i have been taking co codamol on prescription for many years now ( for my back pain ) and the side affects are constant headaches i really want to stop but my GP says i have to go to a drug dependancy unit to be weaned off them !!!! ( seems strange i have to go there as its a pain killer not heroine )
i am on 8 to 10 aday
is there any other tablets i can try that are strong that dont have codine in so that i can stop these head aches
the DR said taking to much codine is the cause of the all day every day headaches but they wont give me any thing else
2007-02-09 19:00:01 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
You need to go and see another doctor. Another doctor will provide you with a new and fresh outlook on your issue. It is true that if you take co codamal you are not treating the issue of your bad back, just hiding the pain. In your case it is actually moving the pain from your back to your head.
Go and see a new doctor and ask what the underlying cause of your back pain is and how to manage it.
Good luck
2007-02-09 19:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by Jez G 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, yes a drug misuse service can help you with this. I have treated people with this problem - but not normally when a Doctor has prescribed them. Methadone and other drugs can be used in these circumstances to deal with the addiction to codeine - but you still need to deal with the back-pain!
There are other ways. Replacing a co-codamol tablet with a lower dose Co-codamol initially, and then a paractemol (acetominophen) tablet once a day and finding which is the most comfortable and maintaining this for one to two weeks before reducing another one may help. Some people have tried this. However you should still be supervised by your Doctor or Substance Misuse Nurse. Don't just try it without any psycho-social support.
Seeing another Doctor would be your best bet - s/he may have caused your problem by prescribing opiate analgesics rather than anti-inflammatories, and not advising you of the potential risks. Tramadol is similar to opiates but is not an opiate as such and is becoming very popular where anti-inflammatories alone are not working. For nerve pain Gabapentin is often used. However these are just some ideas, you need to see a Doctor - fast.
Your headaches may well be a side-effect of taking the pain-killers on a long term basis.
You need to have the back pain addressed because you may get rid of the addiction and the headaches but you should be able to live a pain-free life.
You should not exceed 4g paracetamol (aceteminophen) a day - hence you should not be exceed ing Co-codamol 30/500mg or Co-codamol 8/500mg daily.
My advice would be get a new General Practitioner - get a referral to a Pain Nurse (Clinical Nurse Specialist) or a Pain Relief Clinic, and explore what a non-residential substance misuse programme can offer you.
Look forward to a comfortable life.
EDIT - 13/02/07 - As you can see from the news treatment in a clinic or programme for addiction to prescription medication is not that unusual. Hopefully you will find this encouraging.
2007-02-10 02:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The addictive part of the pill you are taking is codeine. This is an opiate like heroin. I chose many years ago not to prescribe this drug, mainly because of its addictive potential.
It is however prescribed and purchased in gigantic quantities in UK, especially in the West of Scotland where I practise,
I believe there is little excuse for its use since it is only 5% more potent than simple paracetamol, which is not addictive.
Your GP is right, perversely codeine which is often taken to alleviate headache actually causes it. This produces a vicious circle of patients taking more codeine to attempt to alleviate codeine headache, of course it never works.
2007-02-12 07:02:29 · answer #3 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
u should not be taking more than 8 in 24 hours, i take co-dydramol a similar tablet for the same prob and before that was on co-proxamol which is banned now but i just swapped to new ones and i didnt have any probs. only ever heard of weaning off antidepressants or sleeping pills not pain killers
2007-02-11 11:23:40 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Karen Roe 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I took CoDydromol for my back pain and they gave me all
day every day headaches too.
My doctor changed me to CoProxamol and they are much better.
I only take them when the pain is very bad and I make myself
manage with Paracetomol at other times.
Dont,t think anyone understands how debilitating back pain can be unless they have suffered with it. Have you been referred to
a physio, that helped me a bit. Also have had a referal to the
back clinic at the local hospital. In the end you just have to find
your own way to cope. I have recently purchased a Tempur matress for my bed now that I can definately reccommend.
It means I can sleep without pills without being too stiff to move in the mornings. I know its scary to come off the pills and they are addictive, but you will feel so much better if you do.
2007-02-10 04:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is the mistake that a lot of people make, drug addiction is not just about heroine or crack cocaine. You can be addicted to any drug, even 'innocent' ones bought over the counter. Go onto Narcotics Anonymous website for information on all kind of addiction and advice on how to get off it.
2007-02-09 22:00:14 · answer #6 · answered by susan h 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
New to area and was on cocodamol repeat for years but doc is refusing to give me repeat prescription without a referral .Can he refuse me these tablets as I am having withdrawal symptoms now
2016-01-19 15:14:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the codeine is addictive so you should wean off them,and the maximum you should be taking is 8 a day because of the paracetamol content in them,im presuming they are the 30/500 strength ones.If your doctor is adamant that he wont give you a different form of pain relief then see a different doc as there are other forms of pain relief,wish you all the best.
2007-02-09 21:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by lou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-23 04:46:44 · answer #9 · answered by Denise 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go back to your GP and ask to be referred to a pain clinic for the back pain.
Drug dependency clinics deal with as much prescription medicines as illegal drugs. I can't understand why your GP left you on these tablets for so long.
2007-02-09 20:11:52 · answer #10 · answered by leekier 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