Best combo of meds for pain relief?

A friend of mine (38) just went through surgery for third-degree hemorrhoids. Now, she’s in absolute agony post-op—she claims her pain tolerance is basically zero.
She’s been self-medicating with this cocktail of drugs:
stertil-d
lacipil
coaxil
peptoran
voltaren
analgin
tramal
ketonal
Corsair
And there were others too, but they weren't in their original packaging, so I couldn't quite make them out.
The thing is, all of this is being sourced from her girlfriends who work in hospitals.
She’s popping these every hour or two.
Now, look—I get it, not everyone is against painkillers, and some people just want to be numbed out.
She even mentioned in passing that she wants to track down those medicated patches you stick on your back for pain relief.
When I asked her why on earth she needs such a massive amount of medication, her logic was that she doesn't want to build up a tolerance to any single drug, so she rotates through them to keep the pain