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 agree with her. They’re addictive. I’d only take if absolutely necessary.

To some people they are yes
I don't get anything from codeine or morphine, I work and function normally on both, no high or floaty happy feeling or anything
Have taken them both on and off with no issues

I am very surprised yes!

Cocodamol are amazing as pain relief. I feel like they are not mega widely used. I have adenomyosis so very very painful periods. I also take tranexamic acid but need cocodamol manage my periods too.

I do use the for longer than recommend 3 days very occasionally. But not at full maximum daily dose. So maybe 2 doses a day over 5 days. I've never felt addicted. But I think you do have to be careful as they are addictive.

OP, codeine is sold over the counter because it provides excellent pain relief when used correctly.
One of my sons had a bad break last year and the solpadeine max was a godsend. 12.5mg per tab, if I recall? So 25mg with every two tabs. Also the paracetamol which is in it too, 1g per two tabs.
Yes, codeine can be addictive. So be aware.
If you are using it for period pain, you will prob only need it for 3-4 days a month? Also you can alternate with plain paracetamol, as long as you don't take more than 4g of paracetamol in a day.
Day 1-2, worst pain, take 8 tabs solpadeine max a day.
Day 3-4 easing pain, maybe take 4 solpadeine max and 4 plain paracetamol.
You may need to take a laxative also, as codeine can really constipate you.
But if you needed the full 8 tabs of solpadeine for 4 days a month, thats fine!
It is available for precisely this kind of pain.

I have learnt so much this morning. I may come across a bit dim but I am really not. I have just never looked into this sort of thing and am absolutely amazed that you can buy something that could have such a negative impact on someone's life, just because they require some pain relief.

It is possible for people to get addicted to most painkilling drugs

Very strong painkilling drugs are generally only prescribed for either people who are dying and who therefore don't need to worry about addiction because bluntly they will be dead soon.

Or people who are in a lot of pain due to either an operation or a major accident. Again, the painkillers given will be Monitored and the medics will move you down onto less and less powerful painkillers over time.

Addiction is more likely the longer a person takes it and the stronger it is.

Co-codamol is not very strong, you can only buy about three days of it at a pharmacy.

Many people (me included) hate codeine at a painkiller because of the horrible spacy way it makes me feel. I am never likely to get addicted to codeine in fact I went back to my GP and asked for something else.

So say for instance I took it and got addicted, what then?

you can become addicted to any pain relief to be fair.

Even paracetamol?

A lot of painkillers are addictive including paracetamol. If you take it daily for months and then stop you often get withdrawal headaches.

Cocodamol/codydramol is strong therefore can cause worse withdrawal if used irresponsibly. It also makes you very constipated.

She shouldn't of said that. But I won't touch them because I like the feeling they gave me.
I had to take them for dry socket. And when I no longer needed them. I had to throw them away as I was taking them simply for the fuzzy feeling. But most people are sensible and will not do that!

I guess you would either try and reduce the amount you are taking each day on your own or try to access some sort of support to do this although lots of addiction services are underfunded at the moment.

I cant believe how much you all know.

I like them as a pain killer. I take them for period pain and gallstones pain. But I know the risks about them and would try and never take them for longer than a few days. They do make me feel spaced out a little bit. Get a bit of a 'glowy' feeling.

I actually take co-codamol 8mg/500mg and there's an ibuprofen version slightly stronger, OTC, at 13.5mg/200mg which I take together if pain really bad.

If I was you, I would just take paracetamol and ibuprofen together. No need to alternate these as someone mentioned. Safe to take, just make sure you've eaten something.

Well, I know all this because I was in an accident ten years ago and take painkillers every day. I use a wheelchair and the painkillers enable me to live a (more) normal life.

I think in the whole it's better to not have to know this!

Codeine can make some people feel sick, but if you are in pain and they don't have a negative effect on you, then I can't see the point in suffering unnecessarily.
Personally I find the best thing for period pain to be a mix of paracetamol and aspirin and a hot water bottle, but if they don't work for you, take whatever does.

You probably can only buy one pack from one pharmacy. I can imagine if you do get addicted though, you can just go to numerous pharmacies and even buy online. I got my ibuprofen/codeine online.

Some people don’t like taking any medication. It was a bit inappropriate of her to drop
it into a professional conversation. It says the dose and for a maximum of 3 days on the packet which you need to stick to. All medication can have side effects. You have to balance those against the discomfort of your symptoms. Have ypu tried the stock on heat patches for period pains, I think they work pretty well

Nurse here. Codeine is actually a very good painkiller especially when taken with paracetamol. 8mg is a very low dose and is unlikely to cause constipation or addiction.

Codeine is potentially addictive but it's no way guaranteed. Chemists only sell enough for three days use and if you're recognised, will not sell you any more without you getting a doctors prescription.

That said, I have a back problem and have been on highest dose prescription only codeine on and off for years without issue. When I get over whatever flare up (or even new issue) I just don't take any. I've never felt the need to carry on. I had a decent supply in my meds box at one point that ended up being disposed of because it was there for so long unused.

She shouldn't have shared her opinion (although I do share it), but she should have said that they can be addictive, and you should only take when really necessary. have you tried other painkillers and other pain management techniques first?

Doctors are very careful about prescribing it. I had it for a broken bone and was told by several consultants (3-4 over the 2 months) how addictive it was. It's advice I was smart enough to heed.

I kind of miss the old days when they handed out codeine like smarties for pain.

Yes, I understand why, yes, it's right that they stopped.

Having a blister pack in for really bad arthritis days so I could take one and have a pain-free day every now and again was great. I took maybe 2 a month back in he old days.

Then again, they handed Valium out like sweets in the 70s - our doctor always gave my mum some before she went on a flight. She and her friends all had a few in the cupboard "for difficult days" from the GP.

Going further back, in the 50s and 60s my grandmother and her sisters used to swap the pills for 'tiredness' from the GP. Amphetamines. They'd have one each they'd use for a Spring Cleaning day, channelling all that manic energy on getting the place clean.

None of them knew what they were taking . It was "stress relief" or "pep pills" respectively. GPs handed them out to buck you up or calm you down.

I have just been thinking, OMG if I take it I will end up addicted, lose my kids, end up in rehab and my life will be ruined.

I am going to leave it.