There has been the odd post about medicine side effects from time to time.

My GP started me on low dose codeine (15 mg) yesterday.

Had more side effects than all my other drugs, including statins and a dozen high dose aspirin a day, put together!

Abdominal pain, gastric reflux, sleeplessness, retlessness, headache, wind, joint pain, feeling cold (me!), giddiness, lack of appetite and generally feeling pretty low.

Hoping the intended beneficial effects kick in soon!

The opposite to me. My medical records have a listing of 18 drugs in total including ALL NSAIDS, which give me side effects/ reactions/ intolerance or allergy. But I was started on that low-dose codeine to help recover from the accident this year and - joy of joys - it suits me down to the ground!

That sounds a bit hopeful Varmin.

I am in much the same case. All of the NSAIDs, except aspirin, give cardiac or kidney problems, so your post gives me hope that the codeine may work.

I take 2x30mgs codeine 3 or 4 times a day for the pain of my trochanteric bursitis - along with 2 paracetamol and 2 Ibuprofen - also a tablet to protect my tummy from side effects. It's called Omeprazole.
If you shook me I would rattle.

The only side effect from the codeine I get is constipation but I eat prunes & drink more water and that seems to help.

I don't suppose it suits everybody Laurie but if you aren't already taking an Omeprazole along with the codeine perhaps you ought to be.

Yes it was found when I went in the hospital with the bowel problem that it was the drugs and antibiotics that I had been prescibed over time that had caused the blockage.

I too have been prescibed the codeine but been told I can take 16 a day IF Iam doubled up with pain but I would NEVER take that amount . As I said in my other post I have found the patches much better for the pain than any ruddy painkillers.

The side affects are easing, as drug side effects usually do, so I',m hopeful.

One that is not easing yet is drowsiness. Glad I'm not still driving!

I was already on Omneprozale - 12 aspirin a day!

Yes I have been on Omeprazole for quite a long time now and one of the first that I take in the morning.

Maywalk wrote: . As I said in my other post I have found the patches much better for the pain than any ruddy painkillers.

Tell me about the patches please Maisie. I'd rather have them than pills.

Are they morphine patches that you use?

I am on so many different medications I dont know what upsets me.one thing is streroids which the medics keep giving me every time I get a chest infection

No they are not morphine Carol because I am allergic to them.
These are Sevodyne patches and only one put on each week for 4 weeks. They have certainly helped with the pain far better than the antibiotics although it takes a bit longer for them to get going in the body.
Worth having a word about with your doctor if you are in continual pain. Good Luck.

Thanks Maisie. I've made a note of the name and will ask my doctor when I see her again.

I can't understand why I haven't been offered pain patches before instead of loads of tablets

Because they don't suit everyone, Carol, and can kill.

I suspect they were in use at Gosport.

I know I mentioned drowsiness, but I woke at 9.20 this morning!

That's ridiculous.

Final Update

The new pills take the edge off things quite well and yesterday I got to the dander gate without a stick!

The side effects have all disappeared, except for dowdiness and constipation and some discomfort if I don't take them with a big enough drink.

My pharmacist tells me to eat a banana a day to deal with the constipation, which I've never heard of before and is a tasty way of dealing with it!