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co-codamol... catch22

Posted , 5 users are following.

michael48387
michael48387

Some 6 months ago I was diagnosed with cervical osteo arthritis, which causes me considerable pain to me neck and severe headaches.

I was prescribed co-codomol and ami-tryptilene, my doctor is now reluctant to carry on prescribing the cocodomol as he is worried they are addictive, on searching this site I find that they do seem to cause some people considerable problems and am now a little concerned, I have tried not taking the cocodamol but find the pain is much worse without them.

The catch22 situation, do i carry on taking the 4/6 capsules per day, or suffer the pain and headaches.

I am beginning to feel guilty about taking these tablets and asking for repeat prescriptions.

I am male, retired, no longer working..

Anyone had similar problems, or advice would be appreciated.

Michael.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Jan999
    Jan999 michael48387

    Posted

    Michael why should you feel guilty? You have been diagnosed with a very painful condition and I think your GP is being over cautious. What does he want you to do? Suffer in pain? Yes cocodamol can be addictive but your condition warrents a strong analgesic. I would ask him what he intends to prescribe in place of cocodamol
  • Benggo
    Benggo michael48387

    Posted

    Michael,

                 I was diagnosed with C.S.last June,and have had phisio which made my neck feel worse,I am on the top dose of cocodamol and try not to take them,as constipation is my bugbear;but I take them if the pain gets too bad.

      You take the pain relief,why suffer,it would do your doctor a world of good to suffer from C.S. and see how they managed.

      What I have found is if I get doing something and all my concentration goes into the task I am doing,the pain gets pushed away.

      Good luck and there is no need to suffer pain,you take the tablets if it makes life that much easier.

  • gill70346
    gill70346 michael48387

    Posted

    Michael - I have been on co-codamol 30/500 now for over 10 years and have never been addicted. I certainly do not feel guilty about taking them because without them my life would be non-existent.  I take up to 8 per day.  Talking with friends it seems the problems come when people use them irresponsibly, eg when the pain is really not that bad or taking more than 8 per day, and of course some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction.  The bottom line though is that if you are in severe pain and your GP is unhappy about continuing to prescribe co-codamol he needs to tell you what the alternative is (and I know there are alterntives). Gill
    • katz31
      katz31 gill70346

      Posted

      Firstly, you don't have to be "abusing" your meds to become dependant on

      them!

      Secondly, addiction can effect anyone

      at anytime! I would imagine after ten

      years of taking them (even as

      Prescribed) you would suffer some

      May not all withdrawal symptoms!

      Or you could be seriously lucky!

      I would not wish addiction on my

      worst enemy!

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