Strange Reaction to Tylenol with Codeine

I had the same reaction to tylenol with codeine. I had it once in college, took the doses for days, no problem, it worked like a charm. Just took it again last year, some 15 years later and it kept me awake all night long! Told the doctor and he said it can do that, never mentioned any allergy to the tylenol or the codeine. I take Tylenol tablets just fine with no reaction, in my case it was the codeine. Just ask the doctor for a different pain reliever. Good luck.

I know codeine and oxycodone make me a little hyper and I can't sleep when I take it. It is an adverse affect of the medication. I don't get that with Vicodin - a diffenent and less potent narcotic. Most people get drowsy with these meds though.

Did the doctor tell you not to use ibuprofen? If plain tylenol or ibuprofen would work, I would just go with those and use the narcotic if they don't work.

It is amazing how much the throat can hurt though. She should start feeling better soon. I think about by 10 days my kids were back to normal.

C.

X.,

When I had my tonsil's removed a few years ago I had to switch to Tylenol with codeine when I couldn't handle the Percoset. I was on a nearly liquid diet, couldn't swallow much at at time, and had to take the Percoset with food. Yeah, didn't work very well.

Picture it this way: You just had part of your throat cut out, then burned closed. On top of that insult, you still have to function by swallowing and eating soft foods, all of it going right past the injury. It HURTS!!

Have you ever scratched the back of your throat when eating a cracker, or something with a sharp corner? It feels like that, only a thousand times worse because after having the tonsils removed it's the whole throat, not just a small scratch.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Hi X.,

I'm glad to hear the surgery went well!! I have a feeling that she is still in pain and that is what is causing her to be so restless. When you are in pain, your body doesn't react like it normally would, and her pain receptors are probably working overtime, especially as it sounds like you have really backed off the pain medication since she's been out of the hospital. The biggest thing with coedine to watch for is dehydration, so make sure she is fully hydrated (lots and lots of water) or she will get constipated! That could also be the reason she is not settling down. Going through some major pain issues myself (and having back surgery on Friday), I speak from experience!
Good luck!
C.

That is actually a common reaction. Her body knows it is not helping it heal, only masking pain temporarily until her body does heal up enough. You can try homeopathic Arnica to help her body's process of healing, even the shock emotionally, and therfore the pain goes, and so should the restlessness.
If she does not settle down after that it means the surgery has shocked her system deeper and would need more individualized homeopathic help.
Be well,
Liz

Good morning,
My son (age 6 now) has that type of reaction to any medications that would normally make any other child (and lucky parent) drowsy or at least relax them a bit. Benadryl, anti-anxiety meds (for dentist appts), Tylenol, Motrin. It is a side effect. I'm completely allergic to codeine so be happy she didn't start throwing up after taking it. That would have sucked for her.
You may consider asking the doctor for a different RX pain reliever OR just stick to higher doses of Tylenol w/o the codeine. And LOTS of popsicles and ice cream.

Hi X., It's the Tylenol, not the codeine, which causes hyperactivity for children who are sensitive, ie, allergic, to it. My daughter is 23 now. Her whole life she has had this reaction, AFTER the first dose. The first dose works fine, makes her sleepy and she feels better, then the second and all subsequent doses cause the emotional swings, uncontrolled crying episodes, hyperactivity, inability to sleep. Contact your doctor or pharmacist asap to request a recommendation for a different pain med, she will do great. Other pain management is going to be your standby--popsicles, ice cream, jello, fluids, sleeping in your arms on a recliner, etc. It will be better soon! Keep a close eye and keep her resting adequately until you get past Day 10 of recovery, too, because it takes that long to really get beyond the most major part of healing.

My son also had that same reaction to codeine. He seemed to get very restless. I would suggest only giving her the smallest amount she seems to need and then stopping it when you feel she is getting better. you should talk to your doctor about it and see what they suggest giving her instead.