paracetomol

speedalong

Hi this is probably a daft question, but anyway -

I'm weaning myself off my painkillers and am now mainly only taking paracetemol during the day (plus anti-inflams of course.) I'm still reducing gradually the codeine element at night.

Anyway this means I'm taking more paracetomol and the chemist will only sell you a maximum of 24, the supermarket a maximum of 16 ... do I go to multiple chemists or can I get them on prescription??? Seems silly to get them on prescription when they are so cheap ... can you? do you?

What do folks who take 8 paracetomol a day do?

Thanks.

Speedy

coco67

i get mine on perscription so it may be worth asking the dr for some

marion1952

Hi Speedy

This is a good point .. before I had my hip operation I used to go round various supermarkets buying the maximum I could get of the 16p packets of paractamol.. I can't do that now, so have had to get them on prescription.,, but the GP will still only give me 12 days supply!! I overcome the cost issue by getting a 3 month pre-paid prescription card - it just about works out cost effective as I also have a few other drugs which I need to get on a monthly basis ...

I get my repeat prescriptions from a local chemist, so when I need something I just phone the chemist and they take my order to my GP and get whatever I need - and then they also deliver it to my home for no charge....

I didn't take any paracetamol yesterday but had discomfort in my new hip overnight, so I'm going back on 2 every 6 hours again today (I find that my new hip 'pulls' when I lie flat in bed - do you find that with your resurfaced hip ??)

Best wishes

Marion

speedalong

Hi Coco - thanks for replying - shall have to give my GP a call, have to get through the rottweiler receptionist first ...

Speedy

speedalong

Hi Marion,

I feel a pulling sometimes - mine is from the scar and surrounding skin/tissue. As a child I had operations on my hips too and on my right hip I had a long scar and I grew as it was healing and it is a very wide, thick scar. When they did this op - the surgeon in his wisdom or because he had to started his incision half way up that scar and then on up my hip ... so I have an even more amazing and thick scar than ever.... I rub bio oil into it twice a day (one of the nurses recommended it.) If I forget I soon know about it as when reclining, lying it starts to pull. Is this what you mean? Or is your pulling internal and due to be horizontal? If it's internal - you could try a pillow under your knees so that your legs are not quite straight? Might help?

I noticed last couple of days that I have a bit of lower back pain on the op side, kind-of top/just above my hip ... not sure if I'm compensating with my back or if it is using my scooter more or the walking or the physio exercises .... it's not unbearable - but there.

Keep posting as it is good to hear how you are doing.

Speedy

coco67

speedalong,

we have a receptionist like that at our surgery, last time i had to deal with her i told her she was doing the wrong job, when she asked why i replyed.....you obviously view yourself as more qualified than the dr so i think you should swap with him and make him the receptionist, then i might get some joy and politeness when i call. i know i know i was bad but some days i just cant hold it in any more. she dont question me anymore

dreamdaisy

How many are you taking speedy? They are v bad for the liver when used long-term. Still cheaper to trawl round the supermarkets than £7.50 per prescription - get friends and neighbours to buy them on your behalf! DD

tkachev

I get prescribed over 100 a month. I usually take 12 in a day when feel bad but mostly dont take them at all for weeks.


Elizabeth

speedalong

coco67 wrote:

speedalong,

we have a receptionist like that at our surgery, last time i had to deal with her i told her she was doing the wrong job, when she asked why i replyed.....you obviously view yourself as more qualified than the dr so i think you should swap with him and make him the receptionist, then i might get some joy and politeness when i call. i know i know i was bad but some days i just cant hold it in any more. she dont question me anymore

Way to go!!!

Speedy

speedalong

Hi DD,

been taking full daily allocation (4 lots of 2 x 500mg daily) since op plus codeine. Now reducing codeine ... next will start reducing the paracetomol. Aim to just take anti-inflams ... and then try cutting those out and see how it affects my knees - they only have early OA ...

Speedy

speedalong

delboy wrote:

I just bought 2 X 32 packs from Lloyds, Saturday girls served me.

Which Lloyds was that?!

Speedy

marion1952

Hi Speedalong

Thanks for your advice.. The 'pulling' feels internal rather than the scar, so I will try the pillow under my knees...

My scar is quite 'itchy' now - is that normal?? It's not hot and it looks like it's healing fine....'

I sometimes get an 'ache' just below my waistline and to the side/back.. it sounds similar to yours... I am putting it down to the tissues settling down...

Look forward to your further postings..

Marion

speedalong

tkachev wrote:

I get prescribed over 100 a month. I usually take 12 in a day when feel bad but mostly dont take them at all for weeks.


Elizabeth

On bad days wouldn't you be better - sticking to the max recommended dose of 8 and taking something else with them? Have you asked the GP what else you can take for severe break-through pain?

Take care Elizabeth.

Speedy

only49

this is all very interesting, i was always told never take more than 8 in 24 hours, i thought paracematol was suppost of be one of the safest forms of pain relief.

speedalong

only49 wrote:

this is all very interesting, i was always told never take more than 8 in 24 hours, i thought paracematol was suppost of be one of the safest forms of pain relief.

