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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / March 2006Co-codamol dose advice please
I am nearly 60 and have OA in my hips..Been a steadly increasing prob. over the last 3 years (or more) ...recently pain n stiffness become so bad that I can't go out as I can't walk well enough. I am using ONLY Co-codamol (mostly 500 + 8 as straight from the chemist) in 2 pills a go to help me get out the door etc....that is I have been trying to use it only just before a particular situation.. and believing it best to take as little often as possible.. Some questions which I can't seem to find clear answers to (Internet search ..ask chemist..GP) 1) How long does a single dose take to work ..one and half hours before sometimes seems better than half an hour. 2) Should I be best taking Co-codamol in this way?...would it be better if I took doses regularly ..say 2 x 2 tabs each day...does it 'build up' and stay long term useful ? It seems to me that one 'gets used to it'/ developes tolerence, fairly quickly...when I started using it in the above way a year or so back (having hardly ever taken 'this sort of thing' before) the relief was very considerable the first time, less 2nd, less 3rd over 2 or so weeks of 'before going out situations'. The effect now seems small ...but would it be better to move to something else, anti-inflam's I suppose...rather than increasing the Co-codamol dosage ? Thanks HWB @@@@ > I am nearly 60 and have OA in my hips..Been a steadly increasing prob. over > the last 3 years (or more) ...recently pain n stiffness become so bad that I [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Thanks HWB > @@@@ One hour to onset of action is typical for tablet formulations; if you need speed of onset the effervescent (soluble) tablets can be much better, but watch the VERY high sodium content, especially if you have high blood pressure. There is often benefit in OA to taking regular full-dose paracetamol, i.e. two tablets four times a day, every day (as long as you have no liver problems) but it is best not to do this with co-codamol as tolerance builds up to the codeine content, but NOT to the paracetamol, and codeine can have side-effects (e.g. constipation). You can replace a paracetamol dose with co-codamol for bad times, or better still, take paracetamol all the time and get some codeine tablets from the GP to take when required. That way you can vary the dose to your needs. Anti-inflammatories can help in OA (but less than in e.g. RA) so would also be an option if you can tolerate them. They can be taken IN ADDITION to the paracetamol & codeine, but should be taken in the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Good luck, Pete Disclaimer: I am a pharmacist, but not YOUR pharmacist! Always check with your own health-care team before changing your treatment. >Disclaimer: I am a pharmacist, but not YOUR pharmacist! Always check >with your own health-care team before changing your treatment. that's as may be; it's great to have someone posting who plainly *knows* *what* *he/she* *is* *talking* *about*. such contributions seem to me extremely valuable. thank you.  SignatureRobin Fairbairns, Cambridge >>Disclaimer: I am a pharmacist, but not YOUR pharmacist! Always check >>with your own health-care team before changing your treatment. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > such contributions seem to me extremely valuable. thank you. Thanks, I'll try to help when I can. Pete, also Cambridge! Thanks piglet that has really helped clarify things for me: I shall now consider regular higher doses of paracetamol SEPERATE from codeine..Your comment "...tolerance builds up to the codeine content, but NOT to the paracetamol.." is really what I need to know. I was a little surprised to see your caution re: Anti-inflammatories and OA ..looks like there not the big usefull step-up from Co-Codamol that I have been assuming .. I take the point "I am not...YOUR pharmacist!"...I will not be changing any thing untill I see my GP (hopefully this week..if I can get there !).. But I have to get considerable improvement over my current 2 to 4 Co-Codamol (500 +8) per day somehow.. Looks like I shall be a regular in this news group... Thanks HWB @@@@@ Me again...I've just remember the version of Co-codamol ..(with a slightly different name) my GP gave me once had an alternitive to Codeine in it ...very similar name but with claims to have less problems.. HWB @@@@ > Me again...I've just remember the version of Co-codamol ..(with a > slightly different name) my GP gave me once had an alternitive to > Codeine in it ...very similar name but with claims to have less > problems.. > HWB > @@@@ Co-Proxamol? >>Me again...I've just remember the version of Co-codamol ..