Solpadol

[Sibyl]

Question. Anyone experienced hypos while taking Solpadol? On Monday the GP prescribed Solpadol 30/500 for my back pain. I found I couldn't tolerate the full dose so now I just take 2 before bed. During the day I take one 600mg Ibuprofin after breakfast and one after supper. Yesterday (Thursday) morning my pre breakfast reading was 3.5 and then my pre lunch was 3.7. Went to friends for a fingerfood and cake birthday party last night. Pre jab my bg was 7 amazingly and before bed it was 6.5 (normally a safe figure for me). I'm off alcohol at the mo cos of the codeine. Woke at 3.30am and was starving! Hmm a little fluttery too I guess. Tested and was back to 3.3 again!! Corrected and went back to sleep. Woke at 8am and was 6.3. First time I've had 3 unexplained hypos in 24 hours and just wondered if it was the Solpadol. I know on the 8/500 codeine/paracetamol mix you can get false hypos - the chemist told me to check bloods before I automatically correct - but nothing was mentoned to me about this stronger version.Any thoughts, Folks?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I don't know about solpadol and hypos, but for ongoing pain I take 1g of paracetamol 4 x a day (the maximum) and after a couple of days this really helps. If you did this you would need to deduct the paracetamol from any solpadol you take from the max dose of 4g a day. As far as I know it's ok to take ibuprofen with the max dose of paracetamol, but if unsure please check with your pharmacist or doctor.

 

[Sibyl]

Hi CatLadyNZ. Yes the Doc did tell me I could mix n match as long as I don't exceed the recommended dosages. I'm using the Ibuprofin as opposed to normal paracetamol as I hope to reduce any inflamation. I don't normally sufer with back pain and am hoping this is only temporary - though I have had it for 5 weeks now. The hypos are unusual too!

 

[ButtterflyLady]

It sounds horrible, hope you are feeling better soon. BTW, cute poodle!

 

[Shar67]

Max paracetamol is 8 in a 24 hr period, You can take them one or 2 at a time as long as you don't do more than 8, I usually take them 2 at a time

 

[Sibyl]

That's my Blondie Bear! Asleep on my lap. She's also a member of the auto immune club, diagnosed with Cushing's this year! Bunch of crocks in this house! LMAO!

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[becky.ford93]

I can't shed any light on the solpadol, but I'm aware of ibuprofen affecting levels. It sounds as though you use that regularly though?

 

[Sibyl]

I try not to take any painkillers. I have had ulcers so for pain I would usually use paracetamol. However I think this back pain is a result of inflammation hence the reluctant use of ibuprofen for a short time to see if it will do the trick.

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[ButtterflyLady]

I try not to take any painkillers. I have had ulcers so for pain I would usually use paracetamol. However I think this back pain is a result of inflammation hence the reluctant use of ibuprofen for a short time to see if it will do the trick.

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I've had stomach issues and can't take ibuprofen so if I need something like it i take celebrex (prescription). It's not govt funded and quite expensive, but it's ok for the tum.

 

[Sibyl]

Slight update. My painkillers were changed to Tramadol and am taking the full dose. Going for blood tests tomorrow. Now if I thought the Solpadol lowered my blood sugars it's nothing compared to the Tramadol! Had to wind my Lantus back from 12 to 9 units and my insulin/carb dosage for the Apidra is now down from 1,3 to 0,9 per 10g of carbs! Also I have to make sure my bedtime figures are above 8 or I hypo by breakfast! Weird or what!! Normally I can quite happily go to bed at 5.5 and still be ok in the morning. Even with it at 8 I still wake in the 4s.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Slight update. My painkillers were changed to Tramadol and am taking the full dose. Going for blood tests tomorrow. Now if I thought the Solpadol lowered my blood sugars it's nothing compared to the Tramadol! Had to wind my Lantus back from 12 to 9 units and my insulin/carb dosage for the Apidra is now down from 1,3 to 0,9 per 10g of carbs! Also I have to make sure my bedtime figures are above 8 or I hypo by breakfast! Weird or what!! Normally I can quite happily go to bed at 5.5 and still be ok in the morning. Even with it at 8 I still wake in the 4s.

Is the Tramadol helping with the pain?

