Pholcodine DA?

[CrazyLadyLegs]

Does anyone know if the cough syrup Pholcodine Linctus is a Dopamine agonist? Reason I ask is that I have had two solid weeks of perfect sleep since my body has taken well to Gabapentin. But I have a chest infection at present and the night time cough drives me crazy so I've been taking Pholcodine Linctus last two nights but this morning my legs started again at 5am, so just wondering if Pholcodine could be the cause of this return to RLS symptoms. Any ideas from my knowledgeable forum friends?

[Heatherlss]

Hi CrazyLady,

By the looks of it, Phlocodine is nothing but codeine in liquid form, which makes it an opioid. And rather than making it worse, it could actually be helping your RLS.

About your 5am episode, there can be several explanations. One can be whether you went off a DA a couple of weeks back.

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Heatherlss]

Thank you for reply. No I've been off DA'S for months now, so it's defo not augmentation, been there done that got the T-shirt, and the dvd 🤣🤣.

Well at least I can keep taking the Pholcodine for my cough at night. Perhaps it was just the coughing that set the legs off, you never know!

[Hidden in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

As Heatherlss says and as you'd expect from the name Pholcodine sounds as if it has an opiate in it. Pholcodine monohydrate is the active ingredient and it is derived from morphine.

It suppresses the cough reflex.

I am surprised that it can still be bought. Most cough suppressants used to contain morphine, not so much these days. I used to know people who'd drink a whole bottle of rhe stuff, just to get a high.

I find most linctuses these days don't stop me coughing.

In any event, it will help your RLS, at night, but you may get a rebound effect next day. When you stop it, you may get some withdrawal.

I appreciate that the cough can disturb your sleep. However, if you have a chest infection and a "productive" cough, i.e. extra phlegm, then you need to cough it out.

Taking something to suppress the cough might not be a good idea.

Better to take an expectorant during the day.

I'd ask your pharmacist, or your doctor.

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Hidden]

The trouble is without it I just can't sleep, the coughing fits exhaust me. I know I shouldn't suppress the cough as its caused by a chest infection but this Linctus is the only thing that eases the cough enough to let me sleep. I guess I should see pharmacist 😔.

I guess a day time expectorant would be more advisable.

Thanks for your reply.

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Hi crazy legs I’m not sure if you can get Cbd oil .

I truly find it a life savour for my lungs

I use half a dropper every 4 hours it works really well for me .

It breaks up the phlegm and really helps with the inflammation in the lungs .

It works immediately and shortens and saves my from antibiotics

🙂

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

Hi Shumbah, would that also be true of the CBD we can obtain in the UK? We can only get the one with the THC removed. Is ours as effective do you think?

I do happen to have some in my possession so could give that a try straight away. I just found the UK version was useless for RLS but if it has other alternative benefits then that saves me throwing away a full bottle! 👍

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Yes that is the one I use NO THC just CBD

I have found it to be very interesting product .

I use half to a full dropper when really bed then break it down to lesser amount .

I find it can last anything from 2 to 4 hours .

However if you are really bad just use it as soon as you need it again it’s safe .

We cannot buy CBD in Australia so I bring it back from other parts of the world

Yesterday in the pharmacy I bought a new product called cannamax plus made by cannolgy it is the rest of the plant NO CBD OR THC blow me down it worked the same instantly .

Tonight My husband who never try’s anything was really complaining about Knee pain he has been complaining all week

I said here try this CBD cream I bought in Hawaii a pilot was raving about it so I bought 2 . Within a minute of him rubbing it on he had relief . I use it on my shoulders it magic .

I feel like a spruker I just can’t believe how it works for me .

Please let me know what you notice when you use it , it really helps to know what works . I feel like our group of people do our own clinical trials 🤣

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

Will let you know how I get on with it Shumbah. By the way, please educate this simple Brit, what's a "spruker", not heard that before 😊

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

It is someone who stands out the front of a store trying to tell someone why they should buy there product some may have a mega phone 🤣

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Ps Cbd is no good for RLS we need the THC to stop the movement and edible version is best as it lasts longer according to Dr Sara Benjamin from John Hopkins institute.

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Sorry one more thing

Since I have been using the Cbd for my lungs I have not had one course of prednisone or antibiotics usually I have 3 /4 per year . It’s been nearly 18 months

I made my doctor add this into my medical records .

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

Interesting, oh, yes that's what I wanted to ask, is it drops under the tongue and hold them there for 5 minutes or just straight down the hatch? Taste horrible so straight down would be preferable 😋

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

I put essential oils in like lemon , orange or peppermint . Hold under tongue for approx 1 /2 mins

Go for it !

I notice a difference as soon as I swollen what’s left in my mouth . I hope it does the same for you .

Not a little drop have half a whole droppers worth which is probably about an inch

[Shumbah in reply to Shumbah]

Swallowed what’s left

Silly auto correct

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

OK just took half a dropper followed by a square of chocolate for the taste 🍫😉.

Guess the chocolate makes it more palatable and it is only a square!

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Are u noticing any phlegm in your mouth ?

Can you feel any difference in your breathing ?

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

No nothing yet, yuck I hate even the sound of that word. I am gonna give it a nicer sounding name that doesn't make me feel like retching, something like "people honey", I can live with that one, such a wuss eh?

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

I reckon I would have some more minus the chocolate so it can absorb as much as possible

Perhaps some water after you swallow

Is it full spectrum ?

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

Spoil sport, gotta have some incentive 😉. Yes I will skip the chocolate and have water 😢.

Yes it's full spectrum CBD.

[Shumbah in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

How are you going

If that does not work

I will mail you something

All legal 🙂

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Shumbah]

The CBD does seem to be "shifting things" so to speak, still not great but a little better with the chest, just seems to be my tonsils now that's the main problem, difficulty swallowing and really sore and swollen.

Not to worry, it will sort itself out given time. I think it's just a virus so I know doctor would'nt be able to help. Frustrating but my RLS chose last night to rear its ugly head again so along with the coughing, I was not a happy bunny, shattered this morning 😒

Thank you for your kindness

[Vvalerie in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Hi I use Codeine Linctus to help dry the dreadful mucus in my throat,it really helps knowing I won’t wake up chocking & Sick especially at night , I try not to use it everyday though I get mine on prescription. Hope this helps .RLS is dreadful. Good luck.

[Rangers9 in reply to Hidden]

I suffer from copd and get a few chest infections over the winter time steroids and antibiotics that I always have at home.i learned a long time ago now not to use suppressants like Bronicall mixtures only made things worse

[Hidden]

if it is straight forward Pholcodine Linctus could it be that the colouring or sorbitol is causing issues?

Sometimes cough bottles contain an antihistamine as well and that can send the legs do lally

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Hidden]

Ooh I didn't know that, interesting. Yes it is straightforward Pholcodine Linctus. I know I shouldn't take it with a chest infection but the cough is just hacking and continuous, it's exhausting. To be honest I would rather have my RLS symptoms full throttle right now as they are just marginally less exhausting than the coughing and the Linctus, having codeine in it really is effective at suppressing it so that it's bearable.

It's the lesser of two evils right now.

[Hidden in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Hopefully you're having antibiotics as well? If not have you seen your doctor? Is it definitely a chest infection?

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Hidden]

Well not seen doctor as its easier to get an audience with the Pope than obtain docs appointment. It's usually minimum two weeks wait, so it's self help I'm afraid, so no antibiotics. I presume I have a chest infection as I do suffer from them occasionally so know the signs. But I know if it is then I do need antibiotics to shift it.

[Hidden in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

It's bad isn't it, not being able to see a doctor for so long. There's a dire lack of GPs.

I remember a few years ago there was a crisis of dentists. I heard of people taking their own teeth out with pliers!!!

I'm all for people managing their own care as much as they can where it's possible and reasonable, but it's getting to the point where people might be considering carrying out surgery on themselves!

I would advise you however to see a doctor if you've been coughing more than 3 weeks. In the meantime, you can now buy little pulse oximeters for under a tenner. I have one. I also have a "peak flow" meter. You can also get these for under a tenner.

The oximeter measures your oxygen saturation and the peak flow measures how fast you can exhale. If your O2 sats is below 90% and/or your peak flow is below 300 litres a minute, you may have a serious problem. Don't quote me to a doctor!

If you have repeated chest infections, along with a digital thermometer, it might be worth getting these clever devices.

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Hidden]

I shall look into those items, it pays to be prepared, though not ready to pull my own teeth out, yikes 😱.

Thank you for such good advice and ideas, much appreciated.

[Nlthomp in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Your present situation sounds awful. Hope you feel better soon CLL. 😊

[Rangers9 in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

If you have a chest infection then don’t take no for an answer when phoning for an appointment i was told that bye my doctor she said it is common practice for surgery’s too keep emergency appointments for ppl with chest problems.

Now I always get an appointment for the Same day if you get a really bad receptionist just tell her okay I will just go to a&e at the hospital &when I nxt see a doctor I will be letting them know that you refused me an appointment usually works for me

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

Definitely the colouring!😩

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

I used to think I had a problem with colouring. Turns out it was just faulty crayons.

[CrazyLadyLegs in reply to Hidden]

I love it, that cheered me up no end, thanks Raffs. 😁

[Nosleepatall]

Codeine gives me RLS!

[IrisRN]

I have found that anything can set off my RLS

[CrazyLadyLegs]

Thanks for all your replies, it cheers me up no end knowing so many take the time to support others 🤗.

[Mum007 in reply to CrazyLadyLegs]

Try sipping honey, lemon and hot water throughout the day and night. Preferably Manuka 10+ honey or raw honey. I know they are expensive but you can get them for around the price of a prescription.y. ... Additionally, manuka honey has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

[Hidden in reply to Mum007]

I saw an experiment where ordinary honey and a couple of differing Manuka style honeys and on infected petri dishes the expensive Manuaka cleared more of the bacteria away, fascinating stuff.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

There is something like 200 tons of Manuka honey produced each year.

About 4000 tons of it is sold on the world markets.

Go figure!!😎🤡

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

The other 3800 comes from Bee Keepers in South Armagh

[Arkangel]

As you have what sounds like a nasty chest infection, you DO need antibiotics. I have COPD from frequent chest infections and have recently been in hospital with pneumonia. Please take care. Phone your surgery and DEMAND an emergency appointment. It is for the doctor to evaluate your state of health, not the receptionist! I hope you feel better soon.

[Bdunwithit]

Not sure about your query re Pholcodine Linctus. If you want to try something else for the night time cough, try buckwheat honey. I find it is wonderful for coughs - although it doesn't do anything for RLS, unfortunately. A study on night coughs in children found it to be more effective than over the counter medication - see ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/180...

I find it delicious too! It reputedly has all sorts of other health benefits, but I can't comment on those.

[CrazyLadyLegs]

Sweet! Thanks for the tip 👍

[Ladybug5555]

It could have been the cough syrup,, everything affects my legs,,I have been eating 2 banana's a day for a week and my RLS has almost stop,,

[Madlegs1 in reply to Ladybug5555]

Potasium!?😎

[Anne_liz]

I would be a bit wary about taking this medicine. One serious side effect is that it can cause anaphylactic reactions later if you ever need an anaesthetic. This is why it is banned in some countries, not because it is an opiate. This is according to Wikipedia.