Hang on, why aren't you supposed to take aspirin? Ibuprofen (active ingredient in Nurofen) is the same family of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflamatories), and has many of the same side effects. Please don't take any more without consulting a doctor or pharmacist and explaining why you shouldn't have aspirin.

Don't rule out good old paracetamol. As long as you follow the guidelines, and don't have any liver disfunction, they are safe. Codeine is great, but remember that it is not to be taken long term as it is highly addictive (it is a very similar chemical to heroin!), but while your mouth is really hurting I reckon that might be your best bet.

We can't touch it as in cannot give it out of boxes. But then we can't really give any medication straight out of the box. Has to be in a dossett or blister pack (on of those daily med packs you put a days meds in)... and then it has to be filled by a pharmacist, not a family member in case they want to bump gran off!

Controlled drugs are usually controlled as they are either highly addictive or easy to overdose on, hence why such strict controls. We usually can't touch them except in certain circumstances such as someone is dying and needs Oramorph, and then it needs two carers present.

So don't panic! Though we always have to wear gloves for drugs anyway, or tip them straight into a cup.

I was going to say that too, but as he said they went to the chemist they should've known that??

how are you feeling ?

My pills are paracetemol / codene phosphate - but are prescription. I did chance my arm and ask the chemist for another box hen I ran out but he needed another prescription. Having said that all I need to do is ring the receptionist and say I've run out and they get another prescription for me without another consultation.

Glad the tooth is a bit less painful for you now though.

It's funny you mention constipation. I've pretty much stopped taking the pills now (for the original problem) but I ended up taking a couple the other day because my **** was killing me LOL

Well mines over the counter from Boots. They are Paracetamol & Codeine caplets. Would only let you have one box though. Perhaps your moms on a higher dose of it though hence the prescription.
It's like Zantac, you can buy over the counter or get a higher dosage on prescription.

There are three classifications for how you get drugs...
POM (prescription only)
P (pharmacy only, ie from behind the counter, but without prescription, when the pharmacist has to give the nod that you can have it)
and GSL (general sales list, which is stuff like paracetamol, or anything you can buy straight from the shelf of any shop).

Codeine on it's own, mixed with say paracetamol, is available over the counter from pharmacies (P). It isn't, I believe on the general sales list, ie you can't just pick it off the shelf from a supermarket or garage for example, only from chemist/pharmacies.

Codeine phosphate IS controlled and that is prescription only.... mainly as it is very addictive if used for a long time.

Can you tell I've just done my medication refresher lol.

Wow after reading all this i am shocked

i take codeine phosphate and paracetamol for my headaches when they aint too bad and Tramadol hydrochloride when the pain is really bad

but i wasnt told that codeine phosphate was addictive
i have been taking them for the last 6 months

It has the potential to be habit forming. This is a good site for info.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/acetaminoph...blets-usp.html

But don't panic, I'm sure you're ok, if your gp saw you suddenly getting through loads they should act.

Thank you for that Becky



Just saw this
General:

Acetaminophen and Codeine phosphate tablets should be prescribed with caution in certain special-risk patients, such as the elderly or debilitated, and those with severe impairment of renal or hepatic function, head injuries, elevated intracranial pressure, acute abdominal conditions, hypothyroidism, urethral stricture, Addison’s disease, or prostatic hypertrophy.

and i have Elevated intracranial pressure

am at the docs tonite so will ask him if they are still okay for me to take

Well theirs two reasons why I can't have Aspirin.

First they have alway made me sick even when I was a child and the secondly is that I'm on Warfarin after having two heart attacks, and as aspirin is also a bloody thiner I'm not allowed to mix them.

Thankfully and after a good nights sleep my face is alot better this better, save that Michelle was not best pleased this morning when she saw the state of the pillow as I must of had a small bleed over night and the pillow has now changed colour. So she has has to put my pillow slip and pillow in a large bucket of cold salt water.

I must admit that the hardest part about all this, excluding the pain, is eating with just the one side of my month, so Michelle's doing me soup for lunch, or should it be Heniz baby food?