Syndol

[Bob69]

I have been taking syndol for about 5yrs now and can't seem to live without them, i first started taking them as they are very good for headaches. Now 5yrs on i take them on a daily basis even if i haven't got a headache as i find they relax me evenings, i have tried to stop taking them but find i cannot sleep if i do not take them. I know they contain codeine which i am told is addictive, do you think i should go to the doctors as he might be able to give me something else to help me sleep at night which isn't so addictive.

[Mamyalynne]

Bob69 you have answered your own question, you need a weaning off schedule and your GP is best advised for this, be honest with them this is more common than you think.

[Sqad]

How old are you Bob69?

If you are 69 as your username suggests, then I wouldn't have thought that "long term addiction" would not come into the issue.

What dose of codeine are you taking?re you on any other medication.

It is a drug of addiction as is alcohol and nicotine.

On receiving answers to my query, I will give an opinion.

[northernmonkey]

Best thing really would be consulting your GP for the most suitable and the most important thing - for the safest thing for you. It is very easy for some medications to have serious/life threating consequences when used differently to instructed. I know absolutely nothing about the medication in question but am just trying to say in the simplest way the answer that I would give you, should you ask my the above question directly.

Please let me know what you think of my answer - useful or not

Thanks and I wish you the very best of luck.

[Bob69]

Thanks for your answers so far, sqad i am 41 and on a typical day i take between 6-8 tablets, each tablet contains 10mg of codeine, hope this gives you enough information, thanks.

[northernmonkey]

As I said before, your medication is nothing which I know about but what I can say is, 10mg x 6-8 per day is quite a concern if not needed for any medical reason(s) and it's good you are seeking help and I hope you take my advice of visiting your GP to get his professional help, advice and if needed support (support could just be answering any questions you have or support in the days you find difficult withdrawing and re-assurance makes that big difference). Don't know how you might feel about taking the offer of support offered but I would just like to say that please do not decline his support because you dont want to admit you need it, because you've made most important and hardest step your going to go through - Admitting and acknowledging your problem

Good luck and just really want to try and be of some use to you as I know how hard it is when you are coming off something and go through withdrawal

[Sqad]

OK......aged 41 then addiction to codeine does come into play.

80mgms of codeine a day is no big deal as far as liver/kidney damage is concerned.

The I would suggest that the advice given by mamalynne and northernmonkey is good advice.

[bertiebear]

Hi Bob69, Some years ago I also became addicted to Syndol. After the death of my mum I began having cluster headaches and the pharmasist recommended Syndol. After taking them daily for a few months, and still getting the headaches, I decided to go and see my GP who told me I had become addicted to Syndol and it was now the Syndol causing my headaches. She said the quickest way to withdraw from them was to 'go cold turkey' and just stop taking them if I thought I could cope with that. I decided to go down this route rather than take more tablets. It wasn't a pleasant time and I did have to take the occasional paracetamol to ease a headache but after about a fortnight I began to feel much better than I had for a while. So do as the others have said and go and see your GP. Good luck and hope all goes well. BB

[Bob69]

Hi again, i have rang the doctors and i have an appointment for monday afternoon, many thanks for your advice everyone. It was nice to have some friendly responses.

[Mamyalynne]

Good luck Bob69, its in your best interests to get it sorted now. Let us know how you get on.