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codiene - help from the medics please!!!
OK, so I've had a very sore lower back for a few days..been getting worse and couldn't sit down and do other things. Saw my GP on Friday afternoon and he said he was certain I had a partially 'slipped disk'. He has given me a low dose of codiene (15mg) as I said last time I took codiene in hospital i was sick from it. i took codiene once friday night and once saturday morning. It didn't particularly help with the pain which is why i didnt take any from saturday 12.00 onwards. by 6 o clock last night i was being very sick, I have continued to be sick through the night - still being sick now.
Is this likely to just be a reaction from the small amount of codiene i have taken? i think it is strange that i wasnt sick until 6 hours after the last lot of codiene. any advice from medics? the doctor has already said if the pain is not easing by monday or tuesday i need to go back anyway. obviously dont expect any internet diagnosis' but any advice as to whether the sickness is the codiene or could it be related to the back pain.
please keep anon if poss!
Is this likely to just be a reaction from the small amount of codiene i have taken? i think it is strange that i wasnt sick until 6 hours after the last lot of codiene. any advice from medics? the doctor has already said if the pain is not easing by monday or tuesday i need to go back anyway. obviously dont expect any internet diagnosis' but any advice as to whether the sickness is the codiene or could it be related to the back pain.
please keep anon if poss!
Scroll to see replies
Reply 2
im surprised codiene didnt work, the effect of codiene is not to simply just get rid of pain completely, moreover just reduce it. As far as im aware, yes one of the side-effects of codiene is nausea and vomitting. I suggest you go back to your GP and ovisouly let him/her know about it so they can maybe prescribe you something else.
yer i think it didnt work coz its such a low dosage. i didnt even notice a reduction in the pain.. if it was it was so slight i didnt think it was worth taking it any more. and then once id stopped i started puking. i knew that was a side effect i just thought it would have started sooner..not 6 hours after the last lot. gna c the doc probly tuesday if its not better. thank you!
Reply 4
iceman_jondoe
im surprised codiene didnt work, the effect of codiene is not to simply just get rid of pain completely, moreover just reduce it.
I was given high dosage codeine once before and it did absolutely nothing for me, maybe its because i was so ill, i don't know.
It's not unknown for people and animals to have slightly different and/or advanced mechanisms of eliminating and/or metabolising certain drugs reducing their efficacy and/or resulting in higher doses being needed.
OP, go to your doc and see what they advise. The pack will probably say to steer clear of the codiene if you experience any adverse reactions no doubt.
Reply 5
So you took 15mg of codeine, and nothing else? I'm not surprised it didn't help with the pain relief from a partial disc herniation - off the top of my head 15mg of codeine is barely distinguishable from placebo (the majority of the pain relief from non-prescription 8/500 co-codamol comes from the paracetamol).
As for what is making you sick.... Given your history, codeine is the most likely culprit. With codeine in particular, a certain percentage of the population (who are poor CYP2D6 metabolisers) get no pain relief from it but still the side effects (most commonly constipation, but occasionally nausea and cramping). I don't think it would be your back itself; herniated discs can cause nausea if the disc protrudes into the spinal cord, but then you'd have other symptoms which your GP will have ruled out in your consultation last week (pins and needles, numbness, weakness in the lower limbs etc.).
Go back on Monday, and in the meantime take 400mg ibuprofen and 1000mg paracetamol three times a day. Don't wait for the pain to get bad, take your medication like clockwork for best effect.
As for what is making you sick.... Given your history, codeine is the most likely culprit. With codeine in particular, a certain percentage of the population (who are poor CYP2D6 metabolisers) get no pain relief from it but still the side effects (most commonly constipation, but occasionally nausea and cramping). I don't think it would be your back itself; herniated discs can cause nausea if the disc protrudes into the spinal cord, but then you'd have other symptoms which your GP will have ruled out in your consultation last week (pins and needles, numbness, weakness in the lower limbs etc.).
