Co-proximal

[Wenben]

I found Co-proxamol to be a wonderful pain killer 15 year's ago and then it became unobtainable.

Have found various bits online about petitions etc to bring it back a couple of year's ago. Does anyone know the present situation with it ?

[SheffieldJane]

I’ve got a feeling that it was horribly addictive. Oddly it was implicated in the Government Scientist David Kelly’s apparent suicide in the run up to the Iraq war, only 29 tablets apparently.

Probably withdrawn because it was “ too good to be true”.

Sorry not what you want to hear I know. It probably wouldn’t be much good with our pain anyway.

[Wenben in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for reply Sheffieldjane.

16 year's ago I took Co-proxamol for about 2 years whilst waiting for total hip replacement. 8 a day along with ibuprofen in between (no PMR then)…........yes I know - sounds a bit excessive doesn't it - but this combination allowed me to function at the time although I needed two sticks to walk. 2002 - two new hips - new lease of life - no more tablets and no ill effects.

Finally this week I have received MRI report from the Pain Clinic which says there is a tight narrowing called a spinal stenosis due to osteoarthritis (spondylolisthesis L4/L5).

It says...."Unfortunately there are no procedures that I can do that will help in this situation given that the narrowing is quite tight." It goes on to ask if I would like to be referred to the spinal surgery team.

Sorry to ramble on.....not strictly PMR problem - I thought it was for a long time and wouldn't believe the leg pain was anything else! (On 5 mg Pred at present)

So not sure where to go from here. I don't know why they have not offered injections so am searching for a painkiller that works for me (hence thought about co-proxamol).

The thought of spinal surgery terrifies me and do not want to rush into that.

Have some Co-dydramol trying first time today.

Thanks again

[SheffieldJane in reply to Wenben]

Poor you. You certainly have had more of your fair share of pain. I sincerely hope that Co- drymol does the trick. Sorry about the irrelevant information about David Kelly, I just happened to be reading a book about it - no filter me. I can fully empathise with your fear of surgery. I wonder if you could ask to be referred to a pain clinic, like some of our members on here are? You do seem to have been cast adrift.

[piglette]

My mother took co-proxamol and thought it wonderful. I heard a programme on radio not so long ago talking about it. It was found to be involved in a lot of suicides and accidental poisonings and was withdrawn. An awful lot of NHS money was spent on prescriptions, probably because it was so popular, which I think may have had something to do with the withdrawal, but I may be totally wrong.

[Wenben in reply to piglette]

Thanks piglette. Yes I thought it was wonderful too and suffered absolutely no side effects whatsoever.

I didn't taper it and stopped it when the pain stopped. Nobody told me otherwise.

I'm sure there are a lot of similar drugs involved in suicides and poisonings so your last assumption might be nearer the mark. It's usually down to money in the end !

[polymy in reply to piglette]

I think you are right Piglette. I had co-proxamol whilst awaiting a replacement knee. It was an excellent painkiller and the only one that helped at the time.

Liz.

[Bethy]

The truth as to why Co-proxamol was with drawn was a matter of price. The greedy pharmaceutical company was charging the NHS £100 for 100 tablets. I found a NICE report in my search as to why they stopped prescribing where it stated this. I took two a night for years, and taken sensibly they were fantastic.

[Wenben in reply to Bethy]

It's such a shame Bethy - so many people seem to have found it to be of great benefit.

[Bethy in reply to Wenben]

I agree, and the worst thing was that they just cut it off without prior warning. Just a letter to say with immediate effect you won’t be getting this medication anymore.

[Constance13]

Doesn’t co-codamol help at all? Easily available!

[Wenben in reply to Constance13]

Yes have tried co-codamol and now the slightly stronger co-dydramol together with rubbing in Voltarol (very expensive) which does help. Years ago co-codamol caused quite bad constipation but that might have been because it was after surgery. This time so far so good. Gabapentin and Amitriptyline was also mentioned at pain clinic. Didn't like the sound of the possible side effects but it's all about trial and error I suppose. Thanks for replying Constance

[Constance13 in reply to Wenben]

Is it the co-dydramol expensive or the voltarol? Both very reasonably priced over here (Germany).

[Wenben in reply to Constance13]

Co-dydramol tablets are free on prescription for me. Voltarol gel/cream to rub on externally is about £12 - £14 per 100g tube according to where you get it from. I could get Ibuprofen gel on prescription but I find the Voltarol to be more effective.

[Constance13 in reply to Wenben]

I have tried every gel on the market (I think) and I’ve never found one that helped.😡

[SnagglePuss in reply to Wenben]

Is the Voltarol you are using Voltarol+12Hour? Is significantly stronger than other varieties.

[Wenben in reply to SnagglePuss]

Just looked on the box and it doesn't say 12 hour......just 1.16% Gel and the figure 3.

Will look into that SnagglePuss….thankyou

[SnagglePuss in reply to Wenben]

Voltarol 12Hour (the "12Hour" is in quite large print on packaging) says Emulgel P 2.32% Gel. 100g tube cost £18.50 last time I bought it. Was going to post a photo but can't work out how on here (techno-numpties 😞)

[Wenben in reply to SnagglePuss]

I found it on Weldrick's Pharmacy website for £13.49 for 100g. As you say £18.50 everywhere else. I ordered two tubes and made the order up with a couple of other pharmacy things I need to get free postage.

