what pan relief apart from paracetamol can I take while on blood thinners and afib

[layla3]

diagnosed with AFIB but suffering with headaches on awakening but paracetamol doesn’t help what else can I take.

[JayDJ]

Ordinary over the counter pain killers don't help me re my reaction to certain foods that contain tyramine.I was prescribed "Samatripan" as the headaches were bordering on the migraine level and they are (for me) brilliant. They only prescribe them (6) at a time which is fine by me as I don't want to become overly reliant on them.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello Layla3

Thank you for your message, with any prescribed medication such as anticoagulants, it is important to check with your doctor or a pharmacist the most suitable painkillers to take. For instance, ibuprofen contains 'blood thinning properties' and should be avoided, so please check in advance.

Kind regards

Tracy Admin

[layla3 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Doctor fas prescribed codeine now

[Ducky2003 in reply to layla3]

Make sure you have a laxative handy as just one single 30mg Codeine tablet can bung me up for a couple of days.I have them on standby for gallbladder attacks so, fortunately, haven't had to take them regularly.

Have you tried acupressure points? I used them, rather sceptically, for toothache and it did help. Just Google acupressure points for headaches.😊

[2023AFibber in reply to Ducky2003]

Chocolate works wonders for me for constipation..lol

[2023AFibber in reply to layla3]

That's the only thing I can take, problem I won't drive " drugged"

[Bagrat]

Sorry you are suffering in this way. Do the headaches wear off?? Firstly a lot of headaches are the result of dehydration and before looking for medication try to drink one or two large glasses of water.I find I can't take anything other than paracetamol, though some people are prescribed codeine, but it makes me very dizzy.

[Blearyeyed]

If it's happening regularly it's worth going to see your GP and getting assessed for headaches or Migraines.Migraines and Headaches to do with your heart rate or blood pressure increasing are very common , but most of the medications that help them best aren't available over the counter, or you need advice as to which is better for your type of pain on your list of medications. Some people also get them at night as their heart rate or blood pressure drops as they lie down.

Some of the medications used for Migraine are also used in Heart treatment and don't effect blood thinners , so it's worth getting to the doctor to get what suits your needs.

Taking it easier getting out of bed can help reduce the amount you have.

Have some water near your bed , breath deeply and sit up against your pillows and have a good relatively quick drink. Wait a few minutes then move to sit on the edge of your bed and have another good drink. Sit fir a while and take some deep breaths , stand up and wait , and yes, have another drink of water before walking off.

This can prevent rebound head pain which can trigger a headache or Migraine as well as reducing sudden changes in heart rate and blood pressure that can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

This is the Self Care system I am recommended by my doctor's for my Tachycardia swings and Migraine.

Hope you find the right thing to help you soon , take care , Bee

[layla3]

doctor has prescribed codeine now.

[Blearyeyed in reply to layla3]

Be aware , you can actually get rebound head pain after the Codeine dose begins to leave the system.Also make sure you take the Codeine with food and plenty of water because it can cause stomach pain and indigestion and constipation. It's a common problem whilst taking Codeine.

If you are prescribed Bisoprolol you need to take more care as these two drugs can interact causing an "addictive effect" , so choosing the time to take a dose of Codeine, at least a few hours after Bisoprolol is sensible.

Codeine and Rebound Pain can become a vicious circle for many , so if you find that this is happening and you are getting more headaches, particularly 3-5 hours after the previous dose and feel the need for more it would be better to speak to the GP again for another alternative.

[layla3 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I’m on Sotalol beta blocker will I still need to take care?

[Blearyeyed in reply to layla3]

Beta blockers like Sotalol can also have this add on effect in lowering blood pressure when used with Codeine.Did the GP check which drugs you were in before giving you the prescription?

Depending on your dose , or on when you take the medications it could mean they are happy with you taking both in the same day because you can take the dose hours after or before your Sotalol.

It may be worth ringing and checking , getting their advice on how long to separate the two , or see if you have a different option for the pain.

I'm allergic to Codeine , but to be frank , it isn't a pain medication I'd choose to take generally based on my research and seeing other people's experience of getting into a habit of taking it because of Rebound Pain and stomach pain.

We are all different though and so what works for one isn't right for another and vice versa, take care , Bee

[layla3]

told only use codeine on awakening cause that’s when I wake up with a headache especially if I am in AFIB. Ithink being in AFIB causes the headache but when n NSR I don’t

[Blearyeyed in reply to layla3]

If the headaches are a symptom from being in active aFib you may be better contacting your Cardiologist and finding out if a change in the time you take your cardiac medication or the dose might be needed to help manage the aFib and stop the cause of the headaches , rather than just treating them after the fact.It might be the better option all round for you , Bee

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

With 2 operations behind me I know what I was given under the state taking anti-co.agulant.

1. Morphein

2. Codeine

3. Codeine and Paracetamin

4. Tramadol (Addictive so temporary)

5. Oxy-Norm (Addictive so temporary)

It is all unbelievable that I can't have 100mg Ifuprofen - my working pain killer.

