I could not agree more with the comments made by Mrs. Hill, as I have discovered today that my GP may no longer prescribe this drug to me.

I have severe osteoarthritis which required an arthroscopy on my right knee five years ago and future knee replacement. The arthroscopy trimmed torn cartillages and was followed by debridement. I do not have a low pain threshold, but due to osteoarthritis in my hands, neck and spine, am never pain free.

I cannot take diclofenac or ibuprofen in 400 mg dosage, and am still taking Lansoprazole to repair the damage done to my stomach. As a result of this I was prescribed Co-proxamol. Like Mrs Hill I do not take this lightly…. I take a dose in the morning to help with pain and stiffness on waking and occasionally a dose last thing at night to ensure comfortable sleep. Mostly I take the morning dose and then use Paracetamol 1G during the rest of the day, if pain is “bad”. Paracetamol 1G does not cut the pain and I really don’t like having to take doses qds. I have tried the other suggested drugs, prior to going onto Co-proxamol and all had side effects which were unacceptable.

Like many others I must ask that this decision be reconsidered, I work as an Arthritis Care volunteer trainer and have received many comments about the withdrawal of this drug, both from osteoarthritis sufferers, as well as rheumatoid sufferers. Effective pain relief is the only way those with arthritis can continue to contribute to the “world of work”. I am sure the Government do not want more people following the benefit route, due to incapacity because of chronic pain. Being able to operate effectively, contending with a long-term condition, is essential to a person’s mental as well as physical wellbeing.
I sincerely hope that enough people will comment on their experiences and that we can persuade those who have not experienced crippling pain of long-term conditions will reconsider their decision.
Yours faithfully
Jane Bolado

I am 65 years old and have been on this drug for over 30 years. I was first prescribed in when i lived in Guernsey for chronic back pain in boxes of 600 at a time. When returning from Guernsey I had back surgery and for a long time I was fine (THIS BEING SOME 25 YEARS AGO). One Doctor in my practice said it was addictive but I have never found this, I take it when needed and leave it alone for weeks at a time. If this were the case I would live on them all the time.

I am also prescribed Diclofenic which is also wonderful and when on this I have to take both because I can’t continue to move if I don’t.

My Doctor has been prescribing Coproxamol to me and he gave me a prescription for them at my last visit although I didn’t ask for them as he said that they will soon be not available.

To my mind if somebody is contemplating taking their own lives with Coproxamol, surely if these were not available some other drug would be taken.

I always think it strange that there should be a limit of 100 tblts Aprin at any one time from a chemist bearing in mind one could buy bottles 500 at one time. If I needed for any reason more than 100, I could go to more than one chemist buying 100 from each. All these rules are stupid and treat everyone as if they have’n't got a brain in their head.

If these tablets are stopped I for one will be trying anyway to get hold of them privately. There is no other drug on the market that is as good and the others anyway seem to have a lot of side effects which are always unwelcome.

Regards

Mrs Hill