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Painkillers and afib

Sunnyann profile image
30 Replies

What painkillers are best suited to us afiiibbers? I recently took paracetamol and it turned my heartbeat irregular and fast ...although I think it may of been the caffeine in them I have bad toothache and taking antibiotics but so far have gone without painkillers for fear of having a af attack

Any advice?

Ann

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Sunnyann
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30 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Plain paracetemol is fine but ibuprofen or any of the NSAIDs are no no. I buy the cheapest supermarket brand.

Sunnyann profile image
Sunnyann in reply to BobD

Thanks Bob 👍

cassie46 profile image
cassie46 in reply to Sunnyann

As Bob says above. You can also take co-codamol which is paracetamol and codine. I take these daily for pain relief but I get pescription strength. Beware of cold and flu remedies as well many of these have caffine and iburprofen in them and other stimulants.

Cassie

pd63 profile image
pd63 in reply to cassie46

Be aware cocodamol can bung you up as I discovered after my hernia op, goin to the loo got painful

Thomas45 profile image
Thomas45 in reply to pd63

I was prescribed cocodamol for pain after fracturing my right fibula The GP also prescribed a laxative stating that the co-codamol would likely cause me to become constipated.

DawnTX profile image
DawnTX in reply to cassie46

I wish we had that over the counter. I take Tramadol for my chronic back

5195 profile image
5195 in reply to DawnTX

Sorry if I’ve misunderstood but most laxatives can be bought over the counter ie Lactulose, Laxido etc

DawnTX profile image
DawnTX in reply to 5195

oh no, I meant pain relief we do not have anything with codeine sold over the counter here in the states. As far as laxatives, I just go to Taco Bell.

5195 profile image
5195 in reply to DawnTX

Oh now I understand- sorry x

DawnTX profile image
DawnTX in reply to 5195

no problem and yes painkillers and constipation seem to go hand-in-hand that was supposed to be a joke about Taco Bell which I referred to as Mex Lax

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

The infection/antibiotics could cause that but caffeine wouldn’t help.

pepperami profile image
pepperami

Plain paracetemol or co-codamol. I have come off caffeine completely and have noticed a remarkable difference particularly with my sleep pattern.

G'day Ann,

I have fairly consistent intense osteoarthritic pain in both shoulders (mainly left) and also left knee. I am also on Warfarin daily for life. I was advised to take Cocodomol 30/500 - the strongest prescription grade pain relief. Works for me just fine. Some constipation long term but I find a gentle laxative ( dates) sorts that.

Probably the same as Cassie46 is talking about.

Might run it past your Pharmacist to see if you can take Cocodomol with whatever other meds you are on.

John

cassie46 profile image
cassie46 in reply to

John - I am on Solpadol which I find suits my stomach better. I have never had problems with constipation when taking it but I do have a daily intake of prunes with my breakfast - I am a great believer in the humble prune lol

Singwell profile image
Singwell

Co-codamol is good but usually for short periods of time simply because it can be addictive. Obviously different for those suffering with long term pain. Anything with codeine in will give you temporary constipation

Still_Breathing profile image
Still_Breathing

I only use paracetamol now.Talk to your gp for alternatives.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

Your GP's specific advice is the way forward, or second best, a pharmacist's. Neither caffeine nor paracetamol have been shown to affect or cause AF so far as I know. AF is so temperamental that linking its starting to a specific "trigger" is hard to do. Most studies seem to show that people never really know what sets theirs off.

If you are taking anticoagulants ("blood thinners") then you are severely limited to what pain killers you can take since all of the ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin and aspirin family (called NSAIDs) are potentially very dangerous indeed as they can cause internal bleeding. Codeine is safe in this respect, I gather, but it, too, if I recall, has been linked with problems in some people and can be addictive and affect the mood dramatically in a few, as well as causing constipation.