My husband had migraines once month always on a Sunday am. He was sick so he slept it off.

I can sympathise with you. With Codeine take plenty of fibre and leave out the cheese.

cheri JOY 75. (NZ)

Always 6 weeks of constipation post-operation. TVT J&J removal March 2022 and R Shoulder rotor cuff repair November 2023. Hopefully no more operations in the future.

[Racquet]

Frequently, headaches are caused by upper cervical misalignments. Get checked out by a chiropractor and perhaps the reason for your headaches will be gone. No meds needed.

[Af8b_futter]

I take co codamol for shoulder pain. They are good but they are prescribed by GP

[Ppiman]

I think when on anticoagulants, we have to push our doctors to investigate the cause of the pain and see if anything can be done for that. For pain relief, codeine is allowed, I believe, so Paracodol and similar can be tried, but codeine brings problems in its wake for some, and simply fails to work for others.

Steve

[Afibflipper]

I am sure it will depend on the name/type of blood thinner you take combined with other medications - you should generally consult your Dr/Pharmacist first

I personally would initially say DO NOT take any NSAIDs eg ibuprofen, naproxen etc that can increase bleeding risk especially the stomach.

Check with the medics who’ll be able to cross check your meds Vs others for interactions

When I was having AFib in a morning it would be my BP raised that gave the headache - maybe check yours & dr may need to adjust those meds first & this may sort your pain - they may also prescribe pain relief - check your pillow & neck position when you wake with the pain - basically find out the cause if possible first! Hope this helps a little

[Cumbremar5]

Try codeine with paracetamol

[MalcolmCClark]

I would say that you need to discover what is causing the headaches.I'm on rivaroxaban and sevredol (morphine sulphate)

So I have to be careful.

I am under neurology who prescribed co-codamol 30/500 and yes codeine can cause headaches as does the morphine but when they are persistent there is something else going on. I have also been prescribed gabapentine 100mg twice a day but to be honest does nothing.

I still have headaches but the point I'm trying to make is that you need to find out what is causing the headaches.

I have now been referred to our pain clinic for nerve block injections into the neck so at least I am being taken seriously. Oh and an mri scan has also been done to rule out anything tòo sinister.

Good luck

[Racquet in reply to MalcolmCClark]

Another AFer to recommend finding the cause of the headache rather than treating the symptom. Have you ever consulted a chiropractor or osteopath, Malcolm? If not, try that before the nerve block which is again treating the symptom. Cervicogenic headaches are very common especially when the problem is at occipital/atlas level. I treated hundreds of headache suffering patients. Worth a try. Racquet. Retired Dr of Chiropractic for 40 years.

[MalcolmCClark in reply to Racquet]

Lol I am seeing an osteopath on a regular basis and also let you know I'm waiting on surgery at Kings College to remove bony growths from my c spine so I use pain relief in conjunction with the osteopath for relief

[Racquet in reply to MalcolmCClark]

I think you are doing the best you can. I wish you a great outcome as a result.

[MalcolmCClark in reply to Racquet]

Thank you

[Tapanac]

if the headaches have been persistent for a while I think you should see your GP. They could be nothing to do with your afib

Hope you feel better soon

[ozziebob]

I'm another to suggest you need to find out the cause of your headaches, and you have received many helpful insights so far.

But I am surprised no-one has so far mentioned low morning O² saturation levels as a possible cause of morning headaches. It is possible that your nighttime AF, and your morning headaches which linger, is concurrent with issues of an inadequate oxygen supply?

Do you think this might be relevant? Have you used an oximeter to test this possibility?

[JudyMarieC]

After years of waking up with migraines more often than not, my doctor suggested a sleep study. It turned out that I had sleep apnea and I now use a cpap machine. The morning headaches seldom occur now but I do have to be careful of certain foods. You may want to do some research on foods containing tyramine as someone else mentioned. Keeping a food diary might help - I found that green beans, kale and various other foods were causing my migraines. I am on Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) and when I do occasionally have a migraine, I take sumatriptan and it works like a charm. Paracetamol will do nothing for my migraines. Good luck - I hope you can get some relief.

[MalcolmCClark in reply to JudyMarieC]

Sleep Apnoea is a great thought and I should have thought of that but after using NIV for complexed sleep apnoea for nearly 30 years I tend to forget about it but yes is worth considering.

[RatPurdy]

Have you tried acetaminophen ? I was assured that its effect on blood thinning is minimal.

[Carew in reply to RatPurdy]

Paracetamol is another name for acetaminophen which is an effective mild pain reliever with a low risk of side effects.

drugs.com/compare/acetamino...

[Madscientist16]

My concern is that you have headaches when you awake. Have you ever been tested for sleep apnea? Not only can it cause morning headaches but can be the cause of your AFib. Please check with your doctor if you should have a sleep study.