To be a bit concerned about what the lady at the pharmacy said

[Lalalalas]

So My friend recommended co-codamol for period pains, since have had my coil put in, my periods have become so much more painful. I asked the lady behind the counter if they were good and she said "I don't know, I wouldn't take them if you paid me". What was the reason for this? now I dont know if I should take them.

I have enough problem with my OCD, thankfully medicated and under control. Cannot deal with anything else. Thanks for your help ladies xx

The fentanyl crisis in USA has made a lot of people wary of opioids.

I'd look into the risks and managing them but try to stay on the side of legitimate sources rather than some hyped up exaggeration.

It's not a professional comment, but I assume in her job she's seen the down side by encountering addicted people with pretty extreme drug seeking behaviour, so it's an understandable thing for her to feel.

Because of the risk of addiction?

they only sell 3 or 4 days worth not enough to get addicted . co codamol makes me feel a bit sick I don't take them

try feminax for period pain or buscopan but they are marketed for bowel spasms.

OP if the coil is making your periods very painful maybe that’s what to address (agreed with others though cocodamol should be used for just short term pain relief - you don’t want to be relying on it for a few days every month for your cycle)
One of my best friends had a terrible time on the coil both with pain and much heavier blood loss and in the end it was taken out, and she felt a lot better for it.

She shouldn't have said that as it's not professional. Imagine saying that about something you sell, that works? Did she even ask your symptoms?
Yes, they can be addictive as they have opiates, but they are very effective for pain. Just only take the amount it says and only take for 3 days. If you can, taper off the dose on the last day. Some people need to take this type of medicine on a daily basis for pain. And it does cause withdrawal if they don't have any.
She should explain this, and also explain it can cause constipation.
If you need them, take them.

I took Mefenemic Acid for period pain, it was great. Prescription only.

Codeine makes me go loopy, I can't take it. Its also meant to be addictive.

Boots do a period relief tablet -look at that instead

OP, why don't you discuss the whole issue with your doctor.

Co-codamol is a good painkiller. It is a combination of codeine and paracetamol. Codeine is broken down in the body to morphine, which is why is it addictive. It should only be used for 3 days at a time. Codeine (as an opioid) also causes constipation as it slows down the digestive tract.
Codeine (as an opioid) is also a sedative and can cause drowsiness. How much of an effect this is depends how much morphine your body produces (and how quickly) when it breaks down the codeine. This can affect driving etc.
The codeine can also interact with a few other medications so important to check if you're already taking medicines to manage anything else.
The paracetamol is a good base painkiller but some people do not realise that co-codamol contains paracetamol so they take both together and can overdose. The dosage is very clear on the box with warnings not to take with anything containing paracetamol, including lemsip etc.

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My god this is so interesting. I never even knew anything like this. I always thought everything you got from the doctor/pharmacy must surely be ok. I am 34 and have no experience with drugs/medication so this is really interesting to know.

So actual drug addicts go to the pharmacy for their drugs which they can buy over the counter!?!? WOW

They contain codeine and paracetamol but the dose of codeine varies. The bigger doses of codeine (15, 30 mgs) need a prescription so if you are buying over the counter, it will be the lowest dose (8mgs).

The pharmacy assistant is ill informed and unprofessional. People in pain don’t get addicted to painkillers as the pain receptors take up the analgesic and there is none left in your system to get you high. Addiction happens when people without pain take them or their pain requirement lowers (eg after an injury heals) but they keep taking the same amount.

Codeine does cause constipation in almost everyone though so drink plenty and consider a mild aperient.

Being addicted to codeine is common - just search on here. Not sure they would consider themselves 'actual drug addicts' due to the image that phrase creates, but there you go. Anyone can become addicted to pain killers.

Everything you can buy in a pharmacy, or is prescribed by a doctor, has been licensed by the MHRA. However, all medicines can be abused and have side effects. Some people take medicines purely for the side effects (codeine being one of them because of the CNS effects) but this is abuse.
There are certain combinations of medicines which cannot be sold together and people suspected of abusing medicines are either refused it or are referred to their GP for a review.

Well, I take cocodamol for pain , I have been on them over 20 years, I take a dose in the morning otherwise I would not be able to get out of bed. Thats it, one dose per day, I have never felt like I wanted more, if I am in pain later on in the day, I take paracetamol. I do feel a bit relaxed for a while after I take them still after all this time but I have not become addicted to them at all. They do not cause constipation in me, I have IBS, I would love to get bunged up😁

I took coocodomol when I was in extreme pain and felt 'tipsy' so this can't be true of everyone. I hate that feeling (I never drink alcohol), so I've not taken codeine since.

OP, a good place to start with any health-related query is the NHS website.
it has clear information, if a little basic.
you can look up drugs there, also pain, addiction, the coil, etc

Codeine gives me serious stomach and back pain so I also wouldn't take them if you paid me. But I would have explained that I don't tolerate them well and that's why. Or I wouldn't have said anything in the first place.

They are good for pain though OP. Just wouldn't take on the regular. Ibuprofen is good for period pain, I was prescribed 4 x 600mg per day for endo pain which really helps when it's bad and also ibruprofen can slow the flow when taken regularly in first few days of period too (read up on it) which reduces pain.

Methadone, Codeine, Morphine, Heroin are all opioids. Recovering Heroin addicts are often prescribed methadone to come off heroin and they will collect this from the pharmacy.

The codeine in cocodamol is an opiate.

That means it is made from the opium poppy.

Heroin/diamorphone, morphine, opium, methadone, and OxyContin are all made from opium.

Opiates are all highly physically and psychologically addictive.

Watch Dopesick and Painkiller tv series to see what a devastating effect OxyContin has had in USA. Prescribed by doctors for pain like yours.

I'm with the shop assistant, I'd never take them.

People end up heroin addicts and dead from overdoses as a spiral from just taking these over the counter medicines.

It's a huge global scandal.

Well yes they can buy 3 days with of Co codamol you seem very surprised and a bit bemused that co codamol exists over the counter.

They can be very addictive for some people. If she knows people who have suffered from pain relief addiction she might be more wary than most.

I have noticed co-codamol gives me a feelgood buzz and am always careful to stop using it after 3 days as recommended., just in case.