Co-codamol/Codeine

[Rosie]

Hi again Bo

as you have been prescribed how often to take it, it may be worth arranging a few days, or a week if you can manage it, where you can take it as prescribed and not need to drive etc if they make you feel drowsy. This would give you a chance to see if the side effects wear off or not. if they don't wear off, it is then up to you to decide whether the side effects are worth the pain relief (oh, the joys of balancing pain relief with side effects) or whether you need to change soemthing.
I definitely aggre with blaady, codeine is well knwn for causing constipation, in fact I can't take it because of it, but for most people it cam be managed with diet and or meds like lactalose, if the pain relief is good. Let us know how you get on.

Rosie

[Ems_85]

Hi Bo,

I just wondered how you were getting on with your codeine?

I've been taking them for a few years now and although I still haven't found a solution to the bowel problems that Blaadyblah described so well , I did find that my doctor had some good advice about the headaches. He said they were caused by dehydration and I should make sure to drink more water. I already drank a lot but now I drink two or more litres a day and it has helped loads! You probably wouldn't need to drink that much if you don't usually drink a lot anyway but maybe trying to drink a little more would help?

My doc also said to take them as I felt I needed to. He told me the max I could take and I take them 4 times on a bad day but on a good day I might only have to take them twice or sometimes half of the dose but 4 times. This helps me to balance my pain with the things I have to do in daily life. Maybe you could ask your doc if it would suit you?

[Bo1970]

Thank you Blaadyblah Rosie and Ems_85 for your tips.

Just to update how I got on so far.
I suffer from consti anyway from depression & IBS but surprisingly my ‘movement’ has gone normal….tell me I’m weird. What I’ve been doing is keep eating Bio yoghurt to help good bacteria build up in my digestive system and drinking a little more. But I don’t get very thirsty that much hence I don’t feel like drinking that much of water. FYI: Drinking too much water can kill you (if you upset the balance of electrolytes and salt level in your blood); there was a story about “wii for wee” a lady died from acute water intoxication by drinking as much water as possible in a shortest time to win wii. Anyway, this is in an extreme case and I think my migraine comes on with environmental e.g. photosensitivity, office & shop etc

I am rambling on….sorry, my mind is all over the place. Going back on the Codeine,
It worked for shooting pain but not for my migraine. Migraleve (codeine based) didn’t work for me so I’m not surprised even with increased dosage. My sleep was better and that helped my pain too but I slept so much my body ached and I had to get up. My fatigue is still there though. Side effect wise, I suffered from slight hallucination and increase anxiety but I know it's the medication and I'm not freaking out. So I’ve decided to take them only when I really need to. I am hoping to find other alternatives such as pain pen or Tens or even mediTation and out of body!!! I have seen an operation on Youtube where this person hypnotize himself and he had his benign tumour removed from back of his neck without anaesthetics while he is fully conscious. Also, there are acupuncture points but my friend who is an acupuncturist told me that it can be a bit hit and miss till one tries it.

[niccysearle]

I don't know how I would get through some days without Co-Codamol tablets.
Due to the pain I was in my doctor prescribed me the strongest strength......what I tend to do is use weaker ones or ibruprofen when I am not in horrendous pain, then at night/if pain is awful I take just one of the stronger ones. Providing I remember to eat something around the same time I don't usually feel sick, and I have injected more fibre into my diet to prevent any constipation. I don't take more than one at a time as I do a lot of driving for work and worry that taking more would make me drowsy. (As they do tend to help me sleep better.....I guess due to the pain being reduced.)

[Bo1970]

Just in case if anyone is on it.

Warning over co-codamol tablets
Some packs in batch LL11701, expiry date of September 2014, which should contain * mg/*** mg strength tablets have higher strength ** mg/*** mg tablets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17487432

[loosebones]

By accident I took a double dose of co-dydramol last night - resulting in HUGE hangover.
I'm going to be much more careful in the future now!

[trekster]

Whats the difference between co codamol and co dydramol?

[Eloise]

Co-codamol is paracetamol and codeine. Co-dydramol is paracetamol and dihydrocodeine. The difference between codeine and dihydrocodeine is two hydrogen atoms. Not really any significant difference between them when tested on groups of patients (I.e. Neither is superior to the other in terms of pain relief, or having side-effects). However some people do find differences in efficacy and side-effects on an individual level.

[trekster]

Cheers eloise, im on co codamol at the moment but my pain meds are taking 2 hours to kick in. Wondering if i should see my rhemy again or wait and see if the April showers dry out?