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.

@Pippa246 addictive is used on the information leaflets given with these drugs. I have had codeine and then the lower dosed co-codamol over the past month and both mention risk of addiction.

I wouldn’t take them if you paid me because they make me horrifically sick.

I’ve been on Tramadol for 8 years due to a chronic pain condition. I take the same dose at the same time every day. If I miss a dose, I do get withdrawal symptoms, so my body is probably addicted to it. However I don’t need a higher dose to get the same effect, I only use it as directed and I cannot manage my pain without it. I don’t think of myself as an addict, but I do recognise that if I stopped it I would go through a period of withdrawal.

@Lalalalas took them for years, then slowly weened self off them, no problem. Also I was in 8 a day for years sounds like you will only use a few days a month

I have Cocodamol on prescription for arthritis. I was first prescribed it when l was waiting for a hip replacement.
However. I don't take it on the clock, four times a day.
I need it to get through a shift at work, 3-4 days a week (and hopefully that will reduce when l retire later this year).
Otherwise, l take it as l need it. Some days l do, some days l don't.
Some days my pain is bad (weather affects it) and l need to take it a couple of times a day, sometimes it's at a level low enough that l don't need medication.
I'm fortunate, I don't have an addictive personality. It doesn't 'send me loopy' as some people say, make me drowsy, or make me constipated.
I'm just grateful that l have it, my life would be pretty miserable without it.
As l said, though, mine's on prescription. I've never bought it over the counter, and my GP must be happy that l'm not over medicating, I only get a prescription every other month, the box of tablets l get lasts me that long.
And I don't seem to have needed to up the dosage as it isn't working, or take more as time goes on.

I imagine it's okay if it's for a short period of time, and you're very careful about how much you take.
To be honest, when l was waiting for my hip surgery Cocodamol didn't even take the edge off my pain. Cannabis oil did, though. That worked better than anything else.
If you're that concerned about taking it, and your pain levels warrant it, l'd speak to your GP about it.

What she said was unprofessional. She could have warned you about the addiction risk (I think they are supposed to), but she didn’t need to comment on whether or not she would take them- what have her personal health choices got to do with anything? Maybe working in a pharmacy isn’t the right job for her.

My DD takes them for period pain. She knows they are addictive and knows she shouldn’t take them for more than three days. As it is, she would usually only need them for two days anyway- the heaviest period days. The rest of the time she can cope on ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Why are you asking all these questions if you don’t plan on taking them anyway? It feels like it might be anxiety fuelled and therefore unhelpful.

OP they're fine if you're sensible with them. if you think you might get in to trouble with them then don't get them, the assistant was wrong to say that though, you should have asked to speak to the Pharmacist instead.

You seem shocked yet alcohol is widely available and can have just as devastating impacts on people’s lives even if they start out taking it for short term relief

Hello OP, As other's have said codeine can be addictive. Your woman at the pharmacy may have experienced substance abuse or addiction issues, even so, ideally she shouldn't have said what she said. I imagine she thought you would ask why, but I completely understand the 'rabbit in the headlights' reaction that would have made you freeze when she said this. The times I have not asked something I should have asked because I was just too busy internally reacting or freezing/flight. You can probably take codeine safely for three days per month when you have your period. I'm not sure however that you should be living with the pain your coil is causing you - please do speak to your GP or nurse practitioner about alternatives. Also check out 'Mark freeman OCD' for some amazing OCD resources. Good luck x

They’re very addictive, I had codeine once 15 years ago and I still think about it regularly 😮‍💨

Co-codamol for period pains? Take them for that and you will have nowhere to go except morphine if you suffer a serious injury or surgery.

Really? 😮

Yes. It was like floating on a cloud of calmness and stillness. I often contemplate making up a fake illness so I can get the doctor to prescribe me some codeine, but I won’t. Often toy with the idea of it though. So be careful!

I suppose everyone's different. I don't really feel anything like that when I take it. Just welcome pain relief.

I’m not sure I understand this logic for someone who is using codeine infrequently.

Sometimes they’re the only thing that works for my DD’s period pain. She isn’t a wuss or a drama queen and has always been pretty stoical with pain generally. But her period pains are debilitating. Sometimes it was so painful she would vomit or faint. Sometimes I’d wake up at 2am and hear her sobbing in the shower (she was using the warm water as a way to get some relief). She has tried mefanemic acid and naproxen and neither of those really had an impact. I was very reluctant to let her try co-codamol but eventually did when she was 16. The relief was amazing. She also has a tens machine now which is also quite helpful.

So she takes a small number of co-codamol a few times a month- this has not made her immune to its effects. If she had a serious injury or surgery, I would hope codeine could still be useful in that scenario (especially given that a hospital would be likely to give a stronger version than the co-codamol that’s available over the counter)

It’s interesting how they affect people differently. I have hardly ever taken them but did use them short term once for a horrendous toothache that couldn’t be shifted with paracetamol and ibuprofen. I didn’t have any of the effects you describe but then I have taken a fair few recreational drugs in my time so possibly have a high tolerance for getting high 😂 😬

My husband likes how he felt on codeine when he had a prolapsed disc in his back- for him it was a bit like you describe- all floaty and mellow.

Sorry can’t read all the replies but I think you take these for a very short period (they are addictive). I would go back to your GP if you have problems with your coil as may not be in the right place and they will send you for a scan (very common).

She needs speaking to- no place for her personal opinions

am absolutely amazed that you can buy something that could have such a negative impact on someone's life

Alcohol is legal, addictive and poisonous.

Co codamol is effective for period pain and if taken monthly for 3 days and you have no history of addiction it's fine
IMO the pharmacist overstepped and was unprofessional
Its usual to ask what sort of pain you need them for but 8/500 is a low dose anyway
For comparison I have chronic pain due to cerebral palsy and am given 50 tablets on repeat for my worst days

Yes, I spent a good few years taking paracetamol daily. Once I finally came off them I had terrible headaches. Which was the reason I started taking them in the first place.

Forgot My dose is 30/500

I was worried about taking ibuprofen with codeine long term when I had a dermoid cyst on my ovary - co-codamol you buy OTC is 8mg/tablet of codeine, it's 12.5mg with ibuprofen, so a higher dose. Had a chat with a pharmacist about it and he was really reassuring that the way I was taking them would be incredibly unlikely to lead to addiction problems, and I was taking them regularly for nearly a year.

Don't take more than it says on the packet, don't take them for days and days on end - and don't take them for headaches, apparently that's a big problem which can get people hooked.

And? I take dihydrocodeine, oral morphine, mefanamic acid for "period pain" and I still am on all fours screaming with that
Painkillers don't do much for me

Broken ankle, no painkillers
Spinal surgery, no painkillers

Everyone needs them for different things