Codeine or co codamol ?????Why such a difference

[ayabrea38]

I have been taking co codamol 30/500 for a few years.As I was concerned about the ammoubt of paracetamol I was taking I asked my GP to change me to just codeine.WOW After taking co cods for so long I was not expecting any difference as to my understanding they where basically the same but I had to ask to be changed back to co cods as things where not the same.I had trouble going the loo(nos 1 and 2 by the way)I was cranky,depressed but worst of all the pain relief was less.
Why is this?
I only spoke to my GP on the phone to get things changed back and forgot to ask this
Any ideas?

[LoftyLottie]

Apparently it aids healing greedyfly. It is used widely by Sports Physios. Fortunately I got it on the NHS but not before lots of months of pain!!

[whiskeryron]

I can talk about this now without getting too upset. When my darling wife was very ill & in pain I discussed with the Doc a painkilling regime to keep her more comfortable.
As you are aware you can take 2 Paracetamol 4 times in any 24 hrs, this means 2 tabs every 6 hours ( NOT 4 hours as some people think ) , she was constantly in pain & so the Doc suggested that 3 hours after taking her Paracetamol she could take 2 Codeine tabs, then 3 hours later it was ok to have 2 Paracetamol, & then repeat.This kept her pain under reasonable control, until of course she had to eventually be given Morphine until she died 2 years ago.I am telling you all this in the hope that the Paracetamol - Codeine regime can help some other poor soul. ( Because of the Paracetamol content, Co-Codamol could only be taken 4 times daily ). Ron.

[LoftyLottie]

Thank you for telling us this Whiskeyron. It must be very painful for you. Next time I see my GP I will make sure that it is made obvious on my medical records and on the national data base that I can't take codeine. It would be awful to be very ill and unable to communicate and be given it as a painkiller and suffer halucinations.

[lucca]

I was prescribed Co-codamol but it didn't touch my pain and it gave me unpleasant side-effects. Plus the pharmacist advised me to take it only for short periods as it raised blood pressure to a nasty level. Worth remembering, perhaps, if you've been taking it for a long time.

[stonekicker]

i take co-codamol 30/500 for hallux rigidus (arthritis in the big toe joint) in both feet. it does the trick along with meloxicam (an NSAID) but the constipation i suffer from because of my drug regime is beyond description. it's a catch 22 - pain and being unable to walk or pain and not being able to poo. wicked! x

[ayabrea38]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.
When I was in hospital(2008)with my problem(basicly,axonal polyneuropathy all 4 limbs)I was prescribed lots of different meds trying to ease the pain.I ended up having a REALLY bad reaction to Gabapentin.I am now on Pregabalin,co cods,sertraline and occasional ibuprofen.
GP is cracking down on prescribing co cods,but doesn't want to try anything else and cannot try co proxamol(I was on that years ago for something else)
I thought it was mainly the codeine that was killing the pain as the 8/500 did not do much,obviously I was wrong and they work well together.
Thanks again
Aya

[Mamyalynne]

Good Luck Aya its a balancing act but if you have a good GP you will get there. ♥