 

[Sibyl]

Hi CatLadyNZ. Well it's certainly taking the edge off and I seem to be able to tolerate it. Blood test tomorrow and then hopefully results on Friday at my GP appointment, But the low sugars seem to be an unusual side effect. No one else seems to experience this! I knew I was odd but thought it was just my personality! rotfl!

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hi CatLadyNZ. Well it's certainly taking the edge off and I seem to be able to tolerate it. Blood test tomorrow and then hopefully results on Friday at my GP appointment, But the low sugars seem to be an unusual side effect. No one else seems to experience this! I knew I was odd but thought it was just my personality! rotfl!

Glad the tramadol is helping. You might want to ask your GP about the diagnosis of your back pain and maybe ask for a referral to a specialist such as a neurologist or orthapaedic specialist. It's been about 7 weeks now? Maybe an MRI would give them info about what's wrong and whether something like a steroid injection can help. I know steroids temporarily increase BGs, but if your back problem requires it, it might be worth it. I have seen someone have their back pain permanently treated after one of these injections.

 

[Sibyl]

Glad the tramadol is helping. You might want to ask your GP about the diagnosis of your back pain and maybe ask for a referral to a specialist such as a neurologist or orthapaedic specialist. It's been about 7 weeks now? Maybe an MRI would give them info about what's wrong and whether something like a steroid injection can help. I know steroids temporarily increase BGs, but if your back problem requires it, it might be worth it. I have seen someone have their back pain permanently treated after one of these injections.

Yep! This is what's supposed to happen on Friday when she gets the results. My husband see the senior doc in the practice and they get along really well. He had an appointment to see him last week and at the end of his appointment he told the doc about me. He called up my notes, changed my script to tramadol and made the Friday appointment for me with the first doctor I saw about the back. He said she wasn't an ordinary GP and would be the best one to get the referral from. So hopefully things will start to get moving! Fingers crossed! Thanks for your input and I'll keep you posted! XX

 

[Andy_D85]

Hiya bud,

I was on solpadol for 4.5 years due to chronic pain (Solpadol being the brand name, what you're effectively on is 30mg Codeine and 500mg Paracetamol with each tablet there), along with 50mg Trammadol tabs on occasion for breakthrough pain, and now on 30mg Dihydrocodeine and 500mg Paracetamol tabs up to 4 times a day.

From my own experience they've never once lowered my blood sugars, wish they had tbh could've helped me out a bit with the ol' Diabetes management!

It may be an individual reaction you have to opioids but as far as I can tell after googling this one quickly before posting, I can't find any hard evidence suggesting opioids lowers blood glucose all by themselves - open to being proved wrong if anyone can find anything though! If you're hypoing regularly it could be another issue and a few days of stringent testing and reviewing the results may be in order to adjust ratios/basal doses? Pain levels can have effects on blood sugars and vice-versa by Diabetic Nurses have told me over the years so perhaps the increased pain levels is contributing as opposed to the pain medication? Just a thought?

 

[Sibyl]

Hiya bud,

I was on solpadol for 4.5 years due to chronic pain (Solpadol being the brand name, what you're effectively on is 30mg Codeine and 500mg Paracetamol with each tablet there), along with 50mg Trammadol tabs on occasion for breakthrough pain, and now on 30mg Dihydrocodeine and 500mg Paracetamol tabs up to 4 times a day.

From my own experience they've never once lowered my blood sugars, wish they had tbh could've helped me out a bit with the ol' Diabetes management!

It may be an individual reaction you have to opioids but as far as I can tell after googling this one quickly before posting, I can't find any hard evidence suggesting opioids lowers blood glucose all by themselves - open to being proved wrong if anyone can find anything though! If you're hypoing regularly it could be another issue and a few days of stringent testing and reviewing the results may be in order to adjust ratios/basal doses? Pain levels can have effects on blood sugars and vice-versa by Diabetic Nurses have told me over the years so perhaps the increased pain levels is contributing as opposed to the pain medication? Just a thought?

Hi Andy,
I've managed to get right off the pain killers and blood sugar figures are back to normal. The diabetic team were very surprised by what happened - guess we all react to stuff differently. I still have a bit of pain but can manage for now. After a lot of process of elimination I felt my hip and lower back pain were from my foot pronating - turning in. I bought a pair of basic orthotics at the store and the worst pain stopped within a few days of using them! I'm now waiting for an appointment to get orthotics made.for me.
Sorry to hear you have to take painkillers long term. Good luck and thanks for replying to my post.