Many thanks SnagglePuss….very kind

[stellafmdm]

Co-proxamol is lethal with Alchohol as I found out the hard way. Everyone thought I was drunk when I collapsed after one glass of wine !!!

[Wenben in reply to stellafmdm]

Wow....are you sure it was only one glass ??

[stellafmdm in reply to Wenben]

Absolutely certain Wenben!

[alice1940]

I too had co-proxamol years ago then Dr prescribed co-dydramol that l am still on today but l found co- proxamol was more effective Alice

[Wenben]

It certainly was Alice

[S4ndy]

I took Co-proxamol up until our Clinical Commissioning Group stopped gp's prescribing it because of cost last year.. I don't process codeine so that doesn't work for me. I had taken this drug on and off for 35 years. I found it excellent at controlling my pain and non addictive with the only side effect being constipation.

My gp warned me this was happening and I was able to stock up a bit so I do still have some. However the only way to get them now would be a private prescription if you could find a gp willing to do it and then as only two companies manufacture it the price would be horrendous.

This was the chain of events that led me to trying CBD with my gp and rheumy support.

The original decision was political linked to David Kelly and also suicide. However I read recently that more people are now addicted to Cocodamol and tramadol and tramadol has overtaken coproximal with many more people using it to kill themselves.

In my opinion coproxamol was a useful drug when sensibly prescribed and monitored. Especially for people like me for whom codeine does nothing. I do not drink so that was never an issue. I never took it all the time, only when required so cannot say I was addicted. I took morphine for a week last year when I had a kidney stone and felt that that was getting a real grip on me in a week!

Nothing will now change with coproxamol as manufacturers will phase out. Thank goodness CBD helps me.

[Wenben in reply to S4ndy]

I have looked at the little bottles of CBD oil and there has been a lot of talk about it. It is actually on offer at H & B at the moment.. Is that the sort you mean or something stronger?

[S4ndy in reply to Wenben]

The Holland and Barrett oil is not particularly high strength. I haven't used it myself but a few people in a group i belong to have. It works for some people and is a way of finding out if cbd will help you. Start slow with 1 drop 3 times a day taken 2 hours away from prescription meds. There's lots of info on the web and on the forums here about cbd. I talked it over with my gp who was very supportive. I now use cb d oils and paste from CBD Brothers who supply an organic reasonably priced offsring.

[Wenben in reply to S4ndy]

Thankyou

[Whowillgiveastuff in reply to S4ndy]

I remain determined to have Co-proxamol reinstated, and hope you was able to find a suitable alternative.

Co-proxamol is continuing to be prescribed today thirteen years after the ban was introduced and it’s obviously a much needed and effective drug.

The only reason it’s so expensive is the ridiculous guidelines MHRA stipulate for the importation of unlicensed / off Label medications, some CCG’s have to pay £5.62 per tablet (NHS Swale Below) when they could be imported for approximately £0.05 per tablet if the NHS were able to purchase in bulk!

During July 2019 NHS Enfield CCG paid £522.00 for 100 tablets and during

September 2019 NHS Swale CCG Paid £564.00 for 60 tablets

openprescribing.net/all-eng...... (July 2019)

openprescribing.net/all-eng...... (September 2019)

During March 2017 chemist.net was continuing to dispense Co-proxamol to patients with private prescription’s at just £0.45 per tablet while NHS East Surrey CCG had to pay £3.35 per tablet.

Unfortunately chemist.net stopped dispensing Co-proxamol following an inspection by GPhC on 22nd August 2018! I suspect direct interference from the DOHSC!

Australia and India were the last country's to ban co-proxamol (2011 & 2013) but overturned their their decisions by 2014 as the drug was extremely effective!

Both countries’s supplied the NHS Named Patients throughout the ban from 2008 to today!

MHRA are totally responsible for the Co-proxamol debacle, and the blatent overcharging for the NHS!

OpenPrescribing January 2020

openprescribing.net/nationa...

CCG / Price per Tablet

NHS Kernow CCG / £0.99

NHS East Lancashire CCG / £0.98

NHS Knowsley CCG / £0.94

NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG / £0.88

NHS Portsmouth CCG / £0.75

NHS Warwickshire North CCG / £0.67

NHS Swale CCG / £5.64

NHS Brent CCG / £4.68

NHS Havering CCG / £4.64

NHS Bolton CCG / £3.20

NHS Redbridge CCG / £3.15

NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove / CCG £3.04

Least Expensive NHS Warwickshire North CCG @ £0.67per tablet

Most Expensive NHS Swale CCG @ £5.64 per tablet

It’s essential that DOHSC should urgently review the supply of unlicensed medicinal products (“specials”) for co-proxamol in order to reduce the cost to the NHS and finally give patients the drug they need for their wellbeing!

[AliDeJ]

I was prescribed this in 1981 for a severe cricked neck. It was the active ingedient in a drug called Distalgesic. I was dreadfully allergic to it. It made me completely woosey, the room was spinning, and the pain was not relieved.I only took it a few times.Now I always declare "allergic to co proxamol" One man's meat another man's poison. ..

[Wenben]

That's very true AliDej…… it obviously didn't suit you.