Go back on Monday, and in the meantime take 400mg ibuprofen and 1000mg paracetamol three times a day. Don't wait for the pain to get bad, take your medication like clockwork for best effect.
Reply 6
Codeine is an opiate, and I think a fairly common side-effect of those is sickness. How bad is the back? Again, this is a non-expert opinion, but surely the pain would have to be absolutely intolerable for you literally to vomit from it. I suspect it's the drug. Also strikes me as a little dim of him to prescribe you a drug that's made you sick in the past.
Thank you! the doctor said it was protuding into some of the nerves which is causing some of the symptoms i have had - pain going into my right bum and leg (some sciatica he said). also slight changes to my bladder - not knowing when i needed to go up until the last minute. i have not had any tingling or numbness etc.
i was taking 2 x 15mg codeine with paracetamol.
i was taking 2 x 15mg codeine with paracetamol.
Obleu
Codeine is an opiate, and I think a fairly common side-effect of those is sickness. How bad is the back? Again, this is a non-expert opinion, but surely the pain would have to be absolutely intolerable for you literally to vomit from it. I suspect it's the drug. Also strikes me as a little dim of him to prescribe you a drug that's made you sick in the past.
i did think it was odd to prescribe me it - but he said it was a low dosage and it shouldnt make me sick. the back is fairly painful but i know the sickness won't be the pain. i just didnt know if there was any other condition that would cause back pain and sickness - i.e if the back pain wasn't actually a slipped disc.
Reply 9
Thank you! the doctor said it was protuding into some of the nerves which is causing some of the symptoms i have had - pain going into my right bum and leg (some sciatica he said). also slight changes to my bladder - not knowing when i needed to go up until the last minute. i have not had any tingling or numbness etc. I just didnt know if there was any other condition that would cause back pain and sickness - i.e if the back pain wasn't actually a slipped disc.
Whereabouts is your back pain - central, left-sided or right-sided? With the sciatica and affected perception of the need to urinate, I'd go along with your GP's diagnosis of a lumbar disc herniation - those two tick enough boxes without needing numbness. If you do get numbness or muscle weakness, then I'd advise seeing an out-of-hours GP or going to A&E - it indicates the disc herniation has increased and is compressing further on the spinal cord.
emmzy
i was taking 2 x 15mg codeine with paracetamol.
Ahh, okay - just the way you said you got 15mg of codeine and took it once last night and once on Saturday morning. 30mg is certainly enough to trigger nausea in sensitive individuals, bad luck there. I suspect your GP was just giving it a go as perhaps when you were in hospital they didn't conclusively decide that the codeine was responsible. If you go back and say it made you sick, he'll mark it on your records and give you something else. If you have any say in the matter, ask for Tramadol - it has fewer of the opiate-esque side-effects of constipation, nausea etc. and is particularly good for the neuropathic pain element of disc herniation. I have a thoracic disc herniation and Tramadol 50mg, four times daily is a lot better than 60mg of codeine four times daily (I'm now on 100mg four times daily along with meptazinol 200mg three times daily, but that's because a physiotherapist buggered it up
).I have a real sharp shooting pain slightly to the right when i move in specific ways etc. I also have a sort of ache which is central, slightly right and slightly left. although i suspect this ache is probably because i walk differently to try not to make any pain therefore it is aching to almost compensate for that. or am i completely down the wrong track!?
i am relieved that the sickness is from the codeine. bearing in mind the last lot was taken almost 24 hours ago how long do u suspect i will continue being sick for? I have work (bar and waitressing) at 4.30!?! it is my first proper shift and i don't want to ring in sick !
i am relieved that the sickness is from the codeine. bearing in mind the last lot was taken almost 24 hours ago how long do u suspect i will continue being sick for? I have work (bar and waitressing) at 4.30!?! it is my first proper shift and i don't want to ring in sick !
Reply 11
Codeine did the same to me when I fractured my wrist, it sounds like it could be the vertigo side-effect that some people get? Tends to strike when you sit up/get up/ move around too much, and it's miserable!
