Codeine for releif of (tylenol 4)cramp pain and bathroom runs?

To bad this is addicting. When the cramps and the running to the bathroom is out of control, anyone else find codeine ease not just the pain, but stops all the trips to the bathroom? It is like a miracle, but it makes me moody, and is addicting so I stopped.

Post Edited (johnj) : 12/11/2007 8:31:59 PM (GMT-7)

Can you advise me of others that are not as potetually dangerous that will ease the cramps and their pain. I found it worked while taking it after my twice a week injections of nuepogen, that cause severe bone pain.

BTW the codeine I was taking was tylenol 49 one to two of them about every 6 hours for a day and a half after my shot. My colitis trouble would dissapear, and I would actually look foward to eating again...we can't have that can we

JohnJ,
I actually posted about this a month or so ago. I was curious if anyone else had found relief with Codeine. Because narcotics have the side effect of constipation, the codeine does work exactly as you described. But, yes, it's an addictive narcotic, so it's not exactly the wonder cure I'd like to think it is.

I'm sure I am the total exception, but I've been taking Tylenol w/Codeine regularly for about a year. I take either a half a pill or a full pill about 5 times a week depending on how I'm feeling. (My pills are marked 300/30, which I think means that it's 30 mg of Codeine.)

BUT -- (This is the important part)
I check in with my doctor regularly, I live with someone who would notice if I were abusing it, and I have absolutely no history of or propensity toward addictive behavior. (I smoke one cigarette a week and I never drink.) My dose has not increased over time and my goal is always to stop taking it when I'm completely in remission. I've accidentally put myself into narcotics withdrawal by stopping too abruptly, so I'm super careful to wean down when I feel well.

As James wrote, it's far better to actually treat the UC and get it under control. It's taken me 10 years to figure out that most drugs don't work for me, so I'm willing to take the risk with the Codeine, but I don't recommend it.

I've heard that Immodium can help people in the same way. Have you tried that?

I was diagnosed in 1981. I have been living with this for a long time. Tried everything. As many of you know there are times when NOTHING works, and you are all pain and bathroom runs. I have been on long term medrol 90mg a day during flares. I have been to the point that if there was no turn around they would schedule surgery! Each time I responded when coedine was added. Immodioum does not work, nor does lomotil. As far as The statement "As James wrote, it's far better to actually treat the UC and get it under control. It's taken me 10 years to figure out that most drugs don't work for me, so I'm willing to take the risk with the Codeine, but I don't recommend it." Could not agree more, but I have been there tried that, the trouble is that IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. After 27 years ...believe me I have tried getting it under control more times than I can count. When you fear eating food beacuse you know the results, then by accident find that codeine makes it bearable and makes you better, it is hard to say no thank you. At one point I went from gym rat at 5'10' 185 pounds benching 275, to just under 140 lbs unable to press the bar without any weight on it, in a couple of months. Presently I am ONLY on 3 asacols twice a day, and feeling good. BUT I wish the Dr. had told me how well tylenol 4 works when there is so much pain and so many bathroom runs. It was only after about 15 yrs I found that out, , and was given tylenol 4  for another trouble and my colitis symptoms went away. I brought this up to the Gastro, and he said "oh yeah, because..." WOW! I was furious he never brought it up earlier with all I went thru. So my post was to advise others who might have been in the same boat, and to see if anyone else had the same results.

One thing that works best is the asacol, but at a high price. I am of the "rare" as the drug company calls it, that go neutropenic, that means yeah...it helps my UC, but kills my WBC count specificaly the neutrophils, they fight infection....soooo I am always feeling like I am getting sick. The answer... put me on nuepogenia, that in itself makes me feel like I have the flue, and gives me SEVER bone pain, but at least I don't get sick, just feel sick as in a bad flue....such is life. Ahhh but then they give me tylenol 4 for the severe bone pain, it helps the colitis SO much, I can stop taking asacol. Hey no asacol my wbc goes up, no need for neupogen...yeah no more flue like symptoms, no mor severe bone pain, no more codeine, wooooo wait , no mor codeine, UC symptom start back, , gotta go back on asacol, now wbc getting low...come on everybody sing with me...you know the verse ....where is the neupogen.... one more TIME!!!! alll together now! Oy VE!

Codine works great for IBD! I found out when I was prescribed percocet for kidney stones. So got a script from my PCP. When I feel D coming on I break a 7.5mg tablets in half and it stops the pain and the diarrhea. I probably take 3 or 4 half tabs a week after meals. I'm not really worried about addiction because it doesn't make me high and I've never had to up the dose. I'm more worried about the long term effects of the tylenol on my liver but I'll keep using it until I find something that works better. If you google, you'll find a lot of people use pain killers for IBD with diarrhea. I wouldn't recommend it for those who suffer from constipation or blockages due to the risk of toxic megacolon. Good luck and hope it keeps working for you.