Long term Pain Killer use & mental health issues

[MarkP1204]

Can long tern Co-Codamol & tramadol use cause mental health issues? I ask as I have been on both meds in excess of 7 Years, I am also convinced that these have caused my Tourette's.
Any advice would be great PLEASE

[4Maddie44]

Oh Mark, I am so sorry you are feeling so bad at the moment.  Please keep in touch.  I do so worry about other people.  I want you to think of me as a friend as I am old enough to be your mum, and have children in their 40s. I would worry so if it was one of them.

When I took an overdose, many years ago, it was my daughter who was my rock.  

Thinking of you, and hoping to hear how you are doing.

[4Maddie44]

I read that co-codamol should not be taken for long periods.  It says in leaflet with my tablets that they can lead to tolerance and dependence.  Don't think I will start on them then.  Took me 10 months to withdraw from anti depressants.  Poor you, so difficult for you if you are in constant pain.  

I will carry on with the Paracetamol and nothing else.  Went to an osteopath this morning and back easier after treatment.  I will go twice more, and see how things are after that.  Found quite a bit wrong with my back as it has a deep hollow I did not know I had - after all these years.  Taking it easy today, but need to join the human race again, as get so frustrated staying at home.  

Hope things get better for you.

Take care

[MarkP1204]

I was on the Co-Codamol for 8 years or so, so long as you only use them when you really need to, and only for a week or two at a time, you shouldn't have any issues. unfortunately GP's tend to forget to keep track on how long we have been on certain medication, and unless we ourselves speak up about it, they will simply prescribe them again and again. It has been hard work getting off these med's and I guess to a certain extent these have changed me, in much the same way as cannabis changes the users of it.
use the Co-Codamol just be very careful and if you find that you start to take them when you don't really need to stop taking them. I found that taking the excess med's helped as they are not here for me to take.

Good luck with the osteopath, I hear they can work wonders.

Mark

[4Maddie44]

Gosh you do have a lot of different problems to contend with.  You say you are going through withdrawal from

Co-Codamol.  Well I went to see doctor today and guess what, got a prescription for co-codamal.  I said I wasn't keen, but she said she would prescribe the lowest strength - says 8/500 on tablets.  Too worried to take them though.  Also asked about numbness in my foot but tests showed nothing wrong.  Made an appointment to see an osteopath tomorrow to see if he can fix my back pain.  

Pain makes us depressed, and depression gives us pains.  We can't win!!!

Sorry your marriage is going through a rough patch.  I was divorced when I was in my 40s and I am 73 now.  Very lonely though.  I try to keep busy, and am pretty active for my age.  Very frustrated this back pain has stopped me in my tracks.  Had to leave work early because of depression, and struggle on through life.  

Take care and keep in touch.

[MarkP1204]

Hi,

I take the Pain killers for arthritis, spondalosis, and rheumatism. arthritis is in my knees, wrists and elbow's, spondalosis is the lower back, and the rheumatism is in my shoulders and neck. yep 46 and physically knackered lol.
I am unable to take anti inflammatory as I also have a hiatus hernia, and these really cause me some agro with reflux and so on.

I have asked my GP, and also the specialist that originally diagnosed the Tourette's, neither of them seemed to think this was a relative cause, I am not so sure. I would imagine being on any meds for 8 years or so will and can cause issues, I put some of my more grouchy days down to this.

The Tramadol are slow release, and to be fair don't really help that much, they simply take the edge of the pain, GP has just changed me from the co-Codamol onto something else( not really sure what they are just yet), which don't seem to be doing that much for me, maybe because I am still going through withdrawal from the co-codamol.

luckily the pysc team didn't want to admit me onto the psyc ward, for fear of keeping me in longer than I needed, or they simply needed the bed for someone that was in more need, to be fair I was glad to get back home, although that has had it's own issues. currently going through a really rough patch with my wife, and have been very low of late, had a bit of a mental breakdown four days prior to the OD, which partly explains the state I was in.

Like you ibuprofen is a no no, due to the old hernia, as I said old before I should be, well physically anyway, as blokes never really get past 21, Ha-Ha.

Thank's
M

[4Maddie44]

Hi there.  I live in the UK too.  I am so sorry things are so bad for you.  Can you tell me why you are taking the pain killers?  What is it they are helping you cope with?

Life is so difficult when we are in pain.  Everything is so much worse to deal with.  

You may have a point about the Tourettes, as it started late in your life.  Have you discussed this problem with doctors?  I reckon all medication mucks up our systems.  

You are entitled to be grumpy when you have so much to deal with.  I hate taking strong pain killers, and just take paracetamol for my arthritis.  Yes I had bad experience with co-codamol.  Going to my doctor on Monday about bad bad back pain, but will have to refuse it.  Not much else they can do.  I will go to an osteopath, as this has helped with back pain in the past.

So sorry about your overdose experience.  I took overdose of anti depressants once.  I have been in psychiatric hospital in the past.  We have a lot to deal with.  I am an old lady now, but I like to be active and pain takes such a lot away.

Let me know how you get on.  Will Tramadol be enough for your pain?  I can't take Ibuprofen because caused internal bleed.

Take care.

[MarkP1204]

Hi Maddie,
Not sure if they have caused me depression, however they have changed me, and not for the better, much more moody, also struggle to sleep, and the loss of appetite hasn't really helped either.
I guess the mood swings could be depression related, or that I am just a grumpy old man :).
Mark

[MarkP1204]

Hi,
The only reason I ask this, is that until recently I had never had any Tourette symptoms. As I have been on both these meds for such a long time I am worried that they may have caused some imbalance in my system. They have already caused me addiction issues!
Mark

[MarkP1204]

Hi, Rowena,
I have been on the Co-Codamol since 2006 and the tramadol for about the same length of time. The Co-Codamol, have been pretty constant at 30/500 for the last 6years, prior to that they were a weaker dose. daily I was taking up to 8 a day, until last year when I started taking up to 10 a day, about 5 months ago this went up to about 14 a day, however in the last few month I have been reducing these, and have just stopped them completely. I was on two a day for the last three weeks, however I took an overdose of 16 to 18 pills Tuesdays( currently going through a rough patch), subsequent spell in A&E, and now on the Crisis list(mental health care support in the UK). I have stopped taking them completely now.
As for the tramadol, these are under control, one slow release pill twice a day, not sure of the strength, about 200mgs each pill.

[philnoir]

Mark, there is no known associate between Tourette's and codeine or tramadol.

Tramadol is a mild reuptake inhibitor for serotonin. There's no evidence that extra serotonin causes Tourette's -- on the contrary, Tourette's is treated with SSRIs.

[4Maddie44]

I found that taking strong pain killers gave me depression.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
I understand your concern regarding this. can you elaborate the frequency and dosage of your tramadol and co-codamol?  It is usually advised to take any medications as prescribed and never take more than the prescribed dose. This is because taking too much can cause serious problems. With tramadol and co-codamol ( paracetamol with codeine), these are often used to relieve painful conditions where paracetamol alone is not sufficient, such as for muscular pain or nerve pain. The presence of side effects will depend on the dosage  and time you took the medicines. Take care and regards.