new meds need advice pretty please ?

tillypink

Hi everyone, hope were all feeling okish today pain wise!

I'm here asking for advice please, had a letter from dr's to say I can't have my usual prescription of 100mg slow release tramadols and to come into dr's for a medication review.

Well went on wed's this week and was on 1 of 100mg of tramadol 3 times aday, with 1 of 50mg diclofenac also 3 times aday and 2 of 500mg of paracetamol 3 times aday.

Now I'm on 1 of 400mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day, 1 or 2 of 30mg codeine phosphate at 4 times a day, and still the 50mg diclofenac 1 at 3 times aday.

However the new tabs are really spacing me out and its not really numbing the pain I can still feel it :roll: !

Wanna give it till monday to see if it changes, but just want to see if anyone else is on simular medication and if they get on well with it.

I have OA in my left hip.

thanks

tillypink

skezier

Hi Tillypink,

They do this cus of the addiction side I think..... I think a review is a good idea actually cus it doesn't seem to be working too well for you. I don't take the ibrufin so can't help you there but just wanted to offer a bit of support and a hope they will get on top of the pain for you. Cris x

Oh Tilly I wonder if a referral to a pain clinic might help you? x

Wonkylegs

HI Tilly

well that is a strange mix :? :? :?

I am surprised at the Ibuprofen and the Diclofenac being prescribed together, as I thought they were both NSAIDs and were an 'either/or' kind of thing, but I'm no doctor so maybe it's only that I only ever had one or the other.

I used to take diclofenac but it affected my stomach, so they changed me to Ibuprofen .... when that became insufficient my GP recently changed me to Naproxen. Each of these meds have been accompanied either with paracetamol or co-codamol (which is paracetamol and codeine mixed together).

I have never taken Tramadol, but I know it is the next thing I'm likely to be given if the co-codamol stops working for me.

If you've any concerns about what you are taking you could ask your pharmacist - they are often more knowledgeable about the different drugs than some doctors, and can give advice on getting the best out of each combination.

good luck & I do hope that you get the pain under control

WOnky

tillypink

skezier wrote:

Hi Tillypink,

They do this cus of the addiction side I think..... I think a review is a good idea actually cus it doesn't seem to be working too well for you. I don't take the ibrufin so can't help you there but just wanted to offer a bit of support and a hope they will get on top of the pain for you. Cris x

Oh Tilly I wonder if a referral to a pain clinic might help you? x

Hi thanks cris, gonna go back to dr's now monday I think! can't be feeling like this.


tilly

tillypink

Wonkylegs wrote:

HI Tilly

well that is a strange mix :? :? :?

I am surprised at the Ibuprofen and the Diclofenac being prescribed together, as I thought they were both NSAIDs and were an 'either/or' kind of thing, but I'm no doctor so maybe it's only that I only ever had one or the other.

I used to take diclofenac but it affected my stomach, so they changed me to Ibuprofen .... when that became insufficient my GP recently changed me to Naproxen. Each of these meds have been accompanied either with paracetamol or co-codamol (which is paracetamol and codeine mixed together).

I have never taken Tramadol, but I know it is the next thing I'm likely to be given if the co-codamol stops working for me.

If you've any concerns about what you are taking you could ask your pharmacist - they are often more knowledgeable about the different drugs than some doctors, and can give advice on getting the best out of each combination.

good luck & I do hope that you get the pain under control

WOnky

Thanks Wonky, I think its too much I'm taking, gonna see if I can see my own dr on monday, cause the dr who took me off tramadols is't my usual dr!

x

frogmorton

If the old combination is working why have they changed things?

And I am with Wonky - why TWO anti-inflams :shock:

Hope you get thorugh the weeknd at least semi-conscious :shock:

Love

Toni xx

dorcas

Hi Tillypink

I'm with the other peeps on this.... and can't understand why they took you off the combination of meds that was working for you. :roll:

It's true Tramadol can be addicitve but until someone somewhere comes up with a better, less addictive alternative then how the patient feels and having adequate pain control surely has to be the deciding factor. :? :?:

ask your pharmacist today about taking 2 anti-inflams.... they do know the drugs better than anyone and which combos are safe. better to do that today especially as you're worried about them.

Let us know please?

