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RSD Alert is a voluntary organisation publishing RSD/CRPS information, mostly provided by our readers. Every approved medical drug works for some people but not for others. Don't be alarmed by what you read. If in doubt consult your medical advisor.
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Drugs

Drugs on RSD Alert

(notes and comments from correspondents)

Co-proxamol
Description
 A once-popular analgesic (pain killer) that was withdrawn from prescription lists from early 2005 due to a high incidence of suicides by overdosing with this drug. Co-proxamol wss available only on prescription and contains a combination of paracetamol and dextropropoxyphene. It was estimated that 1.7 million GP patients per year received 7.5 million prescriptions for co-proxamol.
Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

 Dizziness, light-headedness, faintness, constipation
Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case)

 Co-proxamol was said to be associated with 300-400 intentional and accidental fatal overdoses each year.

Comments
I was taking co-proxomol for years as I have serious back pain due to having broken it twice. I found they worked well enough for me and I also had no problems with addiction. However, the British and Irish governments in their infinite wisdom refused to renew the licence for co-promoxol as people were using them for suicide attempts, so I was put on tramadol. They worked - for a while, so I was on 2 a day so increased the dosage, they worked for a while then stopped, so I increased the dosage, and now am on 8 a day but they no longer work. I am trying desperately to get off them, but have only managed to reduce down to six a day. The withdrawal sysmptoms have so far been really unpleasant, especially the effect on my emtional state, anxiety, short tempered, feeling really ill. I will have to continue to reduce the tablets, I want off them. A tip for those who have got down to one or two, open the capsules, remove some of the powder then close the capsule. Do this with each capsule but reduce the amount left in the capsule each time. It makes it easier to stop taking the last few. God only knows what painkillers I am now going to be able to take. Good luck to you all. Hazel - Wexford, Ireland
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