If its no longer prescribed then why does your mum still take it , as i'm sure the doctor would have prescribed a good alternative. Co-Codomol are a good pain killer either tablet or soluable form , i'm not sure if these are available over the counter or just on prescription.

Co-#Proxamol is now banned in the EU due to nasty side effects that it has

the replacement is Co-Codamol and you can buy that over the counter in Pharmacies

Regards
Gray
Registered Nurse level 1

She doesn't still use it and they are for me.Co-Codamol isn't as strong or good as Co-Proxamol(don't quote me i could be wrong but as i have taken both i should know) and as you can buy co-codamol in the chemist and it's not just perscription like Co-proxamol was then that's why it's not as good a painkiller.Even co-dydramol which i was given as the alternative isn't as good.It wasn't a nasty drug it was taken away because they said it was more of a risk to people getting an overdose with it.Well i was on them for years and i think i am a good judge to know how many to take and when to take them

I wanted to know if you could buy them there as it's handy to have them as they are better for me when things are that bit worse:)

they said it was more of a risk to people getting an overdose with it.Well i was on them for years and i think i am a good judge to know how many to take and when to take them

Sorry to completely disagree with you, but you are not the best judge of a drug that has been proved to cause death within 1 hour and has been satistically associated with suicide....most people die of co-proxamol poisoning as a result of cardiac failure.
400 people (a year) have commited suicide in the UK using Co-Proxamol, but the problem is not just suicide, there have been quite a number of "accidental" deaths with co-proxamol when used with alcohol and no one can deny its toxicity.... taking just 2 "extra" tablets above the recommended max dose, can take you into the realms of an overdose with fatal consequences.....it is also very addictive and is used by junkies to combat withdrawal symptoms.

Co-#Proxamol is now banned in the EU due to nasty side effects that it has

Certain death within 1 hour is a little more than a nasty side effect. and some GPs will say good riddance to it.

Co-proxamol has been withdrawn by the MHRA, but it is still on licence until Dec 2007 and as far as I know, can be still prescribed on a named user list only by GPs.

Since February of this year, all prescription drugs are now banned from being sold in Farmacias in Spain.
EG: Buying antibiotics over the counter is now not possible and all prescription drugs have to go through a doctor.

However, Spain has a flood of unlicenced drugs with a subsitute (generic) name and if you are prepared to take the risk, then be it on your own head.
Co-proxamol is a combination of paracetamol and opiate Dextropropoxyphene, which has a morphine like effect, I believe it goes under several Trade names like Distalgesic, Cosalgesic and Dolgesic and unlicenced names.
I'm sure someone somewhere would sell you compressed talcum powder and chalk in the form of a tablet and call it anything.

Sanji

Co-codamol is available in varying strenghts - 30/500 is stronger and requires a prescription, why not try that? Also dihydracodeine, again needs prescription

I could still get co proxamol in the UK up until 5 weeks ago ( been on them for best part of 20 years nothing else on the market comes near i stocked up before they banned them and have about 2000 of them ) They prescribed me co-codamol but there C**P
Side Effects
I never had any and dont know anyone that has !
Mick

My friend DIED after taking co-proxamol after drinking.She hadnt had a great deal to drink and on returning home from a night out with her husband took 2 tablets because she had a headache.She had been prescribed them because she hurt her back at work.(She was a staff nurse)She had taken 2 tablets earlier in the day and knew the dangers of drinking alcohol.She collapsed and was rushed to A&E where they tried to pump her stomach out,however she had a cardic arrest and died.She had 2 beautiful children,a loving husband and everything to live for.She may have been "unlucky" but if a drug is banned in the UK it is for good reason and not worth the risk buying them.I took them years ago and until recently took celebrex which was an excellent painkiller but that also has been banned.

