Co-codamol addiction, cold turkey time

J

john-e89

Lifer
I did'nt want to take these in the first place but being on warfarin I'm limited to what I can take for some acute pain that is getting some surgery on next week so I need to come off them in a day or so, has anyone gone 'cold turkey' coming off these? How long does it take to purge your system, a day or so? What happens? shivers, shakes and headaches? Any experiences appreciated.

Don't call me a smack head.... :lol:
 
ric19 said:
Got to be careful as they are opiate based, and you potentially could fail a drug/drive test
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Interesting observation, I take them regularly too, never thought of that scenario,
M
 
What about driving while taking co-codamol?
Co-codamol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
In March 2015 a new 'drug driving' law came into force that allows police to use roadside drug tests to check for the presence of prohibited drugs in a driver's saliva.​ The medicines prohibited by the law include morphine. Codeine is converted into morphine by the liver, which means it may be an offence to drive while you are taking co-codamol. Y
 
AlienZed said:
ric19 said:
Got to be careful as they are opiate based, and you potentially could fail a drug/drive test
Click to expand...
Interesting observation, I take them regularly too, never thought of that scenario,
M
Click to expand...


As long as you are taking them as prescribed, and you have not taken too many so as to impair your driving, you would be fine with a roadside test. I'd carry a copy of your prescription with you, or the box showing your name etc.

I have course to take 30/500 occasionally due to my diverticular disease. I cannot take anything NSAID based such as ibuprofen, as it can exacerbate the symptoms. However, I try to avoid taking them unless absolutely necessary, as they cause constipation :!: which makes things 10 times worse.

I asked the question of my own GP, and that was the advice given.

Mike
 
ric19 said:
What about driving while taking co-codamol?
Co-codamol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
In March 2015 a new 'drug driving' law came into force that allows police to use roadside drug tests to check for the presence of prohibited drugs in a driver's saliva.​ The medicines prohibited by the law include morphine. Codeine is converted into morphine by the liver, which means it may be an offence to drive while you are taking co-codamol. Y
Click to expand...


From the Gov website;

Prescription medicines
It’s illegal in England and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.

It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you haven’t been prescribed them.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

amphetamine, eg dexamphetamine or selegiline
clonazepam
diazepam
flunitrazepam
lorazepam
methadone
morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, eg codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
oxazepam
temazepam
You can drive after taking these drugs if:

you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional
they aren’t causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re above the specified limits
You could be prosecuted if you drive with certain levels of these drugs in your body and you haven’t been prescribed them.
Click to expand...

As long as they are prescribed to you, and you have taken only the correct dose, you will be fine. The warnings about drowsiness etc are std, even in allergy tablets.

As the OP will probably know, the body builds up a resistance to these drugs, so they will actually have less of a chance of side effects, the longer he has been taking them.

Mike
 
Ducklakeview said:
ric19 said:
What about driving while taking co-codamol?
Co-codamol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and blurred vision. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
In March 2015 a new 'drug driving' law came into force that allows police to use roadside drug tests to check for the presence of prohibited drugs in a driver's saliva.​ The medicines prohibited by the law include morphine. Codeine is converted into morphine by the liver, which means it may be an offence to drive while you are taking co-codamol. Y
Click to expand...


From the Gov website;

Prescription medicines
It’s illegal in England and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.

It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you haven’t been prescribed them.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

amphetamine, eg dexamphetamine or selegiline
clonazepam
diazepam
flunitrazepam
lorazepam
methadone
morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, eg codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
oxazepam
temazepam
You can drive after taking these drugs if:

you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional
they aren’t causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re above the specified limits
You could be prosecuted if you drive with certain levels of these drugs in your body and you haven’t been prescribed them.
Click to expand...

As long as they are prescribed to you, and you have taken only the correct dose, you will be fine. The warnings about drowsiness etc are std, even in allergy tablets.

As the OP will probably know, the body builds up a resistance to these drugs, so they will actually have less of a chance of side effects, the longer he has been taking them.

https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law

Mike
Click to expand...
 
@john-e89 I take co-codamol on a regular basis when required (a course if you like) and I have not experienced any problems when coming off them. BUT we are all different, remember medicine is an art not a science. I had more of a problem giving up Pepsi Max!

Best of luck with the surgery.
 
DumfriesDik said:
@john-e89 I take co-codamol on a regular basis when required (a course if you like) and I have not experienced any problems when coming off them. BUT we are all different, remember medicine is an art not a science. I had more of a problem giving up Pepsi Max!

Best of luck with the surgery.
Click to expand...

Ha! No problem with fizzy drinks at least, can't stand the things. :D

Interesting you can come and go with co-codamol, we'll see what happens, might be OK as you say. Cheers for the post. :thumbsup:
 
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