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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 7:33:31
Hi. I've just discovered this site, and found it very interesting. Can anyone tell me if there is any way of obtaining codeine phosphate without a doctor's prescription? (I live in the UK.) Any advice would be much appreciated.
Posted by AndrewB on April 26, 2000, at 8:05:49
In reply to CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 7:33:31
> Hi. I've just discovered this site, and found it very interesting. Can anyone tell me if there is any way of obtaining codeine phosphate without a doctor's prescription? (I live in the UK.) Any advice would be much appreciated.
Are you going to use it as an antidepressant??
Posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 9:46:46
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by AndrewB on April 26, 2000, at 8:05:49
> Are you going to use it as an antidepressant??
Nope - I have ulcerative colitis, and have been taking codeine for many years for it - very successfully, too. My doctor retired, and my new one doesn't believe in using codeine for treating diarrhoea. He tries to fend me off with stuff like imodium etc., which are next to useless. Unfortunately drugs like these may help a little with diarrhoea, but of course do nothing for the associated pain. And I'm getting fed up with fighting for it!! (Thanks for your quick reply, but the way.)
Posted by AndrewB on April 26, 2000, at 10:54:11
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 9:46:46
> > Are you going to use it as an antidepressant??
> Nope - I have ulcerative colitis, and have been taking codeine for many years for it - very successfully, too. My doctor retired, and my new one doesn't believe in using codeine for treating diarrhoea. He tries to fend me off with stuff like imodium etc., which are next to useless. Unfortunately drugs like these may help a little with diarrhoea, but of course do nothing for the associated pain. And I'm getting fed up with fighting for it!! (Thanks for your quick reply, but the way.)Leslie,
For information, email me at andrewb@seanet.com
Posted by Mark H. on April 26, 2000, at 18:20:25
In reply to CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 7:33:31
Discuss it with your pharmacist. In the US, it is a controlled substance, but pharmacists have some discretion in its use. Because of the abuse of heroin and other opiates and the tremendous social and even legal pressure from the DEA and its "war on drugs," physicians here are less inclined to try opiates even for legitimate medical reasons -- and it's the patient who suffers.
As a depressive, I list codeine as one of the two medications to which I'm allergic, as it not only has no pain-relieving effect in my system but also makes me instantly, desperately, and suicidally depressed.
Good luck, and for the sake of shared information, please let us know what worked for you.
Mark H.
Posted by Leslie on April 27, 2000, at 8:10:32
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by Mark H. on April 26, 2000, at 18:20:25
> Discuss it with your pharmacist.
Hi Mark, and thanks for your reply. There would be no point in discussing it with him, as in the UK you must have a prescription to get codeine - unless it is combined with another medicine, like paracetamol, and these combination medicines have hardly any codeine in them - I would have to take a lot of paracetamol to get the required dose of codeine, and we all know how safe that is! Also unfortunately(!) all the pharmacists I know are extremely law-abiding, upright citizens!It's interesting that you find codeine a depressive... apart from the benefits I mentioned in my earlier post, I find it makes me feel very good - in more ways than one! I mean, it doesn't just take away the unpleasant physical symptoms and discomfort, but it also generally cheers me up.
I was put on a form of Prozac last year, and I didn't find that very helpful. I was seeing a pyschiatrist and he recommended it. The reason I ended up with him is, the Christmas before last, I visited the States for a Christmas party - business one! - and I caught pneumonia. I was taken into a hospital near Detroit, having severe breathing problems, and whilst in the ER, I started struggling for breath in earnest. The doctors were around me like a shot, trying to make me lie down so they could insert a tube down my throat. But when you're struggling for breath, the last thing you want is to lie down, so I fought them. They then injected me with a paralysing drug, and I collapsed bonelessly onto the table. It is difficult to describe what it is like lying there, being unable to even try to breathe for yourself, while someone is forcing a tube down your throat. Fortunately, I passed out after a few minutes of this. I was put on a ventilator, and critical for 48 hours - I was told I nearly died, and was very lucky to come out of it.
Now, I'm not one of life's confident, problem-free people, and this little event has given me psychological problems - more than I had to start with! When I came back to the UK, a few months later I started having blackouts. I had one one morning just before I got into the bath. I hit my head on the sink, and went very unconscious. My little 7 year old girl found me (we were alone in the house), and called 999 for an ambulance. I was very lucky. Then in the summer I started having fits. So as you can see, I have had quite an interesting year! So the last thing I need is someone taking away the only thing that - honestly - keeps me going.
Anyway, sorry to go off on a tangent like that, and bore you to death! If I do find a friendly pharmacist, I'll write to let everyone know... but it's kinda unlikely!
Leslie
Posted by Mark H. on April 27, 2000, at 11:06:56
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE? other stuff, posted by Leslie on April 27, 2000, at 8:10:32
Hi Leslie,
Yikes, that must be terribly difficult. The book "Listening to Prozac" is one of the few places I've read mention of the fact that opiates are still used to treat refractive, treatment-resistive depression in rare cases. If you have a copy, you might look and see if the author points towards any other resources regarding this practice.
I bring it up because you may need more evidence than your mood and intestinal condition to convince your doctor that keeping you on a daily maintenance dosage of codeine (or another opiate, but why mess with something that works?) is medically appropriate. Here, at least, if a doctor can stick copies of your research in your chart, it at least gives him a basis for a defense if someone (insurance company, DEA, etc.) questions the prescription.
It's ironic that our treatment is NEVER between us and our doctors any more -- there is always at least one other party looking over their shoulders at everything they do. It limits the honesty that a patient can afford in discussing symptoms with his/her doctor, and it limits the doctor's ability to be honest in response.
I'm sure my psychiatrist would find a compromise for someone in your situation. You might have to endure the wrong medicines for a few weeks (to prove he followed the AMA - DSM IV - Expert treatment guidelines, etc.), but when those didn't work at all or at least not as well, then between that and evidence that opiates are still used to treat refractive depression by other physicians, I think he would responsibly give you what works for you.
It's very strange in America at the moment. Most of the doctors are "actively fighting" what they refer to as "drug-seeking behavior." A few are struggling to find appropriate meds that help people to feel better and function more effectively without resorting to illegal drug use. Very few professionals are addressing that these two active trends in modern medicine are largely at cross-purposes with each other.
Thank you for your response.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by saint james on April 27, 2000, at 15:32:22
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by Leslie on April 26, 2000, at 9:46:46
> > Are you going to use it as an antidepressant??
> Nope - I have ulcerative colitis, and have been taking codeine for many years for it - very successfully, too. My doctor retired, and my new one doesn't believe in using codeine for treating diarrhoea. He tries to fend me off with stuff like imodium etc., which are next to useless. Unfortunately drugs like these may help a little with diarrhoea, but of course do nothing for the associated pain. And I'm getting fed up with fighting for it!! (Thanks for your quick reply, but the way.)
James here...I would try another doc as codeine for ulcerative colitis is not uncommon. However longterm opioids can lock up your GI.
james
Posted by boB on April 28, 2000, at 23:41:06
In reply to Re: CAN I BUY CODEINE?, posted by AndrewB on April 26, 2000, at 8:05:49
Just thought that made a cool subjet line!
What would you need codeine for? If you were going on a three-week out-back hike your doctor might supply some heavy duty pain meds for emergency supplies.
Posted by Owsley on April 29, 2000, at 0:08:04
In reply to Re: I'D LIKE TO BUY A VOWEL, posted by boB on April 28, 2000, at 23:41:06
> Just thought that made a cool subjet line!
ditto
This is the end of the thread.
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