Combining co-codamol with other medication

[NaturalDyer]

I'm currently prescribed co-codamol for gallstone pain, and I'm on the waiting list for gallbladder surgery but no idea how long that will be.

My doctor has refused to try me on medication for fibromyalgia (such as duloxatine or gabapentin) until after gallstone surgery as she said I shouldn't take co-codamol as well as other meds like those.

Does anyone else have any experience of being told whether they can or can't mix meds with co-codamol?

I'm trying to only take the co-codamol when I absolutely have to, so it doesn't help much with my fibro. I have occasionally taken it on really bad fibro days, but I feel guilty as it's supposed to be for the gallstones.

[Blue-52]

hi, I use to take,Cocodamol, for fm, and spine and neck nerve damage, the reason they won’t let you mix, is because of the codeine, also they are addictive, and along with the other meds, that can be addictive too, the drs hands are tied, under the new regulations.

[NaturalDyer in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you, useful to hear other's experiences.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello yes I have heard they will not mix meds and I hope your surgery comes soon , I felt much better after my gallstone was removed. Hopefully after you can see the doc and trial out something that will suit you, in the meantime take care .

[NaturalDyer in reply to Yassytina]

Thank you, glad you are feeling better with gallstones gone, gives me hope. x

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer in reply to NaturalDyer]

I am sure you will x

[rosewine]

I've taken Zapain, which is cocodamal 30/500mg and Prrgablin, for many years with no problem.

[NaturalDyer in reply to rosewine]

Thank you.

[Pollydollydoodle in reply to rosewine]

I mean I’m talking 20 years ago, but I was on gabapentin for epilepsy and took Cocodamol for horrendous period pain and didn’t have any side effects xxx

[Loonywoman]

That's strange. I am waiting ( over 2 years now) for a fibromyalgia diagnosis. I am on 500mg of Gabapentin three times a day. This is for pain concentrated around my left eye socket, which was wrongly diagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia. Last Friday, I had a video consultant with a neuro surgeon who said once and for all that I do not have trigeminal neuralgia. I have chronic fatigue and pains all over my body but, of the 5 or 6 different GPs I have seen since July 2022, not one will listen when I suggest fibromyalgia. Last August I was prescribed Codeine for the pains in my hips, hands and feet, the pins and needles and the electric shock stabbing pains that can affect any part of my body. The GP I saw that day said it is osteoarthritis even though I had a hip x ray that said there is no sign at all of hip erosion. I am terrified of taking codeine as well as gabapentin. On the odd day where the pain is so bad that I take it, I am so spaced out that I can barely talk coherently.

[NaturalDyer in reply to Loonywoman]

Wow you have a lot going on, I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. I have Chronic Fatigue too, for 20 years now, and it's only more recently the doctors have said I have Fibromyalgia too and the pains and aches etc have become so difficult to live with. Thank you for replying, it's really helpful to hear other people's experiences. I used to trust in doctors but I have learned to trust myself more.

[Loonywoman in reply to NaturalDyer]

Thanks for your reply. I so agree, we know our own bodies and know when something is not right. Because I have such a raft of symptoms, it is difficult to get a GP to look at the whole picture, rather than discuss each symptom in isolation. Rather than trying to find out why this eye pain began, doctors seem to think that reducing the pain is the sole object rather than trying to find out what is causing it. I don't know how you have coped so long with chronic fatigue but I suspect that I am going to find out. I don't understand how, some mornings , even after a good night's sleep, my body is so leaden that I just have to lie down again. But, I have so much to be grateful for and I try to remain positive. All the best to you.

[Judithdalston]

I have had NHS prescriptions for co- codamol 30/500 and amitriptyline for a decade …it’s me rather than drs.who have minimised their use to a pill each per day as c-c prescription allowed me to take 2 4x a day, and amitriptyline twice…I just run them down every 6 months apparently not using them but using spare drugs, to then reorder. C-c is a much longer prescription as I have bad spinal pain for 40 + years; fibro diagnosis by rheumatologist 10 years ago. When I first had blocked bile duct I got ( wrongly) antibiotics which obviously did not work, returned to another GP a week later who ordered tests showing I was developing jaundice etc, so got sent to gastroenterology for scan which showed blockage, which was removed by ‘routine procedure’ next day. Had gallbladder removed following year.

[NaturalDyer in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you for the reply. It just shows how different doctors can give competely different advice .

[Libbyloo2005]

Hi,Sorry to hear about your gallbladder. I had mine removed in 2006 - can still remember the awful pain I was in before surgery. It was worse than being in labour!

I have fibro and very painful back problems. I currently take morphine, pregabalin and amitriptyline. It is certainly possible to have gabapentin/Pregabalin with an option medication. I will unfortunately be on meds for the rest of my life. Still in pain but nothing like if I wasn't on them.

Really hope you get something sorted and that the wait for surgery isn't too long. All the best

[NaturalDyer in reply to Libbyloo2005]

Thanks for your reply. I'm prepared to be on medication for the rest of my life too, in order to have the best quality of that life. Really to helpful to hear other experiences, thank you.

[Lorraine1966]

I too need gallbladder removal but I have a whole abdomen full of scar tissue and several big hernias so it’s going to be major surgery as I need whole reconstruction of my abdomen and face the possibility of having a stoma fitted. But besides that I’m on (for fibromyalgia) Zomorph Pregabalin Diazepam along with highest dose of Prozac and cyclizine too. When the gp has mentioned about the possibility of addiction I just told him that it’s a bit too late to be concerned with that as I’ve been taking all of this daily for many years. I do try to keep the cocodamol to a minimum but still find I need it several times a week. I hope you don’t have to wait too much longer for your surgery bless you as I fully understand how painful biliary colic is xx

[NaturalDyer in reply to Lorraine1966]

Thank you for replying and oh my goodness, I hope that all goes well for you! I feel like that too about the addiction - it's the least of my worries. With co-codamol, I've had gaps in taking it where I just get a bad upset stomach for a couple of days and take immodium, so I'm not too worried. x

[CheetieCat]

Hi

I had mine removed a few years ago. At that time I was using Tramadol, co-codomol when required, anti-inflammatories, amitriptyline & mirtazapine. Personally I would consult with another GP.

You may have quite a wait for your surgery and if you feel you need pain relief for your fibromyalgia then it should be getting addressed separately now, it's not connected to your gallbladder pain, although the gb pain can be amplified by your fibromyalgia.

Best wishes 🤗

[NaturalDyer in reply to CheetieCat]

Thank you so much for that reply. x