Advice re prescription

[poemontheocean]

In here for traffic (sorry.)

I had a prescription for pain relief faxed through to a pharmacy 2 days ago and I've realised I'm not going to have enough to last after tomorrow.

Due in work first thing Monday - won't have a chance to see the doctor.

What do you think the best thing to do is? Should I call OOH today or tomorrow?

Appreciate advice :) thanks.

living you are right, as long as you cab function normally you are fine to drive. I take 60mg of codeine x 2 4 times a day, but as I'm used to them they don't affect my driving.

Becca19962014 Dihydrocodeine and codeine are pretty similar in potency.

Thanks great

The OP indicated that she felt using OOH was the limit of her options.

Not quite sooty - it's just that two doctors have said 'don't bother seeing a doctor' and I really genuinely didn't foresee my silly back STILL playing up several days later. Regardless of what's in what and whether there's a placebo effect or not one lot of pain relief works and one lot doesn't and I won't pretend to understand why but I'm not prone (honestly!) to dramatic behaviour and in fact I usually downplay pain.

The last thing I want to do is be a pest for anybody but I do think when you're in a lot of pain (which I was) it isn't unreasonable to contact OOH, given it was OOH :)

If you are so sure that calling OOH is the best thing to do what was the point of the thread OP?

www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/bnf/current/4-central-nervous-system/47-analgesics/472-opioid-analgesics/dihydrocodeine-tartrate

www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/bnf/current/4-central-nervous-system/47-analgesics/472-opioid-analgesics/codeine-phosphate

They are for different types of pain - . Dihydrocodiene for moderate to severe and codiene for mild to moderate. Obviously they do cross over a bit!

Sorry. Meant to hit preview not post! Ignore errors!

I haven't called OOH Mary and nor will I, having been told it's the wrong thing to do.

However I can't go back in time which some people seem to think I can

I don't think anyone has said you were wrong for calling ooh first time. Just that to do so now probably isn't the best idea.

OP, my GP surgery offer telephone appointments. Does yours? If you phoned first thing on Monday and explained your sudden onset back pain/OOH experience/meds running out and your need to be at work? I'm sure they will be able to assist via phone.

Hopefully they examined you in OOH and ruled out anything else (kidney stones/slipped disc etc).

I wouldn't worry about bothering your GP. If the pain is the same and or getting worse and you have to be in work, you need to speak to someone again. You might need physio long term.

Re your meds running out prior to Monday - otc Paramol/Nurofen Plus? A pharmacist should be able to help guide you. I don't think OOH will help again unless things have become worse/new additional symptoms?

Please consider calling your GP on Monday. My OH suffers from sciatica and lower back pain. I can't even begin to imagine the level of pain!

Hope you get it sorted.

But you haven't tried paramol that's the point.
And whilst dihydrocodeine is stronger, paramol is not stronger that 30/500 cocodamol, hence why you can buy paramol otc, but not that strength codeine. Paramol is virtually the same as what you've had from the doctor. Buy some tomorrow and try it, if its not enough then you need to see a doctor. What you were advised Thursday is not what you'd be advised 3 days later with the same level of pain.

Pando , I don't think op has physically seen a doctor yet. The ooh consultation was over the phone and prescription faxed. Hence why many posters suggest that her gp will need to speak to and see her to decide what the next step should be, rather than blindly prescribe.

They are for different types of pain - . Dihydrocodiene for moderate to severe and codiene for mild to moderate. Obviously they do cross over a bit!

Regardless of what they are used for, they are considered to be similar in potency.

www.rcoa.ac.uk/faculty-of-pain-medicine/opioids-aware/structured-approach-to-prescribing/dose-equivalents-and-changing-opioids

I think it was reasonable to contact the ooh first time round but they shouldn't be used for repeat calls, you need to contact your GP. You gave the impression that getting to the doctors was a problem which is probably why they agreed to give you the prescription with just a telephone consultation but if they pain has persisted longer than the first prescription covers, the next advice may be different.
You have been prescribed enough medication to last until Monday morning so ooh should not give you more as has been indicated by previous posters who are professionals in the field.
You have tried OTC medications but they didn't help however given the time scale I would assume you have not tried every option available from the pharmacy therefore if you are determined to go to work on Monday if would seem to me that your best option would be to speak to a pharmacist and explain what you have tried and what had it has not been effective, then go to work Monday and phone doctors to see what they suggest.

