Neurofen Addiction

[ludwig]

Reading about the recent death of Mel Smith, I was interested to note that at one point he had an addiction to Neurofen - which I understand to be a branded version of Ibuprofen.

I was surprised because I wouldn't have thought this could be an addictive substance. Can anyone throw any light on this.

Thanks.

[jackthehat]

It was Neurofen Plus.......which contains 12.8mg of Codeine; I think it was the codeine which was the addictive compontent.

[Robinia]

I think it was nurofen plus which contains codeine which is addictive.

[boxtops]

Most painkillers are addictive - codeine-based products in particular. Taking them for too long can cause in itself chronic daily headaches. That's why when you buy them you're told "don't take for more than three days" - some of us do, but under medical supervision. Taking the recommended dosage (which I do) should be OK, but this bloke didn't http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-435796/The-silent-addiction-everyday-painkillers.html

[Kiki-frog]

Bizarre. Neurofen and ibuprofen are indeed one and the same. And I take it fairly regularly, but I'd never heard of it being addictive. I suppose you could become reliant upon it for pain management, but that's not the same as an addiction. I'd also be interested to know more

[zebo]

Is this the reason that you can't buy more than a couple of packets at a time? When I had fallen and had back pain, I would take painkillers during the night and I really didn't know how many I'd taken, my immediate need was more important.

[boxtops]

see above, kiki - it's the codeine in the Plus versions.

[boxtops]

Zebo, my understanding of the theory was that if you buy too many, you might be contemplating suicide (or just stockpiling drugs) ..... so you buy one packet from one shop, one from the next, go back the next day - etc.

[Kiki-frog]

thanks, boxy, I hadn't known about the version with added codeine. No danger of me becoming an addict then

[Robinia]

Kiki if you're buying 'Nurofen' you're paying out a lot of money...in Boots for example 16 nurofen cost £2.16...their Value health ibuprofen are 40p for 16.
Supermarkets may be even cheaper.

I was told I could buy more than 32 paracetamol if I had a note from my gp...and soluble are sold in larger amounts.

[Kiki-frog]

Thanks, Robinia, but being a notorious tightwad, I get mine from Tesco! 34p for 16. It's shocking how expensive branded items are, especially if you have to buy them on a regular basis

[woofgang]

the only thing with the cheaper tablets is that sometimes they turn out to be uncoated and, especially with paracetamol, they taste absolutely disgusting.

[Robinia]

ha, don't I know it Kiki...I often overhear people in my local Boots asking for expensive brands and I really want to point out the alternatives but the staff would probably ban me. :)

[Robinia]

I buy caplets woofy, down nice and quick, I don't taste a thing. The cheap ibu's are coated, maybe not as thickly tho, I've never dissected one :)

Sorry we've digressed a bit ludwig.

[ludwig]

That's interesting thanks everyone. Neurofen addiction is a bit misleading then - it's codeine addiction.