co-codamol is this normal

[lifeistooshort]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of taking co-codamol and if the side effects I have seem normal as they seem quite weird to me.

Was prescribed co-codamol on Tuesday PM. Took the first one in the evening and was so tired I had to go to bed. Yesterday I took it 3 times as instructed.

Each time within 30 mins of taking it I feel completely exhausted. Add another 15 minutes and my muscles go rigit. I have to lie down and cannot move. Then I fall asleep for about 2 ours. My mind then seem to wake up but I still cannot move for about 30 minutes. I had also lost all appetite. In between I feel quite confused and very slow.

Is this a normal reaction? It feels odd to me? Should I carry on taking it?

[Musicaltheatremum]

Thread is from2010. Hope OP is better and little one growing up well.

[SparkyDudess]

I've taken that same does of cocodamol for years, and NOW it doesn't give me any side effects.

Initially though I had everything you describe. I'd go with one cocodamol plus one ordinary paracetamol and back it up with another type of painkiller

They will all make you sleepy though, at least at first.

[PoppyWearer]

I was prescribed co codamol for gallstone pain and it always made me feel spacey.

And constipated.

And it was definitely addictive.

I took some post-op recently and it made me vomit. Thought it could be a coincidence and took it again, vomited again.

So it is now strictly off-limits for me.

[ouryve]

I have 30/500 co-codamol that I alternate with paracetamol for chronic pain. Even on my worst days, I've never had more than 6 co-codamol tablets and I've been taking it for 2 years. If nothing else, I'd end up so constipated I'd explode if I even tried to take anything like the full dose on anything more than an occasional short term basis.

So my advice, if you're not used to them, is to alternate with ordinary paracetamol - either one of each at each dose, or save the co-codamol for the evening and use paracetamol for the rest of the day.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Important to keep on top of the pain with pneumonia so you can breathe deeply enough and cough properly.

[MousyMouse]

pavlov
you are right, but the rate varies for everyone, which is why it is pretty unpredictable. sorry wasn't that clear.

[IsThatTrue]

Co-coda mil gives me chest pains for about 20 minutes after taking it. I don't take it anymore.

If you're not happy with the way your body reacts to it (and it sounds pretty extreme) then it's prob best to go back to the docs and get something else.

[PavlovtheCat]

mousy it is metabolised into morphine for everyone.

60mg is a large dose of codiene and the side effects don't seem excessive for the amount you are taking. You can try taking one tablet, and one plain paracetamol so in effect 1000mg paracetamol and only 30mg of codeine.

I am fit for nothing on codeine. Also, if you keep taking it, drink lots of water, LOTS of it and consider movicol sachet once a day as it can really bung you up.

[Longdistance]

I can't take cocodamol. Makes me feel drunk, and walk like one.

I'm taking tramadol at the moment, as have had surgery on my leg, as it broke in three places. Tramadol makes me sleepy. It's a good thing though, as it relaxes me. Although, I'm not liking the twitches before I fall asleep, they are weird.

[SauvignonBlanche]

Co-codamol 30/500 makes me completely spaced out but I can take paracetamol and codeine (which is what it is made up of) separately without any problems. This is not uncommon, you could try taking just paracetamol until you can get a prescription for codeine, or buy the Cocodamol 8/500 over the counter at a pharmacy.

[MousyMouse]

life
how far along are you?
you can take anti inflammatories if in second trimester and if there are ni problems e.g. bleeding. but again better ask a pharmacists.

[MousyMouse]

codeine can be very powerful to some people as in some it is metabolised into morphine.
I would ask gp for advice (or call a chemist as it's bank holiday weekend)

[KurriKurri]

dose not does. tsk.

[KurriKurri]

I felt very spacey and tired when i was on the higher does stuff you get on prescription - they would have doubled as sleeping pills. IME the effect does lessen as you get used to them, but you might well find something else suits you better.

Also - not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, - but codiene can make you very constipated, - so make sure you keep up your fluids and eat your roughage

[mevrou]

I have had restless leg syndrome for about 20 years & have been taking Trazadone (prescribed) each night. Seems to work for me.

[tb]

I had co-codamol at one point for neck pain after whiplash. Then there was no outright ban on alcohol with either co-codamol or coproxamol. On a weekend away to France, I had a glass of wine on the crossing. Half-way down the glass, my face started to glow bright red and I felt really weird. I decided to dull the neck pain with wine and forego the tablets during the weekend.

When I got back, I asked a pharmacist. She told me that the reactions to alcohol with either can be quite individual - some people can drink with one, but not the other. I can go out for a meal, have a drink before, and a couple of glasses of wine during with no apparent side-effects with coproxamol, but wouldn't risk it with co-codamol.

Perhaps trying a different painkiller would work. Coproxamol is still available, as far as I know, and that might make you feel less 'spacey'.

[DameFannyGallopsAtaGhost]

Magnesium supplement for restless legs is supposed to be good.

Re the codeine, I find the stronger the pain the stronger my response - so when it kicks in I might absolutely have to nap. I also get this with ibuprofen though - could this be the same sort of mechanism?

[magictommybhoy]

Anyone know of a solution for restless legs at night?

[magictommybhoy]

Have been taking 30/500 co-codamil tablets to help me sleep as I am plagued with restless legs at night, does help with the problem, but I'm tired during the day and really finding it difficult to function, will have to find another solution to this problem.
GP didn't warn me about this.

[KurriKurri]

LITS - I find they knock me out too (although also quite effective for pain) I also find if your taking quite a lot of them they make you very constipated.
I do what Weegiemum suggests too.

[PureAsTheColdDrivenSnow]

2 x 30/500mg is a lot 4 times a day IMO -

I have the same side-effects as you do, so only ever take them when a migraine threatens. I take 2 alongside ibuprofen and it knocks me out within half an hour, and I generally feel quite spacey for the rest of the day.

What are the side-effects like if you just take one? (I thought codeine was an anti-inflammatory btw, not sure though)

[lifeistooshort]

Thanks everyone. I cannot take anti-inflamatories as I am pregnant. The dose I am on is 2 tablets of 30/500mg 4 times a day. I think I will ask for something different.

[flossie64]

I am only taking them at night now ,due to side effects. Or you could try what weegiemum says that may help.
Get well soon.

[poshwellies]

After ds's birth, I was given co-codamol every 4 hours and ended up having hallucinations.I don't take them anymore.

Go back to your gp and get another pain medicine,they can cause odd side effects.

[weegiemum]

Mind you I had the 30/500 for Pneumonia/pleurist before Christmas and they really helped - but I took them along with a high dose of ibuprofen.