Just wanted to say my husband recently suffered terribly with back spasms secondary to old fibrox tissue damage. His pain was so bad he couldn't wait 10 weeks for the physio waiting list and we paid for him to see an osteopath. £30 a session, but within 3 sessions (and following a strict excercise reigime!) he felt like a new man. Perhaps you could try and book in with a osteopath in your lunch hour/after work on Monday?

In terms of your pain relief, I suppose you have two choices, pharmacy advice or ring OOH and ask the question, the worst that can happen is the GP says no. I'm more than sure OOH GP time has been wasted on far more trivial things.

I'm not sure why you've been given such a hard time OP. My poor (and very proud!) DH was in such a mess with his back (unable to dress, put socks on, control his wind etc!) I'd of rung the ooh myself for him. His GP barely examined him, just prescribed pain killers and advised him about osteopaths/ Physio. So difficult when you genuinely cannot miss work, not everybody understands that this situation actually exsists. Really hope you get sorted

What a lovely message Pippa - thank you!

I've been told twice now not to bother going to see my GP.

We shall see. I've reduced the dose of the painkillers so I've enough for Monday but I can really feel it to be honest.

As a long term chronic pain sufferer I really can't comprehend why you'd take less meds and apparently be in pain than go see your GP?

I can honestly say if I had to reduce my meds to last me over the weekend I'd be crawling to the GP Monday morning not repeating oh two people told me not to see my GP!!

Also they told you this what 5days ago? Think of it this way if you arm was bleeding for say 5mins no one would tell you to see someone (normal cut not half an arm lol) but if it was still bleeding after 5hours at the same rate do you think the advice would still be the same?!

That was the advice I was given by medical professionals. I followed it.

But you claim to still be in severe pain. So ignore them and get seen - or go to an osteopath as many of us have suggested

It will probably go soon Undramatic - I hope so anyway.

If not it's something to consider but - it's the weekend, I can't drive and I've just had a week off work meaning money isn't in abundance so finding an osteopath may be a tad difficult, as in sure you can appreciate.

OP, I sympathise with your predicament. But why not try the Solpadeine Max/Paramol tomorrow instead of the prescribed medicine, and if it doesn't work, you're no worse off? You were talking about cutting down your medication to keep some for Monday anyway - taking an OTC painkiller would be better than just grinning and bearing it.

poem, that advice was several days ago. Your pain is still so severe it's interfering with your activities of daily living. It is completely appropriate to consult a GP again. However, given that the analgesia is keeping your symptoms at bay, and you have enough analgesia to last until Monday, it would be more appropriate to speak to your own GP on Monday rather than call OOH. You don't feel able to attend your GP on Monday due to work commitments, so several posters have suggested you book a telephone consultation instead.

Tbh, at this early stage there isn't likely to be much the doctor can do except prescribe analgesia (we don't usually refer to physio until back pain has been going on for 4-6 weeks, because it often clears up of its own accord quickly without needing physio). However, you probably still ought to be seen, so your GP can rule out any major problems, and so they can check whether it's muscle spasm (if it is, a short course of diazepam is likely to help). As you can't go to your GP on Monday, I would suggest you ring the GP on Monday to ask for analgesia and advice, and plan to attend the surgery later in the week if the pain is ongoing.

OP I'm not really sure what you hoped for by posting on here. You have had lots of supportive and helpful advice but you don't seem to want to take any of it. I hope you feel better soon though. It took me about 6 weeks to feel better but I only took one day off work. I had to get a lift to and from work for a few days as the codeine made me feel very odd, but it was the only thing that helped with the pain.

Did you get sorted today poem?