To be thinking about dropping all pain meds for a month

[TheWonderfulFanny]

Posting in AIBU for traffic - please don't shout - I have a headache...

So, lots of stuff in the press today about headaches being caused by meds too often. HEard this on R4 while hiding under duvet with near-permanent headache/migraine (seeing neurologist next week, but have prelim diagnosis of occipital neuralgia)

Have had masses of migraine and headache recently, which could be down to the neuralgia (started about 6 months ago, getting worse recently) - plus have had migraine less often since childhood.

But, I also take pain relief for joint problems (on a walking stick at the moment) and have done for some time.

I thought I was being good not taking 4 doses a day, having days off from the meds at least once a week etc, now I'm squinting at the NICE guidelines and wondering whether I've brought at least some of the headaches on myself.

I have a demanding job which I can't do very well at the moment (requires thought, memory, concentration - all gone for a burton) but imagine it would be harder without meds.

Argh. Don't know what to do. It's a 2 week wait for a non-urgent appointment with the doctor. WWYD?

It would depend very much on which meds you're taking. Some can be stopped abruptly and some require a more gradual reducing dose - I wouldn't do anything without speaking to your GP or pharmacist.

What are you taking?

It very much depends on what you are taking tbh. Some things cannot just be stopped, and some meds are not just for pain either.

I second Must's advice, speak to your gp first.

Tapir is absolutely right.

Don't mess around with medication, wait for your GP. She/he will be able to help and if you are not happy get a second opinion.

Sorry you are not feeling good by the way.

Oh hello all, thanks for the replies :-)

I've got 15/500 cocodamol mostly, a the 30mg dihydrocodeine want working so week. Sometimes ilk just take paracetamol, sometimes ilk take 3x 200mg ibuprofen if it's really bad and I've had something to eat.

I can't take many anti inflammatories as it messes my stomach, so it's pretty much just pain relief. And I guess I take something or other most days, maybe 2 or 3 doses, but taking as little as I can get away with as a. I don't want to get addicted (friend did to feminax a few years ago, wasn't pretty) and b. I want them to work when I take them rather than having too much tolerance for them.

I thought I was doing the right thing, butt looking at the guidelines it looks like I might have done the worst possible..

Oh, and I take the odd Triptan, but not since this all started as it didn't seem like a good idea to be taking them more than once a month or so..

Gah.

Just read that back and was going to correct the auto corrects but there's way too many of them

Codeine can certainly give you a headache. I try to avoid it as I get migraine and frequent headaches but I too have joint pain and ibuprofen gives me indigestion. Catch 22 really, it's a bugger. I did find amitryptiline in a low dose quite helpful, and diclifenac with omeprazole was good too.

I really think you should make an appointment with your gp to discuss before you make any decisions.

See your GP. If you drop any long term meds ime it is better to do it gradually and not go cold turkey.

Ok, doctor it is. Got some more bloods to pick up results for in a couple of weeks.

I've tried amitryptaline and nortryptaline and no difference. I take a propranolol and that seems to help a bit. Sigh...

Thanks everyone

Good luck op :)

I went cold turkey with codiene. It was horrific. Seriously. I had diarrhoea, sickness, shakes, shivers, the works. I would not reccomend it. At this time I'd been taking them for 6 weeks. I did cut it out but my pain returned so I'm back on 30mg codiene 4 times a day.
I think if you've been on them a long time, the best thing to do is cut down under the advice of a doctor. Is there a pain team at your local hospital who might be able to advise you on the best medication?

Have I did that with Tramadol - seriously I was like a crack addict, it was horrendous, it took a month of cutting back slowly with the GP's advice.

I agree that you should speak to your gp, or see if you can get referred to your nearest pain clinic?

I find pain relief such a juggling act, it really is about trial and error and what works for you

Luckily the codeine your taking is a relatively low dose so if you do decide to come off it it shouldn't take too long to wean off

Just keep trying things, different doses, different times etc until you find a solution your happy with, pain is bad enough without side effects making it worse

Hope you can sort it out soon

Right - go see your gp about sorting your pain meds, you really need a medicine review, and a possible pain clinic referral.

I'm not suprised you're having stomach probs with the high ibuprofen dose - you really need a proton pump inhibitor like lansoprazole or omeprazole to help protect your stomach lining - food only does so much, and if you're taking one of those, then there is a good range of anti-inflammatories available to you.

I hope things get sorted for you soon

Random word in there - should be 'protect your stomach' it's late

I had one of the ones with a built in buffer a few t years ago, but to be honest it was a bit like morning sickness - feeling unstable and wanting to eat bland things to settle my stomach.

Hmm.

Oh but its not the high ibuprofen dose as that's not at all regular - I'd love to be able to take aspirin but that's a once every 2 months things!

I didn't know you could have a 'buffer.' I can't take any anti inflammatory meds at al now, even a small dose make me feel so sick and ill. I used to be ok but after a spell in hospital after an accident I needed shedloads of them and I presume that's what irritated my stomach lining to the point where I CAN'T EVEN HAVE HALF A NUROFEN NOW -oops caps lock!

I see what you're saying about the ibuprofen; with regards to the lansoprazole etc, using a med of that type (PPI) could mean that previously un-takeable anti inflammatory drugs are now available for you to take in safety (IYSWIM), and possibly have a better effect for you.

Shall talk to neurologist next week and doctor week after and see what they say.

Am thinking I could in desperation try anti is as suppository... Or as my mother would say 'french style'. Yes, I share a mother with Miranda )such fun)

Glad to hear it - I know what it's like to be in pain and not have appropriate pain relief.

at sharing a mother with Miranda.

I believe the new guidelines say this rebound effect only occurs in about 1 in 50 people on long-term painkillers, so the odds are fairly small (possibly a Dr could find out in your case?)

@ French style