Codeine For Anxiety?

[Bedbug]

I just got over the worst flashback/panic attack combo I've had in months. I'm still really worked up and anxious and my body is agony. I am cycling through all the grounding techniques and calming skills I know but am also looking at a couple of boxes of medications and wondering if they might help. In general I am very reluctant to take medications for anything, but I feel like I really need some extra help right now. I have a few diazepam pills left over from when I was first diagnosed and suffering really badly with anxiety, but they take an hour or more before I start to calm down and leave me feeling groggy for a couple of days. I also have some codeine pills left over from from an injury a few years ago. I remember them being very calming within about 15 minutes and not wiping me out for so long.

Has anyone ever taken codeine for anxiety? As a one off, one pill, definitely not as a long term strategy (same goes for the diazepam). I'm sticking with my grounding techniques and trying to relax for now, but I am wondering if the codeine might be helpful. Even if I don't take it now, I'd like to know if maybe it is an option if this happens again.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[digger]

I have codeine for pain relief. I've never felt any difference in anxiety levels while on it. Diazepam maybe but I've not heard of codeine being used for that purpose, although it may cause some sedation depending on dose. What were you initially prescribed it for?

 

[runover]

Hi, I know that you will probably already know this but:

Do not under any circumstances take the codeine. If it has his calming effect on you- you are more susceptible to addiction. If you don't plan on taking it long term- there is no point in taking it at al

Codeine is highly addictive and is a controlled drug- it is an opiate- so it is just a slightly watered down version of heroin. You wouldn't start taking heroin? I'm sure it might also calm your anxiety but I'm sure you would not consider heroin. Codein is the same but in prescribed form which brings me on to my next point.

If you were prescribed codeine for an injury a few years ago- yoy should not take the codeine for any other reason other than for pain for that injury. You wouldn't give your codeine to a friend or sell it onlinw would you? so you shouldn't take it now for anxiety. The codeine should have been disposed of after you didn't need them anymore. If I were you I would take it to your gp or pharmacy for safe disposal.

Sorry if I come across strong but I know how dangerous codeine is. Not to mention the other side effects of codeine- and he fact its probably out of date.

I think if you really feel desperate- find other means to calm you- hopefully others will help you with more effective techniques soon.

 

[digger]

Also, whatever you take, check for interactions with anything else you are taking first.

 

[Bedbug]

What were you initially prescribed it for?

Costochondritis. Few people have heard of it, so saying "injury" above seemed easier.

@runover, I understand the risks of codeine addiction, but I think bringing heroin into the discussion is a little over dramatic. Anyway, I agree that I probably should have disposed of my leftover pills, but don't you think the fact that I didn't take them all when they were prescribed and have ignored them all this time suggests that I am unlikely to get into addiction difficulties now? Codeine side effects? Out of date pills? Hmm, you might have a point here. Just thinking about all this is a good distraction for me right now. Thanks for replying.

check for interactions with anything else you are taking

Good point, but I am not taking anything else.

 

[digger]

Have you tried any natural remedies? Rescue remedy or kalms, something like that?

 

[Bedbug]

Rescue remedy or kalms

Now that I think about it, I have both of these in the house. Thanks for the reminder! It hadn't occurred to me to try those. They're both my husband's and I didn't even think about them.

It has just occurred to me that all this questioning, reading, investigating, information-gathering and analysing is one of my old favourite coping mechanisms for avoiding feeling. Spending a while distracting myself from the leftovers of this panic attack by looking up information on medications and posting on here has given me time to calm down, without even realising that was what I was doing. I'm still sore and exhausted, but not so fearful and anxious. It might not always be the best coping mechanism, but it has been helpful today.

:-)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't think it's a good idea to ask anyone on the Internet about taking a controlled substance off label.

 

[franciemarnie]

It can also unpredictably up your anxiety. I know from experience.

 

[Bedbug]

@Solara, maybe not. I was just curious and not thinking very clearly. The responses I got, plus the process of asking, put me off the idea of taking it anyway.

@franciemarnie, can it? I just remember it being very relaxing, both for body and mind. But then, the circumstances were very different. I don't much fancy taking it again (if it was prescribed for something in the future) if there's a chance of it upping my anxiety.

 

[franciemarnie]

I became addicted to first codeine and then stronger painkillers. I only took one a week in the beginning because I didn't want to become addicted.

I loved the relaxed feeling it gave me, but as time went by I found that sometimes - my heart would pound like crazy and I would feel crazy anxious. Possibly because the drug affects our respiratory system (that's how people involuntarily overdose - they stop breathing but have no idea because they are so relaxed. They just slip away.)

So though it can have a sedating effect, as well as a life snuffing effect, it does unpredictably change your heart rate - sometimes up. I took them for a lot of years. So glad to be off.

I won't get into the constipation problems except to say - Quel drag!

 

[DharmaGirl]

I would take it. One codeine does not a junkie make. I was on narcs for chronic pain, also sometimes took them for anxiety, weaned myself off after a year of morphine and oxycodone, and feel better off them. So everyone is different and one codeine is not going to kill you. You can get it over the counter in Canada.