Should I worry that I'm taking so many Painkiller pills?

jenniewb

Zoetoes wrote: »

Have you told the doctor you take ibuprofen often?

Yes, it was they that said I'd needed to take it regularly to get it to work as apparently (and confirmed by a friend who has had arthritus for years) it needs to build up in your system to work properly, I recognise this is also the case for Mefenamic acid pills which I had been told to take a day or two before my period starts so it can build up in my system, am guessing thats perhaps how anti-inflammitories work.
Not had any stomach issues as yet but I do make sure I take on a full stomach or with food which was explained to me when I had them suggested to me.

Doesn't stop me worrying about what could be happening to my liver though.:eek:

Humphrey10

jenniewb wrote: »

I am one of the 1% who has not been sold on this placebo effect.

It doesn't work precisely because you know with 100% certainty it's a placebo effect - I would imagine most if not all people on long term pain medication know too much about painkillers for that type of placebo effect to much effect.

Re: cost, if you get free prescriptions or buy the prescription prepayment thingies, see if you can get all your pain medication on prescription - even if the ibuprofen only costs 39p it will still save you money. It comes in massive boxes too when you get it on prescription, so many fewer visits to the chemist. I had it on repeat for years due to period pain.

jenniewb

Humphrey10 wrote: »

It doesn't work precisely because you know with 100% certainty it's a placebo effect - I would imagine most if not all people on long term pain medication know too much about painkillers for that type of placebo effect to much effect.

Re: cost, if you get free prescriptions or buy the prescription prepayment thingies, see if you can get all your pain medication on prescription - even if the ibuprofen only costs 39p it will still save you money. It comes in massive boxes too when you get it on prescription, so many fewer visits to the chemist. I had it on repeat for years due to period pain.

My GP wont do this (prescribe Ibuprofen and other OTC stuff.) Say to me "oh you can get that OTC you wont need a presciption". I end up feeling too embarassed to say "uh actually it would help me a lot" and I think I can manage the odd 40p for my own pills without too much of a struggle so like to think in some small way I am not taking more from the NHS...see it sort of a feel-good/karma thing! I have had so many appointments and referals, I feel like I take too much and it doesn't do my self esteem any good to hear how the NHS is struggling and then pepople like me who are on very low incomes, I know I could never afford to pay for all the help I get and feel terrible about that.

I do though, have Mefenamic acid prescribed for period pains though- that I do need on prescription and it is a God-send! ibuprofen+paracetamol+evening primrose stopped working for period pains for me about 3 years ago (neither did any of the branded stuff work) at the moment am seeing a gyno to work out whats going on with my very odd, very infrequent and highly painful periods but thats another story!

Katiehound

I would just buy the prepayment prescription thing and say to your GP that you really are struggling to buy OTC products because of your financial situation & health problems and you would like (particularly) the ibuprofen on scrip.
Some people hardly have medication because they are blessed with good health whilst others have extremely expensive drugs for years because they are ill. Hopefully this is only a phase in your life and you will be healthier in the future. Unfortunately the times when you feel really ill are just the times when you have to protest.
Hope things improve for you.

I would be suggesting that you look in to alternative therapies such as acupuncture and reflexology but these do cost.

jenniewb

Katiehound wrote: »

I would just buy the prepayment prescription thing and say to your GP that you really are struggling to buy OTC products because of your financial situation & health problems and you would like (particularly) the ibuprofen on scrip.
Some people hardly have medication because they are blessed with good health whilst others have extremely expensive drugs for years because they are ill. Hopefully this is only a phase in your life and you will be healthier in the future. Unfortunately the times when you feel really ill are just the times when you have to protest.
Hope things improve for you.

I would be suggesting that you look in to alternative therapies such as acupuncture and reflexology but these do cost.

Thanks,

I'm not struggling to buy the OTC stuff, its stuff I can afford even if it does worry me to take this stuff, its not the top of my financial concern list.