DawnTX profile image
DawnTX in reply to Ppiman

I don’t know if you have Tylenol or perhaps it’s a different name. That is what they gave me in the hospital when I was leaving. In the hospital I had my choice of narcotics, but I do not care for morphine anyway. I understand why so many people have drug issues with things like that. It seems to last about 15 minutes, and then you need more and I do not like the way I feel when it hits me. I took some other pill. I don’t remember what it was. Doctors here are paranoid writing out prescriptions for any narcotics these days. Tramadol is a synthetic, but still narcotic. Whatever they want to call it. The good thing is I find that one a day helps me whereas over the counter seems to last no longer than five or six hours and that is not good for your stomach or other parts I wonder if I can get my whole body ablated it so it doesn’t hurt anymore lol. I have had six areas in my neck done and 3+ in my heart. I would love to not need any medication’s, wouldn’t you?

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply to DawnTX

Yes indeed - I hate taking tablets, Dawn. Tylenol is an American brand of paracetamol, I think?

Steve

Florence-Nightingale profile image
Florence-Nightingale in reply to Ppiman

Hi Ppiman. Sorry to disagree with your comments about Caffeine, when I was diagnosed with AF (2011) one of the first thing both my EP and Cardiologist said was that I should stop all Caffeine as it does affect AF. I did as instructed and have no caffeine in anything and as I only drink tea I always carry caffeine free tea bags with me. The other day I was at a friends for tea and cake, immediately after drinking the tea having forgotten to give her my tea bag. I went into fast AF for first time in years ,knew immediately the tea had caused it. Most Cardiologists will advise to cut right down or cut out caffeine.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply to Florence-Nightingale

That’s interesting and is certainly not the case in the UK. I think there might be some cardiologists who take that view though but mine certainly didn’t. In fact, the our biggest heart research charity, the BHF, explicitly states that coffee is safe to drink. I’ve read that some people are very sensitive to caffeine, however. lt looks like you could be one - that’s a shame as it’s such a lovely drink.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Steve

Florence-Nightingale profile image
Florence-Nightingale in reply to Ppiman

I am from the UK and do know other AF patients were told to stop it or cut down. I also think you are right about people’s sensitivity,I haven’t had caffeine for many years which might be why I reacted to the tea I drank. I am also a retired nurse practitioner and remember going to seminars where caffeine consumption was often discussed not only for cardiac patients. The overall opinion was that everyone should have less from what I remember. I did used to love my morning coffee.

Mrsvemb profile image
Mrsvemb

I only use paracetamol as I cannot tolerate any alternatives. I take the capsules, which do not contain caffeine . Have been taking 8 a day for 12 months now due to joint pain, prescribed by my GP.

Winnipegsculler profile image
Winnipegsculler in reply to Mrsvemb

Paracetamol is called acetaminophen here in Canada and yes you can take it with AF meds like Flecainide and Apixaban. But more than 3,000-4,000 mg/day can damage your liver. See this article for more detailed guidance: health.harvard.edu/pain/ace...

Mrsvemb profile image
Mrsvemb in reply to Winnipegsculler

When regular pain relief is needed, Paracetamol is the safest one to take. It is not addictive like most other analgesics for a start. I am very careful that I don’t take more than the recommended dose.

I write every dose down with the time taken. I do try and reduce the amount that I take, but if I miss a dose I know by the pain. It does not keep me pain free but reduces it to manageable levels.

Geza10 profile image
Geza10

I believe ibuprofen started my AF due to a foot injury playing football tried to mask the pain took them to long maybe 4 weeks 3 a day if i could turn the clock back would not of gone near them don't do any painkillers at all now

Visigoth profile image
Visigoth

I have no problems with plain paracetamol but never touch caffeine, which has been known to have terrible effects on me in the past

kocoach profile image
kocoach

ER Drs. say tylenol is safe while in afib. that's what I've been told many times.

JOY2THEWORLD49 profile image
JOY2THEWORLD49

Try morphine. And you can get paracetamol and morphine.

But I would change your antibiotics to Amoxil-Clav. (Augmentin)

I had to as Amoxil didnt work.

Sounds as is you have an infection re tooth ache. I had the tooth out it was infected.

Dont havea root canal!

cheri JOY

5195 profile image
5195

After reading all these comments it’s worth adding that reactions to analgesia as all medication is very subjective and down to your personal response, I have taken Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Codiene for many years with no problems whatsoever though do draw the line at caffeine due to its ability to cause a rapid heartbeat, I’ve also had several root canal treatments with no bother so let’s not frighten people to death!

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