I was on the NHS website today getting advice about migraines and the page suggested a link to this forum I’m so I hope this is posted in the corrected place.
I have just arranged to see my GP tomorrow after having a slightly tense telephone conversation about the virtues of taking Cocodamol long term for my headaches & migraines.
I have suffered severe headaches most of my life since my early teens, I am now 50. I was recommended and prescribed Cocodamol 30/500mlg about 10 or so years ago. They really work for me; when I get a headache, I take one dose and that usually nips it in the bud or at least significantly improves the pain, then I can function normally..if I miss the ‘window’ then it can progress into a migraine with unbearable pain and then vomiting - I’m usually incapacitated by it unless I then take Zolmitriptan, this will take upto 2 hours to control the pain and then I can function to a point as the side effects can make me feel quite lousy. I get the headaches 1 to 5 times every fortnight...it’s hard to gauge as I go through periods that are more or less frequent than others.
The GP I spoke to said in what seemed to be very much a throw away comment “Cocodamol is not recommended to treat headaches long-term” And went on to say “they produce headaches and can be addictive” the previous statements are well known facts but there was no reference to my own experience, he could have asked how do they work for me? and how many do I take? etc. I asked twice for him to suggest alternatives which led to arranging tomorrow’s appointment as I wasn’t satisfied that a GP can make sweeping statement as he did without offering to look for an alternative method of controlling the headaches or pain relief. I’m not addicted and I do not believe that they are causing ‘analgesic headaches’ as I’m not consistently taking regular daily doses for either to occur. So I suppose my ultimate question is; has anyone found themselves in this situation and managed to find alternative ways of dealing with severe headaches and migraine pain? Is the GP being naive or is it me?
I believe if you take them when you need them they do work but as with any opiate taking them on a daily basis your body becomes resilient to them which means you need to keep upping your dose to acquire the same effect.
Hence which is why you become addicted and breaking that cycle can be hell on earth.
Hi Diggers. Sorry to hear about your headaches. You have to stop taking cocodamol, it is poison stuff for migraineurs. The other thing is that you need to be referred to a headache specialist. GPs are not good with migraines, they know close to nothing. You need to try preventives. Have you ever tried GON blocks, or Botox?
Hi my sisters have both suffered really bad migraines since their teens also, a few years ago a friend suggested they try a daith piercing as these have known to work, both my sisters are 45 and 52 and both got them done with great success they have not had a migraine in over 2 years now, occasional headaches yes but doesn’t everyone, but they have both said it was the best thing they ever did. Just a suggestion if your suffering:))
He is narrow minded. They don't care about your pain management all they think about is addiction. He absolutely should talk to you about your consumption. Not every one who takes codeine sensibly, like any drug, gets addicted. The same with diazepam. For instance my GP would rather put me on the dreadful Amitriptyline for nerve pain than codeine because Amitriptyline is 'not' addictive. I think Amitriptyline IS addictive....after reading about the people trying to get off it on here. Frightening! I have been taking 10 mg for the last 2 weeks. I was fine to start now for the last 24 hours I have had continual lightheadedness and I dont like being in that state so I have already cut my dose in half and after 3 days I will completely come off it.
Sorry to hear about your migraines. Sounds like you have a pretty good grasp at what works for you and what doesn't - it must be frustrating to be made feel that your pain experience was not important.
Perhaps your doctor did not realise this on the phone, but it may be the case that he was still worried about the side-effects and just did not manage to communicate this in the best way. This is nevertheless an important conversation to have and you are right to suggest that the two of you should consult about your options beyond dismissing one type of medication.
Hopefully you will be able to resolve this at your appointment today. For this, take a look at our leaflet on Managing your healthcare appointments ( painconcern.org.uk/managing... which can offer some useful tips for how to get the most out of your doctor's visit. Because doctors often schedule for short conversations, preparing in advance is the easiest way to make sure nothing gets missed.
Wishing you the best of luck with finding the treatment that best works for you,
I'm so sorry to read this. Have you wver tried a preventative for Migraines? I take a beta blocker and it has helped so much. If I do get one I take Imigran nasal spray at the first sign. But if I do have severe pain I take endone. I also suffer from headaches almost daily and if it is bad enough I take panadeine forte which is codeine and paracetamol.
I am so lucky my Dr is sympathetic to my pain but when he was away I saw the worst Dr who told me I am an addict etc.
Hi sorry about your migraine, I to have been dealing with this issue too. I've seen many doctors GP, few neurologist, Ear nose throat specialist, chiropractors, Mri. You name it been there. Till one day I decided to change to new doctor D.O. he treats the whole body. Said im dealing with serve migraine..what I seen few neurologist and nothing. I dont like to take Pharmaceutical drugs. He suggested Riboflavin 400mg and magnesium. If dizziness acures then meclizine 25mg over the counter it work! I hope you feel better.
Last year I ended up in hospital with what the neurologist called status migrainosus. Essentially it was the most intense migraine I had ever had and was constant for 8 days. It was probably the worst pain I've ever had.
The neurologist said a possible reason why it was so intense was my use of cocodamol which I used to take for a back problem.
He suggested ibuprofen or naproxen however I am allergic to them, instead prescribing rizatriptan to take as soon as a migraine begins to occur.
Since then I am fortunate enough to have not suffered too many migraines, but I am still taking paracetamol and dihydrocodeine 4 times daily as I am still waiting for back surgery.
Whether codeine or dihydrocodeine caused this I do not know, but I still have a fairly low intensity headache nearly all of the time, taking the rizatriptan if it gets too much. It does seem to me that being on codeine or dihydrocodeine long term isn't good for headache so if there is an alternative it is worth exploring.
I was on Co-codamol for years for various conditions the main one being Tratatoric Bursitis. I was blantently told on collection of my prescription one day by "note" that i need to talk to my GP about long-term use. I made an appointment went to see my GP and in about a 10min consultation she asked me if i had seen a Michael Miles Documentary on BBC about painkiller misuse and addiction in Britain. I said no. She continued to rattle on nervously saying ok i am going to wean you off Co-codamol. 8 down to 6 down to 4 down to 1. At NO point was i asked how they helped me, how i used them or what i thought about being taken off them. I was angry but being polite, i kept my cool. I said is there anyway that i may be left with a prescription for 4 (which was all i really used morning and night). Quickly told NO we are not going down that road. "THESE TABLETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR CANCER PATIENTS". I coukd not beleive the audacity and stupidity in the nervous conversation from her. After all the years on them "and it was them who prescribed them for me"..i am left with pain and teansferred to Gabapentin. Not effective Bad side effects and Not for me. I don't know why i'm writing this because i know the answer. The Government through MHRA CSM BMA etc are warning Doctors to get patients of opiod painkillers. Whereas if they hadn't started their usual Sabre rattling then we would be on the medication that helped us through tbe years. I am not being a stat for a GPs tick box to please the Govetnment nor am i going to be asked to watch the good old Bias BBC who regularly back the government when a "frightening documentary" has to be aired to get the cog wheels in motion. I now am currently looking in to how i can fight this legally as in MY rights as a patient. And patients have rights. Please feel free to comment or contact me. Johnny Waterson. Email johnnywaterson170103@mail.com.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Chronic night time headaches 
2 years with constant headache and muscle pain
Co-codamol causing headaches?
Symptoms of headache
