Dec 5, 2014 (Started Oct 20, 2014)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for pain)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (chronic constipation, drowsiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: I've backed off taking codeine again, simply because of the constipation. I prefer having to wake up and take extra paracetamol or ibuprofen and enjoy a natural intestinal rhythm. As a post-op pain relief, great. As a long term solution, I'll look elsewhere.

Nov 24, 2014 (Started Oct 20, 2014)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for pain)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (chronic constipation, drowsiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: Codeine has a great side benefit in that it makes me a little drowsy - it really helps my insomnia, so now I take Codeine once a night, which still slows the bowels down but fibre, water and the occasional suppository helps that along. Using Codeine means I can get through the night without topping up the painkillers too. One is enough.

Nov 10, 2014 (Started Oct 20, 2014)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for pain)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (chronic constipation, drowsiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: Codeine really knocked my seizure and surgery pain into a cocked hat. Very effective, but I have never experienced constipation like it. Seriously, first six, then seven days without bowel movements, and when the earth DID finally move, 5 hours of discomfort. I was under strict instructions not to 'strain at stool' so to speak, so a poop shute full of fecal coal (colinic impaction) with diarrhea building up pressure to get by meant that I gave up codeine for a twiddly mixture of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Still on Lactulose Solution and suppositories but returning to normal. Would still use codeine for major pain relief, but only for a day or two.

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