I have been given Diclofenac, Solpadol and Diazepam -all to be taken along side each other!

[flossie64]

I'm a bit worried about such a cocktail of drugs.
I have been told I have a prolapsed disc in my back ,hence the prescriptions.
Not keen on lots of meds, especially painkillers. I'm worried about building a reliance on them . Also the problems of not being able to function on them.
Sorry if that sounds confused, but I am concerned.

diclofenac is anti-inflammatory and is not habit forming.
solpadol is co-codamol and can potentially be habit-froming, but I have used it sporadiacally for a few years with no probs.
diazepam (valium) is also potentially habit-forming. You may have been given a low dose of this though to help relax the muscles. If you were to use it for a week or 2, there should be no problems.

I am guessing you are in a lot of pain?
Have you been referred on somewhere?

I find co-codamol makes me a bit sleepy and tend to use it later in the day. Diclofenac willnot affect your functioning and you should take it as prescribed as the anti-inflamatory effect will build up. I have never taken diazepam, but it can make you spacey. Try them when you don't have to be out and about and see how it feels.

Talk to your doctor if you're worried.

I assume that you haven't been prescribed them long term anyway? And that you're in a lot of pain?

Solpodal can be taken with diclofenic fine as they're different families (ie paracetomal and ibprofen) but not sure about diazepam.

However, if you're in that much pain take them anyway as pain prevents recovery and will help you get on with things reasonably normally.

Agree with Nicky.

Solpodal usually gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and have taken it over the past few years but no addiction.

thakns for the replies
It was my Gp who said I need to take all 3.
I am in a lot of pain.
Diclofenac is 75mg controlled release twice a day.
Solpadol is 2 x 30/500mg 4 times a day.
Diazepam es 5mg 3 times a day.
I do feel shakey and spacey,but I think part of this is my worrying about them.
Also I cannot take any opiate drugs, as I found to my cost whilst in hospital once. They make me violently ill.
I am probably being unduly cautious, and would like to recover as soon as possible from this, without the surgical intervention my Gp hinted at this morning.

I use these for back pain and they are fine
How did they diagnose the prolapse?

They did a leg raise test and examined my back. I also had a slipped disc about 9 years ago, although when I did that I had nothing like the pain I'm having now.
I could only lift my leg 10 degres and cannot bend forwards either.
A right old crock I feel .
Don't know if i'm grinning brcause of the drugs or just because if I don't I might cry

gp's diagnosis of a prolapse isn't always all that it might be....you need an mri for that
also suggesting that there might be a need for surgery seems a bit beside the point for now as almost all prolapses are treated without surgical intervention and the recovery rates are just as good as for those with surgery
try to get an appointment at a pain clinic for better medication and someone who really understands how to treat back pain effectively

RM - thanks for that I will see how I go over the next few days . If there is not much change I will go back armed with your information. Good to hear that most don't need surgery ,as I really don't want to go there.

Codeine (in the solpadol) is an opiate, I thought?

I had to take exactly that cocktail when I did something horrid to my back; I also had to take Zydol, but they took me off that quickly when I had very weird reactions to it (quite enjoyed them though!). I also had to take my usual ms pills and pills for migraine when I got one.

Very confusing. Some 3x a day, some 4x a day etc and due to being spaced out on Zydol I couldn't work out when to take what.

I didn't get addicted to any of them, btw, though I was taking them for about 6 wks (except Zydol).

take you diclofenac with or just after food as it can upset your stomach. Sounds as tho you are in alot of pain...poor you
I sympathise having prolapsed 3 discs in a car crash...one of them so badly all the contents started to go into the spinal canal which terrified me.

BTW unless your Gp has xray vision there is no way he knows if you have a prolapsed or damaged disc...you do need an MR scan.

My son recently hurt his back and physio was adamant that he hadnt done any real damage,i wasnt so sure so i asked for and MRI scan. He has two damaged discs and one is impinging on the nerve that goes down his leg. So much for professionals. If i hadnt asked for the MRI scan he would just be on painkillers . Now he has been referred to a spinal specialist.

BTW you are fine with them all. Solpadol can constipate you and make you feel a bit light headed as the codeine in it can lower your BP.
I hope it helps the pain..

