Addicted?

Hi, I would like anyone's opinion.
I am on antidepressants, and for a while they worked, but in the last two months or so, i have felt i'm getting worse.
I feel worse at night time some nights, and find it difficult to concentrate or sleep with all the stupid things going round and round my head.
Now, my dad has medication for his back, Solpadol, I think they are codeine? Anyway, i've started taking upto 10 at a time to help me blank out and feel i really want to blank out some nights.

Do you think I'm addicted?

Sorry for rambling.

10 tablets is a lot, and from what you have said seems to lead to unconsciousness instead of allowing sleep. I would be careful with your use of codeine as it can be highly addictive. It can be very harmful if used in large doses, including permanent kidney and liver damage, hallucinations, seizures and brain damage.

I can completely understand the feeling of wanting to blank out and forget but I would really be speaking to your doctor about the risks and other possible solutions that are better for your health. I used codeine myself for a while to try and get rid of my depressed feelings but eventually found that it just made me feel even more depressed and all I ever thought of was being able to pass out and forget.

When I looked around I found a site about codeine and the risks as well as possible ways to help - http://www.codeineaddiction.com/.

Hope this helps There are safer ways to manage. They take time and I won't lie - it isn't easy - but there are safer ways

Well, if you're not addicted, you may well be on your way. How long have you been pooping your dad's pills? One piece of advice, if you are going to ingest pharmaceutical meds. at least check the bottle to see exactly what and how much you're taking. One example would be a bottle of vicodin pills. Usually, the bottle will be labeled like this: 5mg/500mg or just 5/350. The first number indicates the amount of the actual opiate is in the pill. the second number is the amount of acetaminophen in each pill. Acetaminophen is very hard on the liver. Many people who abuse opiates don't realize that they are probably ingesting well over the highest amount of acetaminophen a day, which at 4000 mgs is pushing into the red. especially if you continue to take high doses daily. Added to that, is the issue of alcohol. If you drink while taking aceta., you are seriously compromising your liver and people have had acute liver failure from a 6 pack and a few Tylenols.

It sounds like you have an addictive personality. You are stealing your dad's pills on a pretty regular basis. You are taking a very large quantity at a time and you are using it to blank out or escape reality. Those are 3 red flags. I don't know how old you are but that is another sign that you will be heading down a slippery slope. You need to put yourself in check before you get in to deep. And I am not trying to say that in a demeaning or insulting way. It is just the truth of the matter. another red flag is that you are willing to gobble pills without even knowing the dosage or exactly what they are. You are saying to yourself that you don't care about what damage it can be doing to your body. You are just chasing the high.

Solpadol Caplets 500mg/30mg Tablets-
-Paracetamol- 500.0mg
-Codeine -30.0mg

Adults
-Two tablets not to be taken more often than every four hours up to a maximum of eight tablets in any 24 hour period.

-Tolerance and dependence can occur, especially with prolonged high dosage of codeine.
-Prolonged regular use, except under medical supervision, may lead to physical and psychological dependence (addiction) and result in withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and irritability, once the drug is stopped (see Section 4.8).
Overdose
-Paracetamol:
Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).
Risk factors:
If the patient:
Is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St. John's Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes,
Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts,
Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of paracetamol overdose in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, coma and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.

-Codeine
The effects in overdose will be potentiated by simultaneous ingestion of alcohol and psychotropic drugs.
Symptoms:
Central nervous system depression, including respiratory depression, may develop but is unlikely to be severe unless other sedative agents have been co-ingested, including alcohol, or the overdose is very large. The pupils may be pin-point in size; nausea and vomiting are common. Hypotension and tachycardia are possible but unlikelyHere is a thread posted by people Here is a thread posted by people addicted to Solpadol. It's not pretty what they are going through. some of them are taking amounts equivalent to yours. Finally, I just want to encourage you to go see a pdoc or psychologist. Someone who specializes in mental health. You mentioned taking anti-depressants. But sometimes they are prescribed by a nurse practitione or family doctor. You are obviously dealing with some issues. Who isn't and it's good that you can see where this can potentially head . If you don't find a better way to cope with whatever issues you have. There are better solutions than this. Props for posting about this. It really shows that you do care. Please keep me updated!
http://www.steadyhealth.com/symptoms...ion_t61607.htm

Hi. I sincerely hope you heed the warnings from all of us about taking prescription pills. They are very dangerous when not taken as prescribed. I worked as a pharmacy technician for ten years and have drawn alot of bad things happen to people. Believe me I can understand wanting to be numb and piss the time and feel nothing. I did just that for years with heroin. In reality all it does is make things exponentially worse. You would be much better off trying to deal with your feelings and emotions now before you create even more problems for your self. If you don't mind my asking what its your diagnosis? I tried many antidepressants over the years until finally I found out for my particular condition a mood stabilizer works best without an antidepressant. I am here for you if you want to talk or even if you just want me to listen.

daydreamer i used substances to ward off uncomfortable feelings/depression, racing ,ind, etc. i ended up being an alcohoic and substance abuser because i self medicated. this doesn't have to be you. speak with your doc about the pills and also what leads you to take them. it sounds like you may need meds for the racing thoughts, but i'm no doc. but the meds would not be narcotic and would improve your symptoms.

Taking your dad's pills and more than you should is a problem addicted or not. Not sleeping and having racing thoughts at night is another problem addicted or not. What do you think? In a perfect world I would talk with my Dr. and let him know my antidepressants are not working and try to figure out what feelings I am trying to hide that are keeping me from sleeping at night. Your Dr. might also be able to help with the sleeplessness, talking about what is bothering you might help also. Lets hope you are not addicted because that is just one more thing you will need to work through! If you need to talk I am here, I wish you the best.