Where can I buy co-proxamol?

[Valsie]

My 83 yr old mum has been taking co-proxamol for about 15 yrs. Her GP stopped prescribing it about 18 months ago but the kindly pharmacist continued to let her have a box of 100 every month. However, last week he told her he was no longer able to get them. Nothing else agrees with her ( she has a very sensitive stomach!) and I was wondering if there was anywhere they could still be obtained, even if it means paying privately for them. My sister is going to America soon - can they be bought there at all? Any help with this query would be very much appreciated.

[culchie82]

Her GP stopped prescribing it, but your Pharmacist still gave her a box of 100 every month??? You do realise this is or was a POM medication? The Pharmacist supplying these could be struck off for doing this, especially if anything happened your Mum. I think of hand that this was taken of the market because the opoid analgesic component (dextropropoxyphene) reacted badly with alcohol and caused severe respiratory depression, however it also illicited a lot of other adverse reactions in patients. I wouldn't fancy your chances gettin it anywhere in the UK.

[DavidS]

It is largely covered in another thread: coproxamol together with a load of other off-topic nonsense.

Basically, you will need a private prescription from your GP, and the cost to your mother will be up to £45 per 100.

[johnep]

As the dextropropoxyphene component is being banned in so many countries, then manufacture will cease and No more supplies will be available anyway.
johnep

[Valsie]

Her GP stopped prescribing it, but your Pharmacist still gave her a box of 100 every month??? You do realise this is or was a POM medication? The Pharmacist supplying these could be struck off for doing this, especially if anything happened your Mum. I think of hand that this was taken of the market because the opoid analgesic component (dextropropoxyphene) reacted badly with alcohol and caused severe respiratory depression, however it also illicited a lot of other adverse reactions in patients. I wouldn't fancy your chances gettin it anywhere in the UK.

I do realise he was doing her a big favour, but the GP was prescribing Co-codamol and he just swopped that for the co-proxamol.

[bleepholder]

I do realise he was doing her a big favour, but the GP was prescribing Co-codamol and he just swopped that for the co-proxamol.

sounds like more than a favour!! more like putting their registration on the line....scary stuff!

[Valsie]

sounds like more than a favour!! more like putting their registration on the line....scary stuff!

Well, just goes to show that there are some pharmacists prepared to go the "extra mile" to help their customers, even if it was a dangerous and risky thing to do!

[bleepholder]

suppose!!! but there are plenty of other pain killers out there that could work...even with a sensitive stomach! but i'm sure there are pharamcists out there that have done worse stuff than substituting co-codamol for co-proxamol!

[DavidS]

Well, just goes to show that there are some pharmacists prepared to go the "extra mile" to help their customers, even if it was a dangerous and risky thing to do!

Helpful for whom?
OK, so the patient was grateful, but, call me cynical, I think they might have just wanted to get rid of some dead stock.
Mutual advantage maybe.

but i'm sure there are pharamcists out there that have done worse stuff than substituting co-codamol for co-proxamol!

Actually, it was the other way around, but I take your point.

That's a subject for another thread (in the private pharmacist's forum!)

[SolomonQ]

Quick tip without bringing ethics into it.

Try substituting the co-codamol for the co-proxamol in the bottle, say to your mum that they have changed the tablets. There is not much difference between the two to be honest, more likely a placebo effect., due to knowing the tried and tested tablet. see how she gets on.