You are quite right - you should never take more than 8 in 24 hours ... and leave a gap of at least 4 hours between doses. (Which is how I take them.)

As to how safe they are when taken following the rules I don't know ... they are always the first med suggested by docs ... they say because they are safe ... but perhaps it is really because they are cheap?!

Speedy

marion1952

Hi

Yes, this is interesting .... I really don't like taking any kind of drugs but 'needs must' these days ... and when my hip strated to get really bad my rheumy told me it was absolutely OK to take 8 paracetamol in 24 hours and not to worry, they wouldn't affect my liver (a concern of mine because I am on methotrexate)...


I still can't get over my 'aversion' to drugs though, so am hoping I will be able to drop the dose in a few weeks, once my new hip has settled in ..

Marion

speedalong

I still can't get over my 'aversion' to drugs though, so am hoping I will be able to drop the dose in a few weeks, once my new hip has settled in ..

Hi Marion, I'm the same ... I don't like taking meds either. As my hip got worse I had no choice ... but now it's bionic and on the mend - I'm reducing again. Can't wait to be totally off the codeine the majority of the time - will be good to be rid of the battle with constipation!!

Speedy

cthornley

speedalong wrote:

As to how safe they are when taken following the rules I don't know ... they are always the first med suggested by docs ... they say because they are safe ... but perhaps it is really because they are cheap?!

Speedy

They are one of the safest but they are a drugs so you still need to take care...and they are cheap because people take so many of them...mass production has some benefits

I have them on prescription - 200-300 at a time and as i'm on a yearly prepayment it doesn't matter in terms of cost because the DMARDS will have paid for that several times over

I take between 2 & 8 a day depending on the pain spaced as best as possible...its scary when I think about how many I have taken over the past 12 yrs but my GP, Rhemy and dr husband are happy with the safety aspect...they are generally more worried about the codeine, anti inflams and dmards but even that they just keep
tabs on. I'm quite good at getting them to review my meds and reorganise so that i'm on the least I can cope with - its about balancing benefits and drawbacks I suppose

Chrissie

hileena111

Hi, Yes I've been on paracetamol for a long time recently 8 x 24 hrs....if having a very heavy day I would day an anti inflammatory or codeine as a top up but not more than the 8 paracetmol a day.
I can buy 2 packs in Boots but my dr. prescribes them and prescribes quite a lot....Of course he wasnt prescribing anything else for arthur...can you not go with a friend to a chemist and both get some LOL or if there isnt much of a queue, get them and join the queue for the second lot LOL Or can you not get friends or neighbours or relatives to buy you some each time they go out.....these are all things I've tried before they were prescribed.
Before my hip op I used to take them twice a day or maybe 3 times a day but coming up to my op I needed the full dose.
Marion
I missed some of my paracetamol yesterday and had a dreadful night.
Love
Hileena

tkachev

speedalong wrote:

tkachev wrote:

I get prescribed over 100 a month. I usually take 12 in a day when feel bad but mostly dont take them at all for weeks.


Elizabeth

On bad days wouldn't you be better - sticking to the max recommended dose of 8 and taking something else with them? Have you asked the GP what else you can take for severe break-through pain?

Take care Elizabeth.

Speedy

Yes I would be better but I only take them for headache pain which come once every few weeks and so I feel nothing can get done until that is controlled so take as many as required. Yesterday had to take 3 lots of 4 tablets to get rid of the headache which went just before the England game. I wont take anymore until the next headache.
What other medication could I take which would be more efficient?I have just got used to taking that many before my frequent headaches will go.

Elizabeth

janie68

Hi

I take paracetamol 8 per day as I am on dihydrocodeine which increases its efficacy.

An alternative to paracetamol could be ibuprofen, paracetamol is not safe if you overdose, you can damage your liver.

I get my paracetamol from the gp, get 200 a time but I get my prescription free.

Have a good day

Janie

speedalong

Hi Elizabeth, some painkillers also contain caffeine which increase the efficiancy/speed of the painkiller working - can be bought over the counter. However why not ask your doc/pharmacist - it's complicated for us peeps because of the other meds we take. Be careful though with the paracetomol because of your liver - you have enough on your plate without suffering liver complications ... there is probably something much better out there which would be safer and equally effective. Not meaning to lecture ... just worrying for you...

Speedy

speedalong

Thanks Janie - think I will ask my GP for some.

Speedy

lindalegs

I was also told that Paracetamol is one of the safest forms of pain relief, so I agree with Only. When I'm having a rough time I take 2 every 6 hours to get me through the night as well as the day.

I also get them on repeat precription and my GP gives me 200 tabs for 2 months, if I need them. If you have a pre-paid precription certificate this works out very economical.

Luv Legs

speedalong

Thanks Legs, I don't usually have a pre-paid but I did get one once out of hospital ... this time round. Not used it yet either!! Typical ...

Speedy

tkachev

i was advised to stop ibruprofen cos of risks to stomach. I understand the implications speedy but headaches go on so long and I have to collapse whilst having them so i need to return to my duties asap!
Its the lesser of 2 evils I think although not 100 per cent sure.

Elizabeth