Butrans or codeine

Aprilann

Hi everyone

Have I done the right thing.

I was prescribed Butran low dose patches two weeks ago by a pain specialist for low back pain but I was very reluctant to take them because they might affect my breathing as I have lung disease so I asked my doctor if I could take codeine 15mg instead. He agreed but I am afraid the pain doctor won't be too happy with me the next time I see him for not following his instructions, what do you think?

I already take plenty of tablets and so have put up with the pain instead of taking paracetamol and codeine but now to avoid the patches I am going to take the codeine.

I thought he would try a tens machine first before any form of pain relief so that he would see if the tens machine works.

I have an appointment for a fitting of the tens machine on the 26 July and then an appointment for a botox injection on the 4 August. I do hope one of these treatments sort the problem out for me instead of taking painkillers.

As you will know we get very tired with RA and so to take patches or codeine surely they will make us more tired.

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

stickywicket

I've no idea if you've done the 'right' thing, Aprilann. It seems to me you had a very unenviable choice to make - a choice between to 'evils', as it were.

My own RA is not as bad as it once was but, when it was at its worst, it was when my kids were young and I did feel, as you do, that I was exhausted enough by the disease without taking meds that knocked me out too. I don't know how others manage but that's always been my choice.

I've no idea how pain clinics work or whether they would normally try a TENS machine first.

Was the doc at the pain clinic not aware of your breathing difficulties? Could you just explain next time? Sorry, I can't really help but I do hope one or other of the treatments helps you.

P.S. If you look lower down the page, Harlansmummy has a thread called 'Butrans WITH codeine' which might be of use to you.

lindalegs

Hi Aprilann,

I don't think your pain doctor will be cross with you for not having the patches as you have good reason and you are taking codeine instead.

I have a TENS machine and do find it does give relief so I hope you get on with yours.

I've taken a high dose codeine phosphate regularly in the past but don't find it makes me drowsy though I did sleep well with it at nights.

Hope the codeine works.

Luv,