Co-codamol and Tramadol together?

nanarose

Just a quick question on medication, as I'm confused! :?

I was told by my GP that I couldn't take co-codamol with Tramadol.
I take 100mg slow release Tramadol twice a day. Yet my Rheummy nurse said that it was quite OK and didn't understand why the GP had said that I couldn't.

I usually take paracetamol with the Tramadol, but occasionally when the pain is really bad, I feel I need something extra just to get me through the flare.

katieduk

nanarose wrote:

Just a quick question on medication, as I'm confused! :?

I was told by my GP that I couldn't take co-codamol with Tramadol.
I take 100mg slow release Tramadol twice a day. Yet my Rheummy nurse said that it was quite OK and didn't understand why the GP had said that I couldn't.

I usually take paracetamol with the Tramadol, but occasionally when the pain is really bad, I feel I need something extra just to get me through the flare.

Hiya

techincially you can take together as longer as the tramadol is not one with paracetamol added.. cant remember the name of it. If it is straight tramadol, then yes - I would restrict the number of times you do it,as you may get a bit spaced out! but should not have any real problems....
Kate

sharmaine

Hi Nanarose

I take paracetamol with Tramadol but not co-codamol. Ring your docs surgery before you do. I would've thought that you couldn't.
I take 3/4 Tramadol a day and supplement it with paracetamol if I'm feeling rough.

Check it out properly first.

Sharmaine

nanarose wrote:

Just a quick question on medication, as I'm confused! :?

I was told by my GP that I couldn't take co-codamol with Tramadol.
I take 100mg slow release Tramadol twice a day. Yet my Rheummy nurse said that it was quite OK and didn't understand why the GP had said that I couldn't.

I usually take paracetamol with the Tramadol, but occasionally when the pain is really bad, I feel I need something extra just to get me through the flare.

dreamdaisy

By together do you mean at the same time? I hope not! I use co-cod during the day, then, if necessary, a 50mg tramadol at night. When I wake up in the night with pain I then decide whether to opt for another tram or dial down to a co-cod. No-one's ever told me not to do this, and they would get short-shrift if they did. I'm living with the pain, not them. I have to smile when healthy people start telling me what I should be doing.

annie_mial

I've queried this with both my GP and the Rheumy and they both say they can be mixed.........but not together, of course.

I'm not having a good day today and the co-cos aren't working too well, so for this latest dose (right now with a cuppa hubby has made me) have switched to Tramadol and will use that tonight.

Will see what happens in the morning!

Annie

gemmapetken

hi
i take co-codamal and tramadol as my regular pain killers. this is because my hip dislocates several times a day. sometimes i feel a bit spaced out but since trying the butrans morphine patch i just top this up with the tramadol so have cut down the amount of pills i take

Gemma

Wonkylegs

HI

have you tried asking your pharmacist for advice?

they are often the best people to advise on how and when to take what you have been prescribed.

I ahve no personal experience of the meds you ask about - although I do take co-codamol.

however, I have had experience of needing advice about mixing & spacing out meds, and the local pharmacy have been ever so helpful ..... they would rather you ask than make things up yourself .... (and do remember that what is ok for one person is not always ok for someone else).

take care & I do hope you get your pain under control

WOnky

nanarose

Thanks for the replies folks.

I think I will ask the pharmacist for advice as Wonky advises and will surely get the right, for me, answer.
I certainly don't want to overdose myself, especially with everything else I'm on!
I'm so glad I found this site, everyone is so happy to help out - even with silly questions!

amboritic

I have been on cocodomol and tramadol for about 7 years, I used to use the tramadol very occasionally but have taken the two together when the pain is really bad. My rheummy has put me in codydramol and was looking into stopping the tramadol, he doesn't think they will be additive as far as pain relief goes, after one week without the tramadol I beg to differ, the biggest problem would be side effects.
If they make you sleepy or dizzy then don't take them together, I never had much in the way of side effects, other than mild constipation with the cocodomol.
Every Dr will have a different idea based on their clinical judgement and experience.
I might ask my GP about different strengths of codydramol, as I have been told there are stronger ones.
I will try and look out my BNF and check.

Another thing to remember is addiction and tolerance, I tended to use the cocodomol as regular pain killers and the tramadol as the big guns when pain was worse.

Every Dr will be different but they are used regularly by lots of GPs where I work.

frogmorton

Think you can, but need to take advice as the two bOTH slow your heart/breathing rate down or something?

Ther are risks for some peopel and your GP will be looking at his BNF which no doubt says they are contraindicative or something like that.

Hope you get clarification soon.

LOve

Toni xx