For twenty long years, Chloe Montgomery's existence was silently sustained by powerful prescription painkillers, with the property sales executive from near Glasgow meticulously concealing her dependency from family and friends. Now aged 36, her journey into addiction began as a teenager when co-codamol was first prescribed to manage severe migraines, but it swiftly evolved into a necessity for daily functioning.
The Descent into Dependency
"At that young age, I very quickly became hooked, especially as I was new to taking them," Ms Montgomery confessed. "They gave me that light, fuzzy feeling that made everything seem better. It was like having a constant high, I imagine." While the tablets initially alleviated her debilitating headaches, the pain would viciously return once the medication wore off—a classic symptom of opioid withdrawal known as 'rebound headaches'.
"Because I took them, my migraines improved to some extent," she explained. "I did experience rebound headaches, but being so young, I didn't understand what was happening. My GP kept prescribing them on repeat. I would simply phone every three or four weeks and receive another box of 100 tablets. This pattern continued for years and years without any review."
A Life Masked by Medication
Ms Montgomery's family remained largely unaware of the depth of her addiction, though they knew she regularly took prescription pills and often questioned her about various aches and pains. "I think they knew I took painkillers every day, but I don't believe they thought I was truly addicted," she said. "They probably assumed I could stop tomorrow if I wanted to. I tried not to take them in front of my children."
Her consumption escalated to between eight and ten tablets daily, with a growing "sense of panic" emerging over the last three years whenever supplies dwindled. "I'd use them to get through the work day," she admitted. "There were days driving my kids to school when I'd realize halfway that I'd forgotten them and need to turn back. It became a physical necessity."
As her tolerance increased, Ms Montgomery began taking the painkillers every two and a half hours instead of the recommended four to six, with her body becoming increasingly immune to their effects.
The Sudden Intervention
In February 2026, confusion turned to shock when her repeat prescription wasn't issued as usual. A national shortage of co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets, announced on 13 January 2026 with supplies limited until summer, had abruptly disrupted her two-decade dependency.
"I was shocked to hear about the shortage," Ms Montgomery recalled. "It created a sense of panic because you feel dependent and suddenly they're saying you can't have them anymore." Co-codamol combines codeine—an addictive opiate—with paracetamol, which can cause severe liver and kidney damage in excess.
Jan Gerber, founder of Paracelus Recovery clinic in Switzerland, emphasized the drug's psychological grip: "Addiction, tolerance and dependence build quite quickly. Within weeks, you're hooked. Codeine gives that warm fuzzy feeling, calms you down, improves sleep, and lessens anxiety. For stressed individuals, that effect feels amazing."
Forced Cold Turkey and Withdrawal
After securing one final prescription, Ms Montgomery was compelled to quit cold turkey on 18 March 2026. The withdrawal symptoms proved "horrific," featuring night sweats, severe headaches, and physically shaking hands. "It's been horrific," she described. "I'm hoping over the next few days I start to feel better. When they gave me that last box, they said 'start taking not as many every day.' That's easier said than done when you're addicted."
This wasn't her first attempt to quit. In 2018, following stomach ulcers and intensive care for a perforated bowel—potentially linked to long-term painkiller use—she considered stopping but couldn't overcome the addiction. After her final prescription, she consulted her GP for alternative pain management for a slipped disc, receiving only ibuprofen gel.
A Public Journey to Recovery
Despite the agony, Ms Montgomery remains determined not to resort to lower-strength versions. "As much as the next week will be horrific, I just need to get through it," she asserted. "I've never tried to come off like this before. They make you tired, constipated, and aren't good for you. I'm hoping once that's lifted, I'll realize I actually feel better without them."
She has been documenting her progress publicly on TikTok, with one video captioned "day three of no co-codamol" gaining over 113,000 views. In the clip, she acknowledges the difficulty while expressing hope: "It's not easy but I know in the long run I probably will be glad that this shortage happened."
Reflections and Warnings
Ms Montgomery now advocates for greater awareness and responsibility. "As much as it's my fault for continuing over the years, when you have an addiction and someone keeps giving it to you so easily, they need to take responsibility too," she argued. "I have two children myself. Knowing what my life has been like, I'd be furious if my son or daughter went to doctors and they started prescribing opioids to that extent."
She encourages open discussion about addiction. "For years, I never spoke about it. I never once said 'I'm addicted to painkillers.' You need to actually talk about it, admit it to people, and have support. Whether weaning off or going cold turkey, speak to someone. Just try to stick with it, even though you'll feel horrific for a couple of weeks."
Her story highlights the silent epidemic of prescription opioid dependency and the complex interplay between patient responsibility and medical oversight in long-term pain management.
