The Hidden Costs of Codeine?

[TotoMimo1984]

Hi all.

I am a 40 year old male with grade 4 osteoporosis (after a childhood pituitary defect i was given synthetic growth hormone to supplement puberty, which caused rapid bone growth at the then-unknown cost of making them like Nestle Aero).

Part of my day to day troubles (discounting my frequent fractures) is that ive been dealing with significant pain as my muscles and joins inflame to protect my skeleton.

I have tried every painkiller under the sun over the past decade - only a handful really help, with the most effective being in the opiate family (not ideal, due to addictive potential of these drugs). To date, I have relied on codeine to help ease me for close to seven years.

Now, I never exceed the daily dose (and regularly just deal with pain for fear I may, someday, become addicted to these). However, ive noticed that, in the past two years, I'm starting to feel little chills and nausea, with pain in my upper-right quadrant. I had some tests, but nothing showed - no gallstones, no liver markers, nothing of note. My GP believes my low blood pressure is to blame, as I am quite a modest weight, and that codeine rarely creates these types of issues.

I also very rarely consume any alcohol these days because in the past year, even one beer will make me quite unwell for several days, like the king of all hangovers after consuming 3 units. Again, my GP believes ive just developed an intolerance to alcohol, and that codeine does not cause these outcomes.

Id love to hear if there are any other testimonials of a similar situation. Have you been in chronic pain, prescribed long-term codeine, and developed this kind of malaise/alcohol intolerance as a result?

Thank you all in advance.

[TotoMimo1984]

Oh- and I forgot to add! Ive recently started experiencing swollen hands ("sausage fingers") which definitely indicate edema. Again, the GP insists this is cold weather mixed with low BP.

I cannot shake the notion that my medication, after all these years, may be playing some role here.

Id love to someday just feel normal, even just have a glass of beer or a whisky with my wife again.

[cyberbarn]

I am wondering if you have developed a rheumatological condition on top of everything else? Tissue swelling and pain around the joints for instance can be psoriatic arthritis. And chronic inflammation can also cause osteoarthritis as well.

There is a saying, Hickam's Dictum: Patients can get as many diseases as they damn well please!

[TotoMimo1984 in reply to cyberbarn]

Wouldn't be outside of the realm of possibilities! I think the GP assumed chilblains and low BP edema as it was definitely exacerbated by cold weather, and I DO live in Scotland!

I'm eager to discover what's caused this really low level malaise day in, day out - pain is pain, but feeling just a bit sick every day can be the REAL king of debilitating. And as I said, I never get to have a drink with my family any longer, because I become so brutally unwell even after a few units.

Worth noting, I am also on duloxetine, Noritryptaline, and naloxegol, for osteo-exacerbated nerve pain and to help with opioid constipation respectively.

Either one of these or a cocktail of a few are definitely giving me the "wee groo" as we say up here in the braes!

[CinnamonRose in reply to TotoMimo1984]

Hi, I'm sorry you've got extra problems as if Osteoporosis isn't bad enough!!I'm on Duloxetine and I do have alcohol now and then but not every night like I used to. It does say, Do not drink alcohol whilst taking these tablets, on the label in the front of the box. I used to take Pregabalin then they changed me to Duloxetine which I have found a lot better, I used to take them with Zappain which is Co-codomal, I now take the Duloxetine with Oxycodone which is Morphine, I don't seem to have a reaction with the medication and alcohol but it seems that you can have a severe one, hence the instructions on the boxes.

The nerve pains are awful aren't they, recently I spent the whole night walking up and down the house, every time I tried to lie down the shooting pains were so bad I had to get up again. Sleeping tablets have helped somewhat but I'm not meant to take them every day.

I hope you can find some relief.

Has anyone mentioned Radio frequency Ablation to you?

My consultant had suggested it to me but I can't find anyone who says they have had it done, I need to know a bit more about it, they burn off the nerve ends, which in theory should stop or lessen the pain.

Keep in touch, it's interesting being in contact with folk in similar circumstances xx

[katieoxo60]

you could be right, I was given codeine for osteo pain and developed gout, which has not flared since stopping the drug. It can raise uric acids mine were sky high. Do a bit of deeper investigation as you are taking other drugs and it could be the cocktail side effects. It is aweful when what the Dr gives you makes you iller but we are all different and Drs do not know everything. They only give what the NHS suggests is advisable for the majority. just for your sake codeine is a minor opiod recommended for pain nowadays but not all GPS give it. Gabapentin is another but not suitable for all. No one really knows the long term effects of some drugs, even treatment for cancer . Good luck with trying to get your GP to take your concerns seriously.

[TotoMimo1984 in reply to katieoxo60]

Oh wow, that's worth a shot, honestly! Ill see about a uric acid test, it would be a decent indicator if im in a similar boat.

Im sorry you've been through the blender too, but thank you for the input, that was really helpful!

Sometimes just getting new options can give you a wee boost of hope.