Mine continued for a full day after taking only two pills, but I hope you feel better soon
Mine continued for a full day after taking only two pills, but I hope you feel better soon
Reply 12
emmzy
I have a real sharp shooting pain slightly to the right when i move in specific ways etc.
Okay, on the opposite side to where you get the shooting pain, is there any mild numbness? Just trying to locate whereabouts in the spine the herniation is for my own curiosity.
I also have a sort of ache which is central, slightly right and slightly left. although i suspect this ache is probably because i walk differently to try not to make any pain therefore it is aching to almost compensate for that. or am i completely down the wrong track!?
You're spot on. The problem is that the muscles on your right are absolutely fine, it's just the nerves going from them to your brain via your spinal cord are being compressed by the disc herniation, giving the sensation of pain. But as far as your body is concerned the pain is real and your right-sided muscles are injured, so your left side will be working extra hard to try and make up for this perceived deficit. So right side = neurological shooting pain (muscles okay, but disc buggering up the nerves), and left side = nociceptive pain from the left muscles having been working over-hard.
As a further example, I get right-sided upper-back pain; and my left side starts to hurt when the pain gets worse, as my left side goes really tense to try and make up for the fact that my body things my right side must be packed in if its hurting so much. Then, at the end of the day, my right-side hurts because of the disc herniation; and my left side because the muscles are knackered out.
i am relieved that the sickness is from the codeine. bearing in mind the last lot was taken almost 24 hours ago how long do u suspect i will continue being sick for? I have work (bar and waitressing) at 4.30!?! it is my first proper shift and i don't want to ring in sick !
How are you feeling now? Try and get enough fluids and eat a sensible lunch - something bland and easy to digest, like soup & toast. Hopefully that should settle your stomach enough. The other thing that might be worth trying is a travel sickness pill to relieve the nausea, any in the house?
Reply 13
im afraid i cant help on the codeine side of it, but i sympathise completely! i, too am currently suffering from a prolapsed disc in my back, which wasnt diagnosed till i went for physio 3 weeks after i did it (GP didnt really know what she was talking about) and now its been nearly 8 weeks! so, i know exactly how you feel on the pain front. i was prescribed strong ibuprofen and co-codamol, to really get rid of the pain, but it didnt really work either! i was still in a lot of pain (which is thankfully starting to ease, after painkillers and physio!) which surprised me, since the co-codamol was the same dosage as that which was given to my dad after his oesophagectomy (pretty hefty surgery!!) in december!
im sorry ive rabittted on so much about my slipped disc, but i jkust wanted to say how much i sympathise. it is such horrible pain (i too have the pain down my leg, along with very tight calf muscle and constant pins and needles in my foot - i tell you something, it will be strange when the pins and needles go, after having them for about 5 weeks!!)
hope you get better soon, sorry i couldnt help on the codeine front!!
im sorry ive rabittted on so much about my slipped disc, but i jkust wanted to say how much i sympathise. it is such horrible pain (i too have the pain down my leg, along with very tight calf muscle and constant pins and needles in my foot - i tell you something, it will be strange when the pins and needles go, after having them for about 5 weeks!!)
hope you get better soon, sorry i couldnt help on the codeine front!!
Dont think there is any numbness whatsoever. just to be extra safe haha.. there is no chance it is anything else? i have a headache and i feel generally achey - i guess this would just be more of my bodies reaction to the codeine?
just rang work to explain the situation and theyv got cover as they dont want me being sick around food. i hav tried eating but thrown it back up (just plan toast and water). i am now drinking lucozade just for energy - i normaly drink this when iv been ill. still feeling very sick but not been sick for 2 hours ..
just rang work to explain the situation and theyv got cover as they dont want me being sick around food. i hav tried eating but thrown it back up (just plan toast and water). i am now drinking lucozade just for energy - i normaly drink this when iv been ill. still feeling very sick but not been sick for 2 hours ..
