I dont know how to cope. My partner started taking solpadeine aged 15, hes now 40. Its the cause of so many arguments and the reason that we will eventually break up. He lies through his teeth and constantly fobs me off so that he can get his 'fix'. Ive written to the manufacturers, ive begged and pleaded with them to make it a prescription only drug. They said they would look into it, and then nothing. Im angry, and dismayed. I watch him go from withdrawal (when he has no money) to being high when he has. The effects on him are similar to amphetamine, and he literally chews his own face off so its not hard to know that hes back on them. He fluctuates between diarroehea (however you spell it) to constipation. Has constant urine issues, headaches/migraines, bouts of nausea, dry skin, itchy skin, (awakened nerve sensations?) And has put on alot of weight around his stomach. I watch as his body is in turmoil, fighting against itself and slowly failing. Its a no win when he wont accept that actually we need to work together and he is dying.
Above all this…its the constant lies to hide his one true love, the mistress (solpadeine)
Hello there,
It must be painful going through all that for the one you love. And although i'm not your partner, you would think it was me that you are talking about. I am that very same person above. I started at the age of 36, can't remember why and now i'm 51.
I have the same symptoms, constipation then false toilet trips because my brain thinks i want to go. I don't think it's helped my bladder either because i can't hold on for as long as i used too. I know it's wrong, i know it's bad, i know it's not doing me any good but I just can't stop!
You have hurdles ahead of you. He needs to recognize that it's doing him no good and he needs to want to stop and then it's will power.
I'm sorry I've not been any help but i just wanted to let you know that there's so many of us in the same boat here.
Thank you…its actually nice to just talk about it. Its a banned subject in our house due to my 'nagging'. I know this isnt the real reason, its because he is avoidant and defensive. For now i have to ignore whats going on and be prepared for a caring role when his organs start to shut down. We are off on holiday this summer…im hoping they check the bags and wont allow codeine based products into the country without prescription….sounds mean but i would love a week where i actually start to see the bloke i love. Sounds like a contradiction but he wasnt taking as much when we first met….
Reading your post, it's as if I AM talking to you. I can relate to what you're saying.
Although i hide my activities, the wife knows full well what's going and how many i take a day. (8)
The only difference is, she doesn't nag me and sometimes i wish she did so it would give me the motivation to do something about it.
And yet she wants to see the man she met.
I really feel for you. The takers and the ones that love us are all in a terrible place.
I could almost cry with relief iv found this page and your post!!my partner has been taking these awful things since before we met (been together a year)
He's a fitness freak and when we met he claimed the tablets helped his aches or injuries related to his sports.over time I noticed he took a lot more than the recommended amount he played it down because he's in the medical proffesion claiming he knows what he's doing and that they are fine.iv gradually noticed his mood swings 1 minute fine and happy the next low and snapping.then there's the dry skin(his poor face can be covered in dry skin)he can suffer with anxiety low self esteem,sleepless nights to name but a few.I asked him to stop a couple of months ago and he swore he would.2 weeks ago I found a couple of loose packets down beside his side of the bed he said they were old 1s and I could bin them.I started to get suspicious when on a few occasions he has insisted I left the bedroom before him he won't say why and if I ask he gets stroppy I thought once I heard a pill packet.tonight iv found a receipt purposely buried at the bottom of the bin for a packet of these tablets(30s) bought yesterday teatime I know I'm wrong and snooping but I looked in his gym bag and found the packet with only 15 left in the packet I'm no expert but 15 of those within 24hrs is a problem isn't it?!what's troubling me also is I have 3 children and his mood swings are around them too and he doesn't see what he's doing is wrong.I love him to pieces but these things are ruining him and us!! I don't know how to approach him about this I know he will get angry and deny it all.but the truth is he's hidinig it and that shows to me he's got a problem and he's lying to me also which worries me ..I'm really quite lost about it all he's such a lovely man and this all saddens me!!
Hi
I was in the exact same position as your partner at various times over the last 30 years! Over two weeks ago I decided I have to stop.I took the Solpadeine mainly for headaches. My headaches were never really gone. The solpadeine just took the edge off. As a long term user of this product I think the first step is to be honest and admit you have a problem. Despite being married for 33 years I only admitted to my husband my concerns over two weeks ago.
Once I did this I felt such a weight being lifted and also knowing that he can support me coming off. It sounds like you would do exactly the same for your partner - this is very important as it is a very embarrasing thing to admit. I also had a meeting with my GP and as hard as it was to admit I was a codeine addict ,it actually wasn't as bad as it seemed it would be. For me,I find cutting down the amount you take gradually seems to work. However for the past few months although I was taking them every day,I could have some days where I just had 1-2 daily and some days more.
I havent taken Solpadeine now for 10 days and although I had some withdrawal symptoms,I now feel my head much clearer and beginning already to feel healthier in such a short time.
I think if you can encourage your partner to come on to the forum and read the posts then he may get some inspiration and encouragement to stop. It certainly has helped me. Please please try and get him to read this.
Thank you for you reply.this kept me awake all night worrying(he works nights occasionally) about how to approach this with him knowing he doesn't see it as a problem and obviously he thinks that I think he's stopped taking them!.he's been home 9hrs and sleeping for the best part of it and still taken 9 tablets(still snooping!)and now gone off to work again.he gave up alcohol 8 yrs ago as he was a alcoholic and he's done fantastic he's never fallen back and a even the smallest drink,I often wonder if this is a replacement?he drinks a lot of the monster energy drinks and coffee too,he works very long hours and tells me he just needs a boost but I'm worried he will have a heart attack!I would support him through all of this without a second thought and I'm sure he knows this its just getting him to admit he has a problem!!
Well done for seeking help,I always think that's the hardest step!!
Hello
Im in exactly the same position. Ive now stopped caring. Its sad, i dont want to feel like this but ive given up. I realise that it wont stop no matter what i feel, the draw of the solpadeine is bigger than me. The only advice i have for you is, do not allow it to take over your life, stop snooping because that actually winds you up even more….you know what your going to find so why continue to look? Accept. He takes them, and will continue to do so until he is ready. It sounds negative but it really isnt! Its survival. Hope things get better for you xx
Even I am also in the same boat as yours.
