How safe is codeine?

Question

I have been taking Tylenol # 3 with codeine for about a year now, I have cronic back pain, caused by Degenerative Disc Disease. I have read that Tylenol can cause problems with liver function, but what about codeine? How safe is codeine, by it's self ? I've been taking Tylenol # 3 with codeine, 3 times a day, it helps take the edge off the pain, but does not eliminate it. I was thinking about asking the doctor to change me over to a pain medication that doesn't contain Tylenol," to be honest, what I have read about Tylenol scares me ". I think something that uses aspirin combined with codeine would be safer. I have also heard about a patch that delivers pain medication at a steady rate into the bloodstream, has anyone with cronic back pain used this patch? I am looking for thoughful answers here," no stoner jokes please".

Answer 1

www.wikipedia.org/codeine this should provide a lot of helpful information about the general drug

Answer 2

I am shocked you have a doctor that would continue to perscribe tylenol with codeine for over a year...and for back pain. Switch your doctor! I am not a doctor, but I know drugs and pain. Codeine is safe...it's a narcotic and highly regulated because it is strong and addictive, but despite that, tylenol for back pain is obsolete. I don't know what the problem is, but I would imagine you would have better luck using over the counter aleve or ibuprofin. Some kind of drug that will stop inflamation. I would definately get a second opinion...NO doctor should be telling someone to take Tylenol for a years time, let alone Tylenol with codeine. I am sure your liver is fine. You need to take a large dose to do much damage, and the amount of tylenol with codiene is not different than take two Tylenol without, but I bet there are better pain meds you could be taking!

Answer 3

My pain management doctor is very anti-Tylenol. He says it can gangrene your liver. The pain patch is Fentanyl, and it is a HUGE jump from codeine to Fentanyl. You might ask about Oxycontin. It's still a jump, but the main benefit is that you don't get the ups and downs with it that you get from meds you take every 4-6 hours.... it's a 12 hour steady dose. If you have breakthrough pain (pain that "breaks through" the Oxycontin) you can take Oxy IR, which is the same medicine that is in Oxycontin, but in a short-release form.

Answer 4

I took Tylenol with Codeine for 10 years for chronic back pain, degenerative disc disease, sciatica and SI joint pain. I had no trouble with it and only stopped taking it because it wasn't helping me anymore. My live function is completely fine, and I did not experience addiction or withdrawl. It's normal for chronic pain patients to take these drugs for extended periods of time. You should discuss your concerns with your doctor, and if you are not currently seeing a pain management specialist, you should consider doing so.

Answer 5

Yes Tylenol is toxic to your liver. The liver does not eliminate it. As for the Codiene, that in of itself is a concern and is extremely addictive.

Aspirin is hard on your stomach.

I'm a Biofeedback Therapist and work with clients to help with relaxation and destressing, to help train the muscles to relax and relieve pain using Biofeedback. That isn't addictive and it does help.

Answer 6

It's the codeine that I would be concerned about! It's an addictive narcotic drug! Might want a second opinion doctor!

Answer 7

Any analgesic can have side effects and cause problems if used or overused improperly, including aspirin. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and the risk/benefit factor of all types of medication he/she could prescribe for you, how you can minimize those risks, and what type of testing can be done to insure you are not further harming your body.

Answer 8

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