That sounds pretty normal for severe back pain.

Have you ben referred on though - GP can't tell a prolapsed disc (apart from you describing your symptoms) - you need an xray or a scan for that.

The 30/500 co-codamol might make you a bit woozy. If it does you can always take only one of them and a plain paracetamol to get the full dose of that - and take it regularly, its easier to keep on top of pain than get on top of it, iyswim.

They give you painkillers/muscle relaxants (diazepam) for back pain as it can be very important to keep mobile, and not let your muscles sieze up.

Hope you feel better soon.

Codeine is opiate based. So keep an eye on how that might make you feel if you vomit on opiates. They are addictive, but not in the very short term.

Diazepam is addictive but again not in the short term. And most drugs are less addictive if not taken for 'fun' but rather for a specific pain as they target the pain and you are less noticing the other effects.

(for example diamorphine when taken in childbirth, compared the the highly addictive nature after taking it once for recreational use)

Have or can you be referred for physiotherapy? If you've had the pain for less than 6 weeks you should be seen 'urgently' (on our waiting list urgents are seen within 1-2 weeks). If they have a back pain specialist he or she can then refer you for MRI. X-ray only shows bones so if it's a disc or anything else it won't show up. Also physio should be able to give you positions and movements to go into to ease your pain. Good luck!

There's not great evidence for diazepam vs placebo, and it can make you quite spacey, so if you want to cut down that's the one I'd stop.

Flossie,

As I mentioned on FB I'm in the same boat. Started off on co-codamol and it didn't do anything for me. Then went onto amytriptiline which works specificly on nerve pain and is good. When I first started taking it it made me very dopey the next day but I've got used to it now.

My pain's got worse and I've also been put on tramadol. But if you can't take opiates then no good for you. I did find I was very spacey with this at first but better now. However I now have bad insommina from them. So tired I feel ill.

Was going to ask GP about sleeping tablets but then read an awful article in the paper last week about a woman who staretd off on painkillers for chronic pain, couldn't sleep, got given sleeping tablets and is now an addict. So putting off going now. Diazapan is very addictive.

Have you tried a TENS as well? I find it works well.

Agree you need an MRI if pain doesn't clear up quickly as even my consultant wouldn't diagnose me as having a prolapse without one. MRI waiting times here are currently 4-6 weeks so a lot better than what they used to be.

I did mine 5 years ago now. Have had steriods injected into my back via an epidural which didn't help and I am now desperate for surgery.

why have they put you on co-codamol if you cant take any opiate drugs?

GothDetective- didn't realise it was you,sorry
PavlovtheCat-I will be careful thanks
Alypaly- I got it from an out of hours Gp service at the weekend. I have already cut the dose on it down to 1 tablet instead of 2,as it was making me very woosy(sp?)
My own Gp said to go back if any further problems.
I intend to book another appointment for next week. Definately going to push for physio and will ask about a scan.
Possibility I could go private for that as long as it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Mind you I've only got one good one at the moment ,so I would fall over if I have to pay with the other one
Sorry that was a very poor attempt at humour. I'm crap at jokes, but I have to laugh at myself or else I think I would scream

until you have had a scan,a physio might be reluctant to treat you incase she exacerbates the problem

I feel more relaxed today, no surprise really, with all the meds . Not sure if thats good or bad. I did a very slow walk to school and back.It was bearable, I did get a few coments about how I looked though.
When I got back I did take a close look in the mirror, I realised yhen why I had thw looks/comments. My pupils are tiny, everybody probably thought I had turned into a junkie .
Never mind if theres an improvement I'm happy.
Going to ring and make appointment for next week to discuss scan/physio etc.

Private MRI cost about £850 3 years ago.

Realised last night you wouldn't realise it waas me as have name changed!

Especially in this brain fuddled state
I def won't be going down that route then , I think Dh would have a fit over that much, its such a lot to pay.
Hopefully if Gp thinks I need it he will push for a quick appointment.
To change the subject , did the van pass?

Won't start so had to cancel appt as can't get out of drive. I'm very stressed. I thought a jump start this morning would sort it. I'm scared the head gasket has blown as there is quite a bit of white smoke. ££££££

I commented on your other thread.