Carrie Stafford, a 30-year-old sales worker from Manchester, never imagined that a common prescription could take over her life.
Her battle with co-codamol, a painkiller combining paracetamol and codeine, has spanned nearly a decade, beginning after she had surgery to remove a cyst from her ovaries.
Recently, another prescription following wisdom teeth removal reignited the cycle, turning a routine treatment into a long-term struggle.
Even after her prescribed course ended, Carrie continued taking the drug for months, despite being pain-free, highlighting just how addictive this seemingly ordinary medication can be.
The Secret Life of an Addiction
At her lowest point, Carrie would visit multiple pharmacies, faking back pain to secure more tablets.
“It consumes your mind,” she admitted.
“You’re always thinking about when you can take it next. It feels like you need it to get through the day.”
She also described a misleading sense of euphoria.
“It made me feel lighter, happier, and for a moment, my mental health struggles felt quieter,” she said.
Yet, she knew the risks.
“I was always aware it could damage my body, but that thought wasn’t strong enough to stop me at the time.”
Understanding Co-Codamol and Its Risks
Co-codamol mixes paracetamol with codeine, an opioid processed by the liver into morphine—a drug closely related to heroin.
While lower doses are commonly used for aches, menstrual cramps, or toothache, stronger doses are prescribed post-surgery or injury.
The medication works by dulling pain and inducing calm, sometimes even a sense of contentment.
But high doses can dangerously suppress breathing and heart function, leading to potentially fatal consequences.
The NHS advises adults to take only one or two tablets up to four times a day, with at least a four-hour gap between doses and a maximum of eight tablets in 24 hours.
Even then, Carrie admitted, “I told myself that staying within the box’s instructions meant I was safe, even though I knew it was still risky.”
Too much paracetamol alone can cause irreversible liver damage.
Hiding the Reality at Home
Carrie’s addiction was private, a “secret addiction” she kept hidden from her husband.
She stashed tablets around the house to take them without detection, a habit common among those addicted to codeine.
But by May 2024, after her last prescription, she realized the pattern needed to end.
“The cons were outweighing the pros,” she said.
“I was constipated, my migraines worsened, and driving became dangerous because it made me sleepy. That’s when I decided to quit cold turkey.”
A Hard-Earned Recovery
Today, Carrie has broken free from her dependency.
Her experience has inspired her to raise awareness on TikTok, sharing the dangers of codeine with others.
Recently, when faced with a urinary infection, she was tempted to buy co-codamol but resisted, remembering the progress she had made.
“I knew my family and I would be disappointed if I gave in,” she said.
Now, she only relies on paracetamol to manage pain and urges caution.
“This is a drug to respect, not misuse. Only take it for what it’s prescribed for,” she stressed.
Carrie encourages anyone struggling to reach out to their GP or support charities and to confide in family for guidance and support.
The Wider Issue
Carrie is one of an estimated 500,000 Britons addicted to opioid painkillers.
Pharmacists are instructed to limit sales and sell codeine only if other options have failed, while GPs are expected to monitor patients closely.
Yet Carrie, like many others, believes the dangers are often downplayed because these drugs are so easily available.
Experts argue that the easy access to addictive painkillers in high street stores, combined with limited specialist training for GPs, continues to make opioid addiction a pressing public health concern.
Carrie’s story serves as both a cautionary tale and a call for better awareness, guidance, and support.
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