A recovering Belfast man has warned of the dangers of the often hidden addiction to over-the-counter medication.

Michael Main said at one stage he went down to just four stone in weight and had to have an operation for a perforated ulcer and needed multiple blood transfusions.

He said he started taking ibuprofen and codeine products around 12 years ago for pains in his legs and migraines.

“As time went by, I was using them more to the point where it was starting to become an addiction,” he told Press Association.

“It takes a while to realise that it is becoming a problem, from spending a lot of time in hospital, you start to realise the extent of what is happening.

“I had to go for an operation for a perforated ulcer, and had to get part of my bowel removed. In between that period, I

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