Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms For Narcotics Last?
Question: I have been taking ibuprophen 800 mg every 4 times a day altering with narco 4 times a day so every 3 hours I had pain meds for my bad auto accident. Dr. said my bones had all grown back completely so I wanted to stop cold turkey which I did 2 3/4 days ago. I have taken cough syrup with codeine, and acetaphetamine last night and regular ibuprophen 2 tonite. I cannot sleep. My body feels like all the nerve endings are twitching like crazy and I have a runny nose. No sleep tonite at all and very little the previous 2 nites. How long do withdrawal symptoms last?
Brief Answer:
this is actually not that bad !
Detailed Answer:
While I cannot directly say in your particular case without being there, the general information on narcotic addiction would imply this is mild withdrawal (not least of which because iwth the codeine.. you are taking a narcotic and blunting the withdrawal).
Stronger symptoms would be nausea, significant vomiting, shakes, sweats, diarrhea. There's treatment for these, they peak at 2-3 days and last for 1-2 weeks til the symptoms become very mild but some abnormality .. being a bit off.. lasts for about 2 weeks. Worst is by 5 days (or less).
Let us emphasize the LESS.
The less is if the narcotic dose is low (the usual dosages prescribed are LOW), if the narcotic is NOT LONG ACTING (not a once or twice a day narcotic, but a 3 to 5 times a day narcotic). Continuing to take a narcotic lowers the severity of the withdrawal at the price of increasing the duration of it. Cannot advise on your particular case, but codeine at prescribed doses is short acting, low dose, mild. Frankly, this week, the medical literature is getting worried about the acetominophen which should not be taken in MULTIPLE WAYS at the same time due to overdose possibility: i.e. acetominophen in a cold medicine at the same time acetominophen is taken in a pain medicine and/or taken in a headache medicine.... .
this is actually not that bad !
Detailed Answer:
While I cannot directly say in your particular case without being there, the general information on narcotic addiction would imply this is mild withdrawal (not least of which because iwth the codeine.. you are taking a narcotic and blunting the withdrawal).
Stronger symptoms would be nausea, significant vomiting, shakes, sweats, diarrhea. There's treatment for these, they peak at 2-3 days and last for 1-2 weeks til the symptoms become very mild but some abnormality .. being a bit off.. lasts for about 2 weeks. Worst is by 5 days (or less).
Let us emphasize the LESS.
The less is if the narcotic dose is low (the usual dosages prescribed are LOW), if the narcotic is NOT LONG ACTING (not a once or twice a day narcotic, but a 3 to 5 times a day narcotic). Continuing to take a narcotic lowers the severity of the withdrawal at the price of increasing the duration of it. Cannot advise on your particular case, but codeine at prescribed doses is short acting, low dose, mild. Frankly, this week, the medical literature is getting worried about the acetominophen which should not be taken in MULTIPLE WAYS at the same time due to overdose possibility: i.e. acetominophen in a cold medicine at the same time acetominophen is taken in a pain medicine and/or taken in a headache medicine.... .
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