I know this topic is not really related to holiday forums but just to set the record straight, the government will lead you to believe co-proxamol is banned, but I regularly get a prescription for this due to a sever back problem. My last prescription was yesterday. Patients who have been using this for a long time can, at the discression of the doctor still be prescribed this so for everyone who's doctors claim it is banned. Its not! This maybe just a Scottish thing I don't know but I have been told from the doctor that I can continue to have it prescribed as it is the only medication that helps me, all other substitutes are no good.

Sorry, but the government won't lead you to believe anything, as per my previous post, this drug has been withdrawn by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) not the government and it is still on licence until Dec 2007.
Therefore, it can at the doctors discretion, still be prescribed on a "named user" list only.

Jay Trip...sorry to hear about your friend but, I thankyou for your post, you have just highlighted and confirmed what I said earlier....and one would think that a State Registered Nurse would be more informed than the general public....still tragic
Good riddance to it.

Sanjiiiiiii

and one would think that a State Registered Nurse would be more informed than the general public....still tragic

Unfortunately the Government or Health Regulatory Bodies Don't Tell Registered Nurses (what ever level 1-16 ) anything
We ARE EXPECTED to know and if you want take a peek at bnf.org at teh number of drugs there are available. There is NO WAY we could know about ALL effects of drugs

It's terrible that the lady died because of this drug I know it's of no help being sorry but I am to far away to do any other

Regards

Gray Registered Nurse level 1

It is impossible to know all the drugs, but the ones in general use you should know their dosage and side effects when administering them to patients, that's your job to find out and certainly if I was popping one in my mouth, then I always checked the data available to the medical profession.

The point I was trying to make, was the toxicity of Co-Proxamol and how "easy" it is to overdose on it accidently...the case highlighted by Jay Trip stated that she knew the dangers of mixing with alcohol, even moderate amounts of alcohol, but just 2 tablets taken a considerable time after the previous dose, was enough.
Studies have proved that it is no more effective in pain relief than paracetamol taken at the recommended intervals and dosage...and the dangers outweighed the benefits, that's why it was withdrawn....check it out....on the MHRA website.

And I might add, that whilst this is not strictly holiday related, people do tend to consume more alcohol on holiday, so I see no problem in highlighting the dangers.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiii

Studies have proved that it is no more effective in pain relief that paracetamol taken at the recommended intervals and dosage...and the dangers outweighed the benefits, that's why it was withdrawn....check it out....on the MHRA website.

I did ages ago

Personally I wish Paracetamol went the same way there are others that work as well if not better
but when you see paracetamol leaving the Chemical plant that makes it (before it gets turned into tablets) you realise that's not going to happen TOO CHEAP to make

Going slightly off topic,My husband has had problems with his knee for a couple of weeks and saw a doctor yesterday.He was prescribed Paracetamol and 15mgs codiene separatly.Why I wonder?It is probably cheaper than Co-codamol.

Hi Jay
No nothing to do with the price, and if anything, I would image it works out more expensive prescribing them seperate.
Co-codamol come in two strengths 8/500 and 30/500. so it would be practical to take 2 Co-codamol 8/500 strength and obtain 16mg of codiene.

For sprains and strains, they should be prescribed seperately and this then gives the optimum pain relief when the dosage of codiene is "altered" ...rather than a fixed dose in a combined tablet....
They are both analgesics which work differently and for occasional pain relief co-codamol give 5% more relief than paracetamol on its own, but there are more side effects in a combined dose, with repeated useage.

For example, studies with Co-codamol versus paracetamol came up with results like this....when multi-dosing.
Co-codamol first list, numbers for paracetamol second.

Dizziness 42 ....... 2
Drowsiness 12 ........ 2
Nausea 69 ....... 9
Vomiting 19 ......... 3
Constipation 17 ......... 7
Other 90 .......... 38

Data from the British Medical Journal.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Hi Sanji ,I used to take Tylex which was 500mgs paracetamol and 30mgs codeine but was told it was no longer available,but I have seen it on the shelves in Boots the chemist.Now I am given Paracodol by my doctor which I presume is cheaper than Tylex.I now prefer alternative therapies for pain.Why anyone would want to buy medication abroad that is unavailable here is beyond me!.Jay.