Reply 15
pretz
Wow, there are a lot of lightweights up in here. Sick from codeine? Jesus.
It's not exactly our fault, is it? Codeine contains opiates that some people don't react well to. It's the same as being allergic to certain medicines.
haha thanks. my gp said he had one about 12 years ago - his only lasted for about a day but he said he sympathises with the pain so it was nice to know that he had some experience of it! i have been told to start physio next week. its just a bummer when your sick u want to just curl up in a ball but i cant get comfy with the back! i will be seeing the doctor again this week so fingers crossed i can change the pain relief! hope yours gets better too!!!
Reply 17
a day??? wow thats quick!! lol
physio has really helped me, so hopefull it will help you too
and im so sorry ur feeling so sick as well, and cant get comfy
try laying on your front cuddling a pillow or something. another way i find comfortable is laying with my legs up on a bean bag or chair, but not so they are straight, with your bum up to the bean bag and then your knees bend. not great though if youre feeling sick and just want to curl up i guess!
try and see if he will give you strong ibuprofen...that might work!
physio has really helped me, so hopefull it will help you too
and im so sorry ur feeling so sick as well, and cant get comfy
try laying on your front cuddling a pillow or something. another way i find comfortable is laying with my legs up on a bean bag or chair, but not so they are straight, with your bum up to the bean bag and then your knees bend. not great though if youre feeling sick and just want to curl up i guess!try and see if he will give you strong ibuprofen...that might work!
yer. i cant decide whether to wait for my doc on tues or see the other one on monday. yer i have found lying with my legs up but not straight helps but then it is difficult to get out of and my leg goes numb and tingly (which i presumed was from having it in the air!?!?) do you know how you did yours? because i cant think of anything iv done to have hurt it!?
Reply 19
yep, tis a bit hard to get up from lol!
well, all i know about mine is that i was running on the treadmill at the gym one day, came home and my back was sore, went 2 days later, did the same, back was fine, then the next day it was agony! i have no idea if the running is connected at all! but then about a week after doing it, i pick up my (rather heavy!) bag akwardly and thats when it got really bad - could hardly walk
apparently though, if you have a weakness there, just sneezing can cause it!!! and also, i hardly have any pain in my back...its all down my leg really... is urs in ur back too?? but its just so annoying and stupid, cos if im in a comfy position, i now forget about it, then get up and think 'oh ****'!! also, you said you thought some of the pain might be cos of you walking differently..i had that sort of...i was walking differently for the first few weeks and that was making some sort of bone rub in my ankle...thats how it felt anyway...and that made my ankle really sore! its just such a horrible thing to do. and its not like a broken leg or arm when crutches or a sling will help...nothing does! poor us, eh?!?
does your calf muscle feel really tight and sore?? mine does most of the time, especaially in the mornings and i cant actually have my leg straight!! bizzarre!
are you feeling any better with the sickness now??
well, all i know about mine is that i was running on the treadmill at the gym one day, came home and my back was sore, went 2 days later, did the same, back was fine, then the next day it was agony! i have no idea if the running is connected at all! but then about a week after doing it, i pick up my (rather heavy!) bag akwardly and thats when it got really bad - could hardly walk
apparently though, if you have a weakness there, just sneezing can cause it!!! and also, i hardly have any pain in my back...its all down my leg really... is urs in ur back too?? but its just so annoying and stupid, cos if im in a comfy position, i now forget about it, then get up and think 'oh ****'!! also, you said you thought some of the pain might be cos of you walking differently..i had that sort of...i was walking differently for the first few weeks and that was making some sort of bone rub in my ankle...thats how it felt anyway...and that made my ankle really sore! its just such a horrible thing to do. and its not like a broken leg or arm when crutches or a sling will help...nothing does! poor us, eh?!?does your calf muscle feel really tight and sore?? mine does most of the time, especaially in the mornings and i cant actually have my leg straight!! bizzarre!
are you feeling any better with the sickness now??
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