deal with this kind of thing all the time, and they're there to help you.

October

I used to take 6 soluble Solpadene a day. I initially started taking them when I hurt my back and then continued to take them for headaches.

To stop taking them, I switched to soluble paracetamol - you can't buy them anymore in Republic of Ireland, only powder form. But I continued with the soluble paracetamol for a while - a lot of it was habit of the drink of Solpadene as well.

I then gradually reduced the soluble paracetamol and have stopped now completely and so have my headaches!

I read somewhere that taking continuous paracetamol causes headaches, but that was someone's comment rather than a medical opinion.

As you are three days off the Solpadene, could you try and continue without them? I would think you have already experienced the worst symptoms of stopping them and maybe just persevere for a few more days?

How Strange

OP, codeine addiction is all too common in this country which is why the rules on sale of codeine products are being changed soon to make it even more difficult to buy them. I think people take them for hangovers etc and they really are far too strong to be used like that.

Taltos wrote: »

Be prepared for some headaches - but maybe take disprin / panadol instead.
But again - keep the amount down.
However - you might be far better off seeking medical advice on this

I wouldn't recommend subsituting any substance for another. Also, these substances carry risk factors too so definitely shouldn't be taken without medical advice.

There is absolutely no shame in admitting you've gotten hooked on codeine. Speak to your GP and he/she should be sympathetic and supportive.

Taltos

How Strange wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend subsituting any substance for another. Also, these substances carry risk factors too so definitely shouldn't be taken without medical advice.

Great catch - absolutely right.

Miaireland

I would get medical advice. There is nothing to be embrassed or ashamed about. I am sure your GP will have dealt with this before and will recommend a way you can come of the medication without damaging your health.

He or she will know you other health circumstances and can reccommed the best way based on you.

LegacyUser

OP - do your migraines have a trigger? Lights? Certain foods or drinks? Exhaustion?

I used to be an occasional sufferer and eventually realised that it was the sweetener aspartame in diet drinks that was the problem. Haven't had a migraine since I stopped drinking them four years ago.

iguana

Definitely seek medical advice. Codeine is an opiate, just like heroin. Obviously the effects of over the counter codeine isn't as full on as heroin as it's quite a low dosage and designed to give a longer-lasting but less intense feeling. But it is addictive especially as codeine doesn't just reduce pain, it does give a the taker a mellow, chilled out feeling.

I know an ex-heroin addict who has been addicted to otc codeine which this person used as a heroin substitute when trying to get clean. I've been told it really is very similar in feeling to a drag or two on a heroin cigarette. The withdrawal can occasionally be nasty and it's best done under medical supervision just in case there are any complications.

Emme

Go see your GP about this. You really should have gone earlier when you decided to go off the Solpadeine so go ASAP and get the help you need.

username123

OP - dont be a bit embarrassed to speak to your GP about this, he/she will be the best placed person to help you - its an extremely common problem.

I know a couple of people in the same boat, one landed in hospital (for a totally unrelated complaint) and the nurses on the ward took one look at him and said 'oh I see you overuse the solphadeine, can see by the whites of your eyes' (apparently his were a bit on the yellow side?), anyway, they didnt make any kind of fuss about it at all, just helped him off the reliance while he happened to be in hospital being treated for something else. No one thought it was a big deal. He was shocked the nurses spotted it on him but they told him they see it all the time.

So talk to your GP, its not your fault that you have the migraine issue, you might ask your GP for further investigation on that while your getting advice about the Solphadeine issue. Dont feel bad about it at all, its such a common problem, loads of people are over reliant on OTC medicines of one form or another. Whats important is that you have recognised the issue and want to get it sorted safetly.

TonyDub

Well done on realising you have a problem and deciding to do something about it. Codeine can be very addictive and you're definitely not alone : http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/1222/1224261103634.html.

Often the analgesics themselves can actually be causing the headaches which can make management tricky. I would definitely recommend going to see your GP for help coming off them. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Headache-Medication-Induced.htm

lynsalot

Hi Op this happened to me!!!

There's definitely something you can do about it because i no longer get migraines or the daily thumping headache. I went to a neurologist and was referred for an MRI - all fine but necessary to ensure i was ok. I would suggest you tell your doc about this because it's very common

Anyway analgesics of any kind are very bad for you. i was taking solpadeine, panadol, nurofen, difene, anything with a painkiller in it to shift the headache... again 2 a day or whatever (not all of them at the same time lol) and was getting the daily headache.

I spoke to a neurologist and he explained I had a dependence to the drugs. The headache was a withdrawal. You need to stop taking the tablets for at least 5-6 weeks completely... don't let one pass ur lips headache or not.

You should buy peppermint oil and a base oil like sweet almond and mix about 6 drops peppermint into the base oil and rub on your forehead. The cooling sensation reduces the swelling of the blood vessel and takes away the throbbing as blood rushes away from the cold.

The few weeks when ur not taking tablets will be hard... but sweat it out because it is a dependency... a non intentional one but all the same

Going forward u shouldn't take analgesics for anymore than 2 days of a month... whether it's for flu/headache/ period pain whatever or the headaches will come back.

The alst migraine I had was about a year ago and I very seldom get headaches. oh there is a product out there a stick called head ache or something or a boots one for headaches which is handy for the handbag which is the same thing... peppermint for taking the headache away and it really does work and totally natural. Hope that helps

If you wanna chat or ask anymore just let me know or feel free to pm me
Cheers
Lindsay

Satyr_The_Great

Taltos wrote: »

Really hoping to see the solution here.

Family member in similar boat to you.
Normally pack of 24 is gone in a week or less - normally less.

Went cold-turkey before - same as you - thumper of a headache.

Maybe try slowly reducing the amount you take over a week or 2.
Be prepared for some headaches - but maybe take disprin / panadol instead.
But again - keep the amount down.

However - you might be far better off seeking medical advice on this. There is no shame in letting your GP know you have a reliance on Solpadene - everyone knows it can be addictive. Unfortunately this didn't work for my family member - put thru a battery of tests only to be told nothing was wrong and they didn't need the tablets - great advice.... Think I will suggest a 2nd opinion after reading your thread.

thats nothing,, my ex went thru 24 nurofen plus a DAY.......she has been clean for a year and a half now. look up rehab centers if you really think you are addicted but from what you have said, its not as serious as most.
I should add that she used to take 6 - 12 in a go,,