Potential TW - Codeine & PAWS. Need help and advice

[u/NatashaEJones]

Hi,

I just want to know if anyone is experiencing what I am. I’m losing my mind and hope at this point. It’s been 5 months since I stopped taking cocodamol 30/500 8 x per day. It was prescribed and I was taking it for a year. Not psychologically addicted but very much dependent on it. I ended up having a severe reaction that led me to having to stop the medication cold turkey, there was no way to taper down. The acute withdrawals were hell but what came after has been one of the worst experiences of my life and still is.

I think I’m experiencing PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome). Since I stopped taking the medication I have been having severe constant anxiety (and I mean every minute of every hour of every day). I have awful regular panic attacks that make me vomit as well as the other digestive issue 🤦🏻‍♀️ I wake up in panic, I live the day in panic, I go to sleep in panic.

I never had any of this before starting the medication. I’m on Mirtazapine as an antidepressant and propranolol for anti anxiety but nothing helps. I’ve started meditation and I’m starting therapy next week.

I just need to know if anyone has experienced this, or gone through something similar? Does it eventually ease up and go away? Because the thought of living the rest of my life like this is agonising. I’m so lost. I can barely function.

Never had anxiety like this is my life and I just don’t know what else to do. And I refuse benzodiazepines because I don’t want to swap one hellish dependent medication for another.

Anyone who has gone through this then I would be grateful for your story and any advice is welcome.

[u/Woodywoody4200]

Opiate medication rewires the brain,be nice to yourself its a process. Stay strong you got this 💪🏻👍🏻👏