To answer your question Jay, it is probably because they have confidence in the name on the box, because it has worked for them in the past, and they don't want to go to the doctor (for numerous reasons!) for further help and advice!

From a personal point of view, I stock up on medicines when I am in the UK - typical examples being Gaviscon tablets, Stugeron, Immodium, Migraleve, Neurofen, Clarityn, and foot ointments because either they are only available on prescription here (which means 21€ to see the doc to get your prescription and then to pay for the medications themselves) or don't exist!

I am always careful about use-by dates and storage instructions and always read the enclosed leaflets , but I certainly would not buy medicines in other countries that would normally need a doctor's opinion and a prescription eg antibiotics.

I meant prescription drugs.I myself have been guilty of buying anti-biotics in Turkey many years ago,but it wasnt a drug that had serious side effects like the one in question.(Co-proxamol)My friend died because of this drug.It is not prescribed in the UK now.

Why anyone would want to buy medication abroad that is unavailable here is beyond me!.Jay.

Co-proxamol is an opiate analgesic and therefore people become dependant on it, then you'll go to the ends of the earth for your supply......they might not like me saying that, and no doubt will disagree with my statement, but this is the reason why it was not withdrawn overnight...
By implementing immediate withdrawal, you would in effect, be forcing thousands of people to go "cold turkey".
Then we would have thousands of people suing "whomever" with a case for their human rights and suffering.
The fact that its toxicity, addictive properties and fatal consequences would count for nothing, and the patients know best . That's like asking a junkie if crack cocaine is good for them.

It was initially going to be phased out within months, but then the MHRA realised just how many people are addicted to this drug and extended the period to 36 months, this was to give GP's time to prescribe an alternative drug for their pain management and gradually wean patients off their dependency.
72,000 people are still taking this drug in the UK
That 36 months period expires in December 2007, when the licence will terminate and after that date, there may be an unlicensed product available, but .and here's the BIG but.

Once the licence has been withdrawn, any unlicensed supply of co-proxamol to individual patients, will be on the responsibility of the prescriber, and as you can guess, GP's are not too happy about this, it puts them in legal limbo.

You cannot have a GP being pressurized by patients to prescribe an unlicensed product and after prescribing an unlicensed drug, being personally accountable in a British court if things go wrong.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I infrequently suffer migraine and have taken coproxamol under prescription since I was 17 - and I am now 52. In my earlier days, I also used to drink quite a bit - probably luck but I never suffered side effects.
In general 2 tablets are all I require to suppress the symptoms but I have taken upto 4 but following the stated dosage.
All medicines are fine if you stick to the rules. Problem being that people who want to commit suicide don't - as was pointed out in the article published by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology where a large proportion of the deaths linked to coproxamol were by people who had a history of self harm. Similarly, you can't legislate for individuals who don't follow the rules.
In fact if we examine the National Statistics less people have died from coproxamol than basic paracetamol (and significantly less than heroin) and the rate of alcohol related deaths are 40 times that of coproxamol.
Banning things in the belief it will stop something happening is naïve (heroin being another prime example) - okay if the drug is completely withdrawn by the manufacturers then it stops suicide via a prescription drug but it won't prevent the self harm individual from trying something else.
Also let's not forget the David Kelley affair. The banning of co-proxamol became an issue after his body was found and the authorities assumed that because 29 tablets were missing from a three blistered pack he must have ingested them. However, according to Richard Allan, the forensic toxicologist reporting to the Hutton Inquiry, the amount of co-proxamol in Dr Kelly's blood was a quarter to a third of what is normally a fatal amount.
The other element of addiction. Once again, any drug can be addictive if taken repeatedly over time - even over the counter medicines and I am sure that anyone with a modicum of common sense will realise that and also we must acknowledge that the medical profession have strategies and contingencies to try and deal with the problems.
Overall, the drug works for me. I use it infrequently but when I get a bad attack its the only thing that works quickly and effectively.
I am pretty unhappy that the Government have taken these steps.