to ask if there is a doctor / nurse / pharmacist online?

[kinkyfuckery]

... who can answer a question for me?

(I fucking know it is unreasonable to turn to Dr Internet, but we all do unreasonable things when desperate)

I've searched online and can't find any medical reason not to but is there any reason I can't take pregabalin, cocodamol and ibuprofen together at the same time??

I know I should seek advice from my own GP, but it's 11pm and I need something now, not tomorrow.

Thanks.

(mainly posting here for most traffic)

[trashcanjunkie]

I have no idea, sorry, but what the heck is pregabalin?

[IamInvisible]

Yes you can take them all together.

Disclaimer I am not medically qualified, I have been on that combination of medication.

[grumpyoldbat]

Pregabalin and cocodamol have similar side effect profiles but you could safely take ibuprofen with either.

[kinkyfuckery]

Pregabalin is for treating neuropathic pain - same family as gabapentin.

I am already taking the pregabalin and ibuprofen - just raiding the medicine box for something else that might help right now

[IamInvisible]

You can take the co-codamol too. You just might end up a bit more drowsy.

I take codiene alongside Gabapentin, I used to take Pre-gabalin but it didn't suit me that well.

[kinkyfuckery]

Drowsy would be good. I've taken them all now, just have to hope DC1 falls asleep soon so I can head up to bed

Thanks again

[ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow]

Yes you can. My DH took them together but now takes tramadol, pregabalalin, naproxen and duloxetine all together!
Hope you feel better soon and it helps the pain a bit.

[ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow]

That should say pregabalin - one handed typing while breastfeeding, sorry!!!

[Meerkatwhiskers]

Almost qualified nurse here. You can take all 3 together. . Might want something for your err bowels though as codeine can bung you up. Senna should do the trick

[Dawndonnaagain]

Agree, dh has taken that combination but is now on ILive's combination.

[Wobblypig]

They are all fine together. Can I ask what the pain is? There may be other things you can do as well. Do you have a Tens machine ?

[WitchWay]

If it's the strong co-codamol (30/500) you're more likely to feel drowsy. No poisonous effects though.

[kinkyfuckery]

Thanks guys.

Felt really drowsy but still couldn't sleep until about 3am. Was the most pain-free I've been in a while though, so score!

Wobbly I have fibromyalgia. In the evenings when I slow down and stop, I really notice the pain. My whole body aches, with sharp shooting pains up and down my body.

I have no TENS machine. Heat packs aren't really much use as the pain isn't contained to one area. A hot bath/shower can help for a bit, but is limited to actually being in the water! Someone has mentioned asking my doctor about Fentanyl patches. Kids are off school now until Wednesday so it's going to be at least then until I can see my GP, but she's really helpful so am confident we'll work out something to try next.

[Wobblypig]

Have you been seen by a pain specialist? Won't help right now but it can help give structure to how you tackle pain chronically and during flare ups. Your Gp would refer you.
Pain medication ladder would suggest using tramadol or oxycodone before fentanyl usually but you may find combination of mess like gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine or nortryptiline more useful.

[Wobblypig]

Combination of meds not mess!, sorry

[kinkyfuckery]

Nope. Was referred to rheumatologist a couple of years back who x-rayed my hands only and said it wasn't arthritis at least (this was when the pain was more localised to my hands and feet). I struggled with the pain for a while following that then went back in agony to GP, who said it was Fibromyalgia, but gave me nothing at all. Struggled on a bit longer before I went back and saw a lovely GP who has been great. Started on the lyrica which was working at the max dose, but now I'm having more bad days than good, so wondering if I've built up a resistance to it, if that's possible?
Should I be asking GP for something in particular or going by her ideas?
I was given details about a pain management group, but no mention of referral to any specialist.

[Meerkatwhiskers]

I wouldn't go into fentanyl just yet. It's a big jump up from ibuprofen and co-codamol. There are lots of other things to try inbetween. Try and stay off the morphine based painkillers as long as you can (oramorph, butrans patch, Oxynorm, MST, Fentanyl etc) as once you get to that level of pain relief you will tend to be more resistant to the other types and your pain will be harder to control. Also those kinds are more likely to be prescribed by a specialist rather than your GP (especially now the GP's are in charge of the budgets - sad fact).

Trying to get a referral back to see the rheumatologist would be the best idea as they know what kind of pain relief works best for those conditions. GP's are great sometimes but they are general practitioners not specialists.

You will probably need a referral to a pain clinic too as a previous poster said. Push for a referral and stick with the pregabalin at the moment. It is good stuff when it works (although gabapentin didn't really work for my sciatica tbh lol).

Good luck xx

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I'd second what Meerkat said. Stay away from morphine based painkillers.

I have Fenatyl patches. I'm now on the max dosage, because they don't work for long so you need to keep moving up. Nothing other than strong morphine works for me now. There is no way back onto Lyrica or the likes, and I'm told ALL THE TIME that I'm on enough painkillers to down a rhino and I'm such a petite girl...yadda yadda.

I'd stick with pregabalin/tramadal/co-codamol/paracetamol/ibruprofen for as long as possible.

[KatyMac]

My consultant told me to try 3 x 20 minute baths a day

I do notice when I only have one bath a day - but I don't notice when I have 3

That makes no sense

[kinkyfuckery]

Wow, you are all being so kind, thank you.

I might see about tramadol. I had it in the past and didn't get much from it, but it may work in combination with something else. I have a fairly high resistance to painkillers/anaesthetic.
Will definitely ask for onwards referral too. My GP is going off on maternity leave in May, I don't want to be stuck with a GP who may not 'believe' in my condition.

I hate it that I have such a low tolerance for the kids when I am feeling like this