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Bad reaction to co- codamol

(36 Posts)
glassortwo Mon 18-Mar-13 12:57:32

I think I have a bad reaction to co-codamol, a few years ago I took co-codamol and suffered severe tummy pains and a tightness around my chest like wind, I had eaten a pork sandwich earlier in the day when out and as I dont have a gall bladder I sometime have a reaction to pork so put it down to that....... but this morning I have taken co-codamol and have had the same reaction I had to pull over in the car on the way home as I thought I was going to pass out and felt nauseous, its 3 hours now since I took the co-codamol and the stomach cramps are easing but I wont be taking it again.

gracesmum Tue 19-Mar-13 13:03:42

Failed with the googling, but but glad galen was able to point you in the right direction. My last "episode" ws when I was using industrial quantities of Voltarol on my wrists and stupidly took a couple of oral ibuprofen as well. I was in agony and fortunately DH was asleep or he'd have wanted to get an ambulance. The Ranitidine or Boots equivalent did the trick once I found the packet, but I know better now. Get yourself some just in case!

glassortwo Tue 19-Mar-13 12:42:39

Thanks galen I have googled it and it ties up.

grace I reverted to my NCT breathing grin funny 30 years down the road and it came back like it was yesterday, if anyone had approached me when I had pulled over in the car (and I had been 20+ years younger ) they might have thought I was in labour grin

Galen Tue 19-Mar-13 11:22:01

It's a morphine derivative and I would assume as such it causes spasm of the sphincter of Odi. That is
The end of the bile duct as it empties into the gut.
Try googling morphine/gallbladder.

gracesmum Tue 19-Mar-13 11:15:19

What does our resident GP think , Galen? Could it be a sort of "heartburn" or even something like an ulcer? If it ever happens again glass try the Ranitidine and NCT-type "breathing" - best unobserved!!

Greatnan Tue 19-Mar-13 09:17:04

Just a reminder that codeine is highly addictive.

glassortwo Mon 18-Mar-13 23:15:54

grace thats sounds exactly the same shock its the only time I have had pain like that, I am fine with other pain killers. I had my gall bladder removed in 1990.

gracesmum Mon 18-Mar-13 23:04:46

I can so sympathise, glass I had a similar reaction with c-c after I had my gall bladder removed some years ago, also subsequently very constipated - but that's another story. I felt the tightness round the chest you describe, the pain seemed to go through my chest to my back and I thought I was having a heart attack! I get a similar reaction to ibuprofen and diclofenac if taken but can use diclofenac gel on the dodgy wrists. I keep a supply of ranitidine or similar for the few occasions when it recurs. One or at the most 2 is enough to ease it. Maybe a latent ulcer? If it is "just" heartburn, all I can say is that it is a lot worse than the Gaviscon ads suggest.sad

Jadey Mon 18-Mar-13 21:25:14

glass glad your ok smile

absent Mon 18-Mar-13 20:34:43

Glad to hear that you are feeling okay glass and glad too that you are going to check this out with your GP. Take care. flowers

glassortwo Mon 18-Mar-13 20:33:14

Yes thank you, I was fine once the co codamol had worn off, I am back to normal.
Its only the second time I have used co codamol and I wont use it again as I have had exactly the same reaction each time. I am seeing the Dr next week so I will mention my reaction so it can be put on my record and she may be able to shed some light on what happened.

Jadey Mon 18-Mar-13 18:28:42

Are you ok now glass

Eloethan Mon 18-Mar-13 17:46:33

I can't take co-codamol, aspirin or ibuprofen - they make me feel very sick - the same with my husband and mum. Might be worth mentioning it to your GP so that he/she records it on your notes - to avoid being prescribed drugs that may have similar constituents/effects.

moomin Mon 18-Mar-13 17:04:26

Good grief glass that sounds a frightening experience! I would definitely phone your GP and let him/her know what happened - better to be on the safe side.

Movedalot Mon 18-Mar-13 16:36:35

Also the pharmacist is usually much more acessible than the GP

Orca Mon 18-Mar-13 16:33:49

I cannot take cocodamol as I have a severe reaction to them. I become sick and dizzy within minutes.

Movedalot Mon 18-Mar-13 16:21:57

Or talk to your pharmacist. We are very lucky to have a great one who answers all our questions and really checks his facts first. They usually know all there is to know about medications and what is safe and what is not. If you read the leaflets you can scare yourself but the pharmacist will be able to reassure you or tell you not to take them.

Elegran Mon 18-Mar-13 15:36:23

Yes, I believe you can, but check with your GP.

carol62 Mon 18-Mar-13 15:33:40

I've been prescribed co-codamol following surgery but 8 tablets are the maximum allowed in any 24 hours. Does anyone know if I can also take ibruprofen?

Nelliemoser Mon 18-Mar-13 15:32:38

Tongue swelled up! blush

Maniac Mon 18-Mar-13 14:57:02

I find that anything containing codeine causes severe constipation -so I avoid completely.

whenim64 Mon 18-Mar-13 14:41:51

glass my mum was unable to digest co-codamol as she got older, and this was confirmed when she suffered abdominal pain and an investigation found several of the little blighters stuck on the wall of her stomach, intact. As soon as they were flushed out, she felt well again. After that, all her tablets were either crushed to ensure digestion, or had coatings to protect her stomach whilst they passed through.

Nelliemoser Mon 18-Mar-13 14:03:45

Yuk! That sounds bad! The only problem I have had with them is the constipating effect. Which can be bad!
I can't take Aspirin, well I haven't had it for years but last time my face and tounge swelled up most alarmingly.
Because of this I have also been warned off NSAIDs Ibrupofen etc. So co-codamol is all I have left.

Elegran Mon 18-Mar-13 13:57:52

I believe they can affect the stomach lining, like aspirin, so if I were you, glass I would contact your GP. Pain like that should be investigated.

Mishap Mon 18-Mar-13 13:42:27

I don't take them because they make me so nauseated and slightly "trippy." Never had pain though - that is a funny. Worth discussing with whoever gave you them in the first place maybe.

Movedalot Mon 18-Mar-13 13:37:36

Glass I don't have a gall bladder either but they don't have that effect on me. I however have the same reaction as Ana's DH but still had to take them because I can't take Ibuprofen. It means I just end up in bed or semi-comatose on the sofa.