(with a >>slightly different name) my GP gave me once had an alternitive to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Co-Proxamol? More likely co-dydramol, which contains dihydrocodeine instead of codeine. Co-proxamol is being withdrawn, and GPs have been advised not to start any new patients on it. Cheers, Pete >>> Me again...I've just remember the version of Co-codamol ..(with a >>> slightly different name) my GP gave me once had an alternitive to [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Cheers, > Pete Ok...thanks. > Thanks piglet that has really helped clarify things for me: > I shall now consider regular higher doses of paracetamol SEPERATE from [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ..looks like there not the big usefull step-up from Co-Codamol that I have > been assuming .. NSAIDs work both by treating pain AND by reducing inflammation. Unlike RA, osteoarthritis doesn't tend to lead to inflammation, hence the reduced usefulness of NSAIDs. They can still be a useful painkiller *in addition to* paracetamol and opiate therapy, so don't rule them out entirely, they may still be of some use. Good luck with the pain, Pete >I am nearly 60 and have OA in my hips..Been a steadly increasing prob. over >the last 3 years (or more) ...recently pain n stiffness become so bad that I [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >Thanks HWB >@@@@ With OA in both hips, but also with Crohns, NSAIDS are out of the question. My doc has me on paracetamol up to the usual limit (500mg x2 x4 a day as required) plus 30mg codeine tablets when necessary. I have to be careful with the codeine. When the OA is bad, I need to take a sustained dose over a day or two (possibly 60mg x 4 at its absolute worst) but when it eases off I stop. An occasional tablet does little good, but continual taking codeine causes problems with -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * For email, go to my address and take out the dog. >stop. An occasional tablet does little good, but continual >taking codeine causes problems with Finishing sentences? Concentration? I'mnot going to sleep now, if you don't finish the post! -- preceed with 2006 to email >>stop. An occasional tablet does little good, but continual >>taking codeine causes problems with [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >I'mnot going to sleep now, if you don't finish the post! causes problem with ... my memory? The dog? No... hang on. I can't remember why that happened nor what I was going to say. Constipation! There. That's it!! Verbal constipation, that's what too much codeine causes. And the other kind. I knew it all made sense. I mean, when do I not? Jim :) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * For email, go to my address and take out the dog. Does the dihydrocodeine alternative to codeine have the same tolerance build up effects...or can it be taken for OA with the effect not reducing like has been said for paracetamol ?.. These post are helping me a lot...thanks HWB @@@@@ > Does the dihydrocodeine alternative to codeine have the same tolerance build > up effects...or can it be taken for OA with the effect not reducing like has > been said for paracetamol ?.. > These post are helping me a lot...thanks > HWB > @@@@@ Yes; dihydrocodeine is similar to codeine in most respects. Cheers, Pete Trimble You can get a lot of information on co-codamol at http://trustedmeds.com. I have the same arthritis as you but am over 70 so I need to be careful with medications. Although there is nothing about "build-up" of effect there is still a lot that was new to me. A massage gel called ketoprofen works very well short-time for me as well. Best of luck Keith > I am nearly 60 and have OA in my hips..Been a steadly increasing prob. over > the last 3 years (or more) ...recently pain n stiffness become so bad that I [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Thanks HWB > @@@@ Thanks Kieth..reading the Link's info now.. I am sure my GP gave my a version of Paracetamol 500 mg plus some similar-name-to-codeine but not Codeine ...I looked up the stuff on the net and it said "similar effects..but without the problems".. But I have lost the pack and can't remember.. HWB @@@@ Thanks Kieth..reading the Link's info now.. I am sure my GP gave my a version of Paracetamol 500 mg plus some similar-name-to-codeine but not Codeine ...I looked up the stuff on the net and it said "similar effects..but without the problems".. But I have lost the pack and can't remember.. HWB @@@@ Trimble You can get a lot of information on co-codamol at http://trustedmeds.com. I have the same arthritis as you but am over 70 so I need to be careful with medications. Although there is nothing about "build-up" of effect there is still a lot that was new to me. A massage gel called ketoprofen works very well short-time for me as well. Best of luck Keith > I am nearly 60 and have OA in my hips..Been a steadly increasing prob. over > the last 3 years (or more) ...recently pain n stiffness become so bad that I [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Thanks HWB > @@@@ |
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