My main concern is of taking these sorts of pills every day and forever from what I can tell- I don't see this thing ever getting better so the pain wont go away and so I will be taking pills for life. This is what worries me and how they are affecting my body affects me.

I will be asking about alternative therapies with my GP when I can get an appointment next week, if I have to sort if myself though it just wont happen as I already pay for part of my health (long story but basicly the NHS alternative just doesn't exist where I live and where does isn't suitable) and just don't have that sort of money left over for accupuncture and etc, I already pay a massivly reduced fee for the help that I get and so any spare cash isn't really mine to give let alone being enough for private alternative therapy.

GlynD

OP you can stop worrying. I take well in excess of what you do and have been doing so for many years. I'm not addicted and only take then when needed.

I have a similar medical profile to you.

BTW Co-codomol 8/500's are smarties. Wait til you get onto the strong ones

TrixieB

maybe if the 8/500 cocodamols aren't touching it, it would be better for you to take fewer of a stronger dose? Worth talking to GP at least. Also I was told that many medications have a cumulative effect and better to take a low dose most of the time and up if necessary, than to only take when needed. not entirely sure how true this is though and am weaning myself off so many tablets - 14 a day!
Hard choice between being in pain yet clear headed , or not in pain and a bit zombiefied
wishing you well x

jenniewb

GlynD wrote: »

OP you can stop worrying. I take well in excess of what you do and have been doing so for many years. I'm not addicted and only take then when needed.

I have a similar medical profile to you.

BTW Co-codomol 8/500's are smarties. Wait til you get onto the strong ones

Thanks- thats reassuing to hear (no really- I had partly posted this because I am not a fan at all of pills, have had horrible experiences I wont bore everyone with here but its safe to say that several doctors have commented on the fact I seem to be sensitive to medication and that constantly get side effects with things I take!)

Am kinda hoping I can avoid the stronger pills though- theres something safe in knowing I'm not at a maximum dose!

pmduk

The above may be a good idea, I'm on a stronger dose of co-codamol following a badly broken wrist, I find with the higher dose I'm taking a lot fewer.

Dolly66

Don't worry about the number of pills your taking if you need them, just make sure your GP knows everything your taking, including any otc. (edit, just stick to the recommended dose)

One word of caution with the ibuprofen tho. I was on that,and the swapped to diclofenic (same drug class, available otc in low dose as voltarol and often more effective) for over a year. I got to the point about 6 months ago that I had constant heartburn. Doc took me off it, then tried me on arthrotec (same drug, but with a stomach protector in it). I lasted a week on that before the same problem. I'm now banned from taking any anti inflamitories or aspirin cos of the risk of a stomach ulcer. Hopefully it won't happen to you but if you start getting any kind of stomach problems with ibuprofen, please see your doctor.

Also don't panic about the codeine. Aparently the form in co codamol (codeine phostpate) isn't bad for causing addiction. I've been on varying strenghts for the last 18 months, including 6 months oin the strongest one, and still have no problems. The stronger forms are more of an issue. I do have a stronger opiate for when the pain gets really bad but I only get 20 of them a month, and my GP point blank refuses to give me any more, instead preferring to try other meds and now refer me to the pain clinic rather than just doping me up on addictive substances.

TrixieB wrote: »

maybe if the 8/500 cocodamols aren't touching it, it would be better for you to take fewer of a stronger dose? Worth talking to GP at least. Also I was told that many medications have a cumulative effect and better to take a low dose most of the time and up if necessary, than to only take when needed. not entirely sure how true this is though and am weaning myself off so many tablets - 14 a day!
Hard choice between being in pain yet clear headed , or not in pain and a bit zombiefied
wishing you well x

Trixie, I sooo know that feeling. You don't say what your on painkillers for but there will be a combination of meds out there that works for you. I ended up having to take a larger number of tablets - 22 a day at last count - so I could split the doses up more, and consequentally feel more human than zombie (smaller doses more frequently), but that seems to be doing as well as it can be.