Iris xxx

lavenderlady

hi Tillypink, I have pain relief medication as follows zapain for moderate pain dehydrocodeine for persistant pain and Tramadol for real bad pain I also take 3 amytriptaline before bed to stop pain at night all these work well I cannot take many other tablets due to stomach ulcers/erosions caused by taking asprin a few years ago for pain relief, different medication for different people and what works for one doesn't work for others Tramadol I only take for real bad pain so am not getting addicted to it , speak to your DRa nd tell him what works for you good luck

hileena111

Hi Tillypink
I think they changed it because of the addiction. I was on tramadol when I came out of hospital after THR but when I went back for my 6 week appointment I was taken off it. That left me on just paracetamol????? still had another hip replacement to be done an arthur in my spine as well. Pain kept waking me up at night so they tried a few things di hydrocodeine left me like a zombie, others didnt work...eventually 1 diclofenic, modified release at night is the best they have come to finding something that I only waken occasionally at night now....so it is true different strokes for different folk.
I'm going to GP on Monday....I've been given result of MRI today and THR has been cancelled and I'm being referred to a back specialist. I want something more that paracetamol until I get this appointment. Even if its only something to take if its a very busy day or I'm in more pain than normal...we'll see what he says.
Oh yes...Ibrop. and diclofenic does seem weird together because they are the same family.
Good Luck
Love
Hileena

sunnyhours

Well from what I know, Tramadol is one of the lesser addictive opiate(-ish)...I've been on a number of strong opiates and didn't find Tramadol very effective for pain relief...but neither did I find the codeine was worth anything...I basically don't feel much from any drugs so take everything with a grain of salt...
I mean, even with the amitriptyline for sleep...it's supposed to be around 10-25mg...I'm at 35mg and I still have trouble falling asleep sometimes...maybe it's my size or genetics that make me "more immune" to drugs...

tillypink

sunnyhours wrote:

Well from what I know, Tramadol is one of the lesser addictive opiate(-ish)...I've been on a number of strong opiates and didn't find Tramadol very effective for pain relief...but neither did I find the codeine was worth anything...I basically don't feel much from any drugs so take everything with a grain of salt...
I mean, even with the amitriptyline for sleep...it's supposed to be around 10-25mg...I'm at 35mg and I still have trouble falling asleep sometimes...maybe it's my size or genetics that make me "more immune" to drugs...

thanks sunny , def gonna go back to dr's see if I can see my usual dr see what he says.. another thing too my moods are shocking too,but codine says u can have mood swings!

good luck with ur tabs too

x

tilly

tillypink

hileena111 wrote:

Hi Tillypink
I think they changed it because of the addiction. I was on tramadol when I came out of hospital after THR but when I went back for my 6 week appointment I was taken off it. That left me on just paracetamol????? still had another hip replacement to be done an arthur in my spine as well. Pain kept waking me up at night so they tried a few things di hydrocodeine left me like a zombie, others didnt work...eventually 1 diclofenic, modified release at night is the best they have come to finding something that I only waken occasionally at night now....so it is true different strokes for different folk.
I'm going to GP on Monday....I've been given result of MRI today and THR has been cancelled and I'm being referred to a back specialist. I want something more that paracetamol until I get this appointment. Even if its only something to take if its a very busy day or I'm in more pain than normal...we'll see what he says.
Oh yes...Ibrop. and diclofenic does seem weird together because they are the same family.
Good Luck
Love
Hileena

Thanks Hileena for the advice too , paracetamol don't even touch the pain for me! so I feel for u.. I'm starting to feel now if someone shakes me I might rattle I swear..lol.

Good luck too for the MRI results and ur dr's appt, hope u get some news

x

hileena111

Thanks Tillypink
Paracetamol isnt touching it for me either which is whyI'm going back toGP although last time i did that he referred me to the hospital and he said 2 new hips!!!!!!!! now 1 hip [done} back to be treated {dont know how} and then 2nd THR to be done....is it any wonder i dont want to go back to the GP

Hileena

skezier

Hi Tillpink,

Hey i can eat paracetamol like smarties.... I don't obviously! All they do is make me feel sick but for some people they work really well so I guess that's why doctors say it?

Just to let you know shall be with you tomorrow if you can get an appointment and I really hope you can get a different tablet mix cus flower this one doesn't seem to be working and there are so many combinations they can try. Cris x

tillypink

hileena111 wrote:

Thanks Tillypink
Paracetamol isnt touching it for me either which is whyI'm going back toGP although last time i did that he referred me to the hospital and he said 2 new hips!!!!!!!! now 1 hip [done} back to be treated {dont know how} and then 2nd THR to be done....is it any wonder i dont want to go back to the GP

Hileena

aw bless u hun, not good.. its like what they gonna find out next in it! I must be honest I got my Mri on tuesday and I'm shitting myself I'll be honest! But sure it be fine!

ps sorry for swearing!

tillypink

skezier wrote:

Hi Tillpink,

Hey i can eat paracetamol like smarties.... I don't obviously! All they do is make me feel sick but for some people they work really well so I guess that's why doctors say it?

Just to let you know shall be with you tomorrow if you can get an appointment and I really hope you can get a different tablet mix cus flower this one doesn't seem to be working and there are so many combinations they can try. Cris x

THanks cris! and I seem to be getting heartburn too loads!

I think it be easier sometimes if we had dr's who also have arthristis who can see where were all coming from instead of looking up the answer for meds in there medical books!

x

dorcas

Hi Tillypink

hope you get the meds sorted tomorrow and that your MRI goes well on Tuesday...what time is your appointment?.... have you been for an MRI before?

we'll all be with you in your pockets so you'll not be alone.

Irisx

tillypink

dorcas wrote:

Hi Tillypink

hope you get the meds sorted tomorrow and that your MRI goes well on Tuesday...what time is your appointment?.... have you been for an MRI before?

we'll all be with you in your pockets so you'll not be alone.

Irisx

Hi Iris, nope tablets still not sorted gonna try get in the dr's tommorow! thanks for asking tho

Appt for MRI is 14.40pm on tues, my partners coming with me so that helps, but no 1st time for me, bit nervous too! but sure it be fine!

hope ur well

x

skezier

Hi Tilly,

They seem to do that so much don't they? They look at you and then go to a web page to tell you what it is :shock: I can do that at home

The MRI is no big deal flower..... its just for a few mins depending on what they are doing but though its a bit claustrophobic its so useful and worth having. Will be in your pockets then as well though I will lurk out the scanner cus I got metal in my head ((( ))) and please try not to worry,it wont help with the heart burn flower. Cris x

hileena111

Hi Tillypink
Let us know when you hear anything

Love
Hileena

Wonkylegs

HI Tilly

please please do get an appointment in the morning if at all possible, and make sure that you mention the heartburn ......... that could be due to the meds and they need to know that.

and I'll be in your pocket for Tuesday too

hugs
WOnky

speedalong

Hi Tilly,


I agree with others re diclofenic and neurofen together??!

Your new meds regime seems odd.

Are the codeine phosphate tablets - just the codeine ones ie no paracetomol? Codeine is usually given with paracetomol (either alongside or in a combo tablet) as long as you don't exceed 4000 mg of paracetomol in total you are fine.

If you are new to codeine - it can make you feel zombied. If it were me I'd take my usual paracetomol and one of the codeine and see if that helps. If you can't sleep take the paracetomol and both codeine at night ... because you can sleep it off.

If doc insists you stay on the codeine - they do come in all different dose sizes, and it is a case of finding out what dose on top of the paracetomol is ideal for you. (30 mg worked for me, then I had to increase to 45 and finally to 60 mg before my op - but I only took the 60 at night.)

You need to go back to docs asap. Was this your normal GP?

Speedy

dreamdaisy

Hi tillypink, good luck for tomorrow, have you seen the various threads on here about MRIs? They are OK really - noisy, and if all of you is in there a little claustrophobic, but they don't last long! I hope you got the meds sorted too. DD

tillypink

speedalong wrote:

Hi Tilly,


I agree with others re diclofenic and neurofen together??!

Your new meds regime seems odd.

Are the codeine phosphate tablets - just the codeine ones ie no paracetomol? Codeine is usually given with paracetomol (either alongside or in a combo tablet) as long as you don't exceed 4000 mg of paracetomol in total you are fine.

If you are new to codeine - it can make you feel zombied. If it were me I'd take my usual paracetomol and one of the codeine and see if that helps. If you can't sleep take the paracetomol and both codeine at night ... because you can sleep it off.

If doc insists you stay on the codeine - they do come in all different dose sizes, and it is a case of finding out what dose on top of the paracetomol is ideal for you. (30 mg worked for me, then I had to increase to 45 and finally to 60 mg before my op - but I only took the 60 at night.)

You need to go back to docs asap. Was this your normal GP?

Speedy

Hi Speedalong

Could't get into the dr's today so gonna try again tommorow! today though I have just used 1 codine and 1 paracetamol and o ibrophen(cant spell it sorry) and no dicolfenic, but feel better with them? so not sure.

x

ironic

Hi Tilly,
Sorry you could not get into the dr’s today. Hopefully you will be able to get some help tomorrow.
Good luck with the MRI tomorrow. Going to be a long day for you but it will be worth it in the end.
Chin up, I will be thinking of you.
Lv, Ix

cthornley

two NSAIDS at once rings alarm bells with me
as they can have some really nasty side effects for you stomach
(I am rarely able to take one as they make me feel very ill and i get severe nausea and stomach problems) and they are essentially doing the same thing.

I looked around and found this article http://arthritis.about.com/od/nsaids/a/dual_nsaids.htm

it says "The increased risk associated with taking two NSAIDs is significant. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology concluded that the risk of severe drug reactions causing injury to the liver and acute renal failure was 6 to 7 times higher in reported cases of simultaneous use of two NSAIDs."

I would strongly suggest that you check that this is not a prescribing error as it sounds like it could be
Especially if it is making you not feel too great
Hope you get sorted soon
Chrissie