Help, can I drink whilst taking painkillers?

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Hi, does anyone know if it’s oK to take painkillers whilst on cocodamol? Specifically the 30/500mg type

for context, im supposed to be having a few cocktails tonight which I’ve been really looking forward to, but I’ve had a pain flare up. Usually cocodamol can fix it (I was prescribed it after a big operation) but I don’t know if it’s ok to have a few drinks on it? I don’t want to end up unwell or being manically as I know can happen with certain other alcohol+ tablet combinations, but I’m in a lot of pain and don’t want it to ruin my night. Would it be better sticking to paracetamol? Thanks in advance x

Personally I wouldn't drink and take codeine, but everyone reacts differently. In my experience, codeine makes me spaced out so adding alcohol would be a recipe for disaster

They're both central nervous system depressants so it would be unwise.

Best to skip alcohol when taking things like co-codamol. It can make you absolutely zonked!

I do and have never had a negative experience but I guess everyone is different

I've drunk on codeine and been fine but probably wouldn't take it too close to drinking, don't take the evening dose sort of thing. It can depress the respiratory system apparently.

Helps them to go down nicely.

Depends. If the codeine makes you feel off then I wouldn’t but if you’re used to them and they don’t have that affect I’d have a cocktail or two.

i take them regularly and I drink with them on occasion.

I don’t think it would have any dangerous effects but it will certainly make you get drunk far quicker so need to be careful with that and limit drinks. 30/500 Co-codamol has me out of it anyway, I think a drink or two would have me on the floor!

Re respiratory depression, this is correct. Combining CNS depressants risks you dying.

From the nhs website

It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days of treatment until you see how co-codamol affects you.
Drinking alcohol while you're taking co-codamol can make you feel more sleepy. It can also increase the risk of serious side effects.
If you feel sleepy with co-codamol, stop drinking alcohol while you're taking it.

so personally I wouldn’t

I was really ill when I drank alcohol with cocodamol and I only had a couple of lagers.

You sound like a teenager. My dad's an alcoholic. That's typically something he would say.

It's dangerous, and the effects of alcohol the day after will surely exacerbate pain / discomfort?

I have personally as I've taken them for years and don't drive
If they are new to you then I wouldn't recommend it
You may find yourself dizzy or sick or at worse passed out

I do, but I’ve had them a long time. If you’re new to taking them see how you react first? My exh can’t take them as they space him out

I've been on 2 x 30:500s 4 times a day for about 5 years now and haven't had a problem with drinking, have been fine.

I've never paid much attention to the warnings on certain painkillers etc not to drink, until.........

A few months ago my daughter came home from a late shift at work to find me absolutely staggering drunk, or so it appeared. I had had one home measure of whisky, over the course of an hour or so, which normally would have no noticeable effect on me whatsoever. Yet here I was, a dribbling, incoherent mess of an embarrassment. I'd taken a couple of high strength co-codamol which had been prescribed for an infrequent but severe pain that I get and I'd never bothered to notice the very explicit warning not to take with alcohol. It took me quite some effort to persuade my wife and daughter that I hadn't drunk myself into a stupor and that I really don't have a drinking problem. Lesson learned.

Same here but I’d be cautious if I’d only just started taking them. Would taking the lower OTC strength cocodamol be an option if you’d like a drink?

I used to think nothing of it but then a lady at work told us how her niece died from mixing the two and I’ve not been able to forget that. So I don’t anymore. Tbh alcohol numbs the pain anyway.