Anyone else 'immune' to codeine?

[GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy]

I am in bloody aggers! I have strained my lower back and for the last 3 days have had shooting pains whenever I make a wrong move - literally takes my breath away. Was prescribed codeine yesterday which was a relief as ibuprofen and paracetamol weren't having any effect. I thought codeine was meant to be some kind of super painkiller (I've never had it) but it doesn't seem to have any painkilling effects whatsoever! I might as well have swallowed a piece of gravel! Anyone know if there is a different kind of painkiller I could ask for, or am I out of luck? Just so worried this isn't going to go away any time soon.
So I'm at home on the sofa, shattered after anither painful sleepless night, feeling glum and miserable. Sorry for the self indulgent moan 😩

You can take it as an additional to your paracetamol and ibuprofen. Try that.

Unfortunately a small number of people lack the enzyme to make codeine work, sounds like you're one of them. Yes, you could speak to your GP again. Hope it gets better soon.

And yes, keep taking the paracetamol and ibuprofen!

Also try Epsom salt baths.

Have you been prescribed codeine or cocodamol? If the latter make sure you don't take any extra paracetamol though you can take ibuprofen as normal.

Thanks for the advice, I will continue with the ibuprofen as well and I DO have bath salts so will def have a nice hot bath (bit scared about not being able to heave myself out though. Oh and the tablets are called codeine phosphate.

DH is immune to all opiates; he found out when they had him on morphine after an appendectomy and it didn't have any effect at all. So mention it if you ever have surgery!

Yes, about 14% of people I think don’t metabolise it. Shooting pain sounds like nerve pain, you could ask your GP about something like amyltriptelene.

All codeine ever did for me was make me constipated. Epidurals also don’t work too well, found that out the hard way.

I feel for you OP, back pain is horrible as no position is comfortable. Does a hot water bottle work to provide any relief?

Basically you are on opioid pain relief (codeine phosphate). You can take it in combination with paracetamol and ibuprofen as that potentiates the affect, as in all together provided you stick to the recommended doses. Hot water bottle alternated with a cold pack might help. Basically it just takes time. There is nothing stronger than opioid meds except higher doses under medical supervision.

Yes as a pp has said there are variations in how people meabolise codeine - some people are super metabolisers and are at higher risk of complications you must be at the other end of the spectrum. However all three of your drugs are safe to take together. Try taking maximum paracetamol and ibuprofen and add in the codeine too better to take them all regularly for a couple of days. Beware the constipation codeine is notorious for this perhaps have some prumes etc as well. The other thing that may be helpful is a well wrapped hot water bottle tucked into the small of your back, if you find this helpful you can buy stick on heat packs for when you are walking around. It is important to try and keep moving.

COI I’m a health professional who regularly prescribes for acute pain and am currently at home with a bad back! If you have any signs that might indicate a prolapsed disc or cauda equina such as pain or numbness into leg or difficulty starting or stopping weeing or pooingyou need to duscuss it urgently. If you are worried about getting out of the bath then make sure someone else is around or try thr hot water bottle instead!

Excuse the typos

My dad was resistant to opioids

Maybe try going to a physio. I've had various strains and injuries and I'm straight to the physio the minute it happens. Usually only takes a couple of sessions.

Codeine does sweet fuck all for me. Lifelong condition causing constant pain so I have quite the tolerance for a lot of painkillers. Try Ibuprofen Lysine instead of the normal ones, they are a lot better and take the paracetamol alongside them as they don't interact with each other. Just make sure the codeine doesn't have paracetamol or ibuprofen in it as well as many of them do.

I metabolise it fairly slowly. It does have some effect but not dramatic - it takes the edge off my chronic pain but doesn't do much for any of the frequent injuries I sustain. I find naproxen far more useful for the kind of strain you have.