Ibuprofen/Paracetamo l

If your professional carer has to pass you your medication to take it needs to be prescribed.
This is to protect vulnerable adults.

It's not to stop people paying for their paracetamol, or to prevent carers going shopping or to help out the elderly - though any of these might pertain...

In my mother-in-law's case she bought her own when she needed it until she was 101.

My mother-in-law wasn't in palliative care but had paracetamol prescribed and took one dose most days post stroke. She was very achey at night and it was enough to take the edge off as she fell asleep.

She could refuse it but the carer couldn't legally pass her any tablets purchased separately.

Not everything is so clear cut as people think

win, Of course she can decide what she takes or doesn't - there's no way I could (or wish to) change that. I'm just puzzled because she's taking such a high dose of codeine in one tablet, but says she wants to cut down (will be extremely difficult from a high dose to nil) and has to buy paracetamol separately, which she presumably has to do frequently. It just seems a bit crazy when there's a solution available.

twaddle

Would paracetamol be adequate for palliative care patients? Somebody very close to me has terminal cancer and has 72 hour fentanyl patches (applied by a district nurse). Paracetamol and even co-dydramol don't even touch the pain she's in.

On its own, no it likely won’t be enough, but part of the skill of pain control is ‘mixing and matching’ if you like. Paracetamol enhances the efficacy of other, stronger drugs, which may then not be needed in such high doses. All this was carefully explained to us when my Dh was having palliative care.

twaddle

win, Of course she can decide what she takes or doesn't - there's no way I could (or wish to) change that. I'm just puzzled because she's taking such a high dose of codeine in one tablet, but says she wants to cut down (will be extremely difficult from a high dose to nil) and has to buy paracetamol separately, which she presumably has to do frequently. It just seems a bit crazy when there's a solution available.

I fully agree with you on that score, but the GP. will tell us it is mind over matter and that Paracetamol can be enough if you set your mind to it. I have been there, but could never manage on Paracetamol alone, as much as I tried. I also tried what she is aiming at, but with co-codomol instead. I tried to take 1 paracetamol and 1 Co-codomol, but it does not touch my pain so I am back on 2 Co-codomol 4 times a day again, together with other pain killers (opiods) and nerve blockers. I am waiting to see the pain management clinic for the 3rd time. Already waited 18 months. Believe you me, I would love to come off the lot, as it makes me so heavy headed despite being used to it all.

GP's don't generally prescribe paracetamol. It would cost NHS too much. There are many of us who take 8 paracetamol daily which is the maximum dose. This is called pain management to help manage chronic pain.My GP explained to me that the worst thing that people with chronic pain do, is not take 2 every 4 hours. If you don't take 2 every 4 hours then you can't keep on top of the pain. I can't take ibuprofen or aspirin as I'm on blood thinners.I find it really annoying to not be able to buy more than 2 packs at a time. I do however know the dangers of overdosing...A pupil in my tutor group overdosed on them one lunchtime. Thankfully she came and told me so I took her straight to hospital. Stomach pumped and she survived it. So weighing it up I understand the need for the 2 pack control. But annoying to some of us as I have to buy them for my housebound sister. So I feel like I'm forever buying them.

Potentially good news for anyone suffering with Fibromyalgia. There are some excellent studies and potential treatments in the pipeline. My friend has it, they put her on amitriptyline which helped but the weights gain really got her down

A previous poster mentioned that a large overdose of paracetamol can kill you . Actually as few as ten paracetamol can kill you. That is why they limit how many can be sold at once .

It is the reason! A pharmacist told me.. No logic as you go go to other pharmacies and buy them. US has always been like that I used to bring them home with me! Australia same as US. As usual in UK the majority suffer due to the minority. No one sees the rationale in it!

It is 2 boxes. 16s are often on the counter, but you can ask for a bigger box.
I got questioned as I am clearly over 65, that I should not be taking the Ibuprofen any more.

jomo

Question I was given tramadol on prescription..I on beta blockers blood thinners BP tablets water tablets. Staten been told tramadol safe for pain..any one else take them ??

I can’t take tramadol, or dihydrocodein they interfere with my sleeping pill. Also they make me feel sick.

twaddle

win, Of course she can decide what she takes or doesn't - there's no way I could (or wish to) change that. I'm just puzzled because she's taking such a high dose of codeine in one tablet, but says she wants to cut down (will be extremely difficult from a high dose to nil) and has to buy paracetamol separately, which she presumably has to do frequently. It just seems a bit crazy when there's a solution available.

Are you on about me cutting down my dose of codeine?

NotSpaghetti

I think Tramadol is an opioid.

I think they are stronger than co-codamol

Also strong doses of codeine type drugs along with sleeping pills can slow down the respiratory system.
If I knew then what I know now about these types of drugs i would never have touched them with a barge pole.
Gp prescribes these drugs ( especially back in the day & they just expect you to get on with the side effects, of coming off these drugs on your own) well my gp is useless, he more or less said he could get me off mine in two weeks 😳 which he’s totally wrong about that.

MT62

twaddle

win, Of course she can decide what she takes or doesn't - there's no way I could (or wish to) change that. I'm just puzzled because she's taking such a high dose of codeine in one tablet, but says she wants to cut down (will be extremely difficult from a high dose to nil) and has to buy paracetamol separately, which she presumably has to do frequently. It just seems a bit crazy when there's a solution available.

Are you on about me cutting down my dose of codeine?

That's what you wrote you intended to do. I'm not "on about" anything. I'm just puzzled about why you've been prescribed such a high dose in the first place.

I’ve taken prescription co-codamol for years without issue for migraine. I don’t take them regularly, just when I have a bad head. Even then, if two doses of two tablets six hours apart don’t sort it, I know I’m in for the long haul and don’t take any more. I’ve never had any of the side effects mentioned here.

Please don’t ask for prescriptions for paracetamol or ibuprofen. They cost so little in pharmacies and supermarkets. Prescriptions cost a lot to process and provide and I wish the NHS would only provide while patients are in hospital.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who get their prescriptions at no cost, forget that medications are never ‘free’.

back in my Uni days, when aspirin was the main available painkiller, a friend who suffered from severe migraine was found comatose one morning, rushed to hospital and treated as if it was a suicide attempt. She finally got through to them that she wasn't suicidal but had had a severe migraine and in a semi delirious state, had kept taking aspirin trying to control the pain.

I learned a lesson then that has lasted me all my life. I too have migraines, that used to be very bad, but I have always exercised rigorous control over my consumption of painkillers.

Hi twaddle. Prescribed 2 30/500 4 times a day for bone on bone knee pain for at least 5 yrs.
I don’t mind you saying anything at all about my taking a high dose. I just wanted to join in the convo.
I agree with you mentioning that co codamol also contains paracetamol as a lot of people don’t realise that 👍🏻
I am doing well cutting down over the last few months. No side effects 😊

MT62

Hi twaddle. Prescribed 2 30/500 4 times a day for bone on bone knee pain for at least 5 yrs.
I don’t mind you saying anything at all about my taking a high dose. I just wanted to join in the convo.
I agree with you mentioning that co codamol also contains paracetamol as a lot of people don’t realise that 👍🏻
I am doing well cutting down over the last few months. No side effects 😊

I thought you wrote that you only take one 30/500 co-codamol.

Twaddle now I do with one paracetamol tablet.
So just 30mg instead of 60mg

Maremia

Please, always take food with Ibuprofen. You probs know that already.

Please don't take it with blood thinners.

The antidote to paracetamol overdose could easily be incorporated into it. Mustn’t be cost effective to pharma but could save a lot of liver damage/fatalities.