Co Codamol

The 8mg co-codamol /500mg paracetamol is over the pharmacy counter but not on general shelves. I think the 30mg version has to be on prescription only.

I don't think anyone should take cocodamol without their GPs knowledge as it is a very strong analgesic. When DD2 was given it by our GP when she was suffering from severe gynie probs she discovered that it is addictive and weaned herself off them PDQ.

soutra If your husband is in pain still please don't self medicate but check with your GP . Hope he is restored to full health very soon.

I have one of the rheumatoid types of arthritis, along with various connective tissue/joint pains. I'm prescribed the lower dose of cocodamol, but only take it last thing at night, at times of need. It helps me to sleep, though the pain will wake me, I find I can get back off to sleep, whereas paracetamol doesn't work so well for me when the pain is grim. If I take it for a wee, even at that level of 2 at night, I have to up my fibre and veg. I was first prescribed it post op, needed it for 4 days, bit as soon as the pain was manageable I stopped taking it. As elegran says, it's related to morphine and has similar effects. It's also addictive, hence my attempts to limit my consumption. My GP says you can take it alternate with paracetamol, or take 1 paracetamol with the co codeine.
I think co proxamol is no longer prescribed. Many of the people I know with similar conditions to mine, found co prox easier to take, as I did. Evidently, it was being used in suicide attempts, and prescriptions were stopped in recent years.

Co-codamol comes in two strengths. One is (I think) 8mg of codeine to 500 mg of paracetamol, the other is 30mg of codeine to 500mg of paracetamol. The stronger one is quite powerful, so maybe taking them one at a time is better? He can step up the dose if he needs to, or take an extra paracetamol or two if he is within the ration of 8 a day for that, including what is in the cocodamol.

It is the codeine which is doing the heavy duty painkilling, We were told that it would work for up to six hours, while paracetamol is only effective for four hours.

It is also the codeine which causes the constipation. It is related to morphine, which also had that effect. Tell your doctor about it. DH was prescribed Movicol to take while he was taking 8 strong Cocodamol a day. That keeps you regular without the blast effect of most laxatives.

Co-codamol will make you feel a bit sort of "spaced out" and away with the fairies. And merlot is right about the constipation too.

There's also co-proxamol, but that can have a similar effect. I think you should speak to the GP again.

I mean the same as Soutra's husband describes he is feeling.

I had a nephew staying here recuperating from a back op and he said the same about Co-Codamol.

I was recently prescribed Co-Codamol for a whiplash injury but I had to stop taking it and make do with paracetamol.

I was very tired and sleepy so not safe to drive and also had constipation.