cocodamol, spacing.

[Laiku]

I have had jaw surgery and been given cocodamol 30/500.
The paracetamol content concerns me.
I took one an hour ago and should probably have taken two. My error, i am still in pain.

How do you space them out? If i took one an hour ago and one now, when can i take my next dose - in 4 hours from my last tablet?

Yes I'd try going 4 hours from last one but next time take 2. Those amounts of paracetamol are standard in cocodamol and they should only be taken for 3 days as they're habit forming. Hope your jaw gets better

Thanks!
They gave me 100 so i don't know how i can take them all in 3 days!

🤣 maybe it's just over the counter for 3 days, different with a prescription? Gotta be that. Feel better ☺️

Thank you, i hope the pain buggers off soon. I will likely still be awake for the next dose sadly.

I’d probably take the second one and wait four hours from then.

Also remember heat can be a reasonable pain killer switching with ice for any swelling.

I remember being worried about the paracetamol in cocodamol but I was prescribed 8 a day for four years with no ill effects.

Just concentrate on getting on top of the pain and forget about the paracetamol aspect.

If you took one two hours ago, i would take the other one now and then split the difference to take the next two in three hours and carry on with minimum four hour spacing from there.

Remember it's a maximum of 8 tablets in any 24 hour period so you can't just keep taking them every 4 hours.

You can safely take 2 tablets at each dosing.

If the pain still isn't being managed, you can alternate with ibuprofen (if you can take it i.e. not asthmatic etc).

Co-codamol also contains codeine which is why it's usually 3 days max as it can be addictive. It can also cause constipation so just be mindful of that.

You don’t take them all in 3 days. The 3 days is for when getting over the counter medications containing codeine. As yours have been prescribed you can take them for longer based on how you’re recovering from your surgery.

The instructions should say something like “take 1 or 2 tablets up to 4 times a day. Do not take more than 8 in 24 hours.” They should be taken using the same pattern as paracetamol - 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours but maximum 4 times in 24 hours. If 1 doesn’t help take the second one but then wait a minimum 4 hours before the next dose.

If you’re taking 4x 2 tablets a day and they’re still not helping you need to speak to your GP about adding in another medication such as naproxen (if you can take NSAIDS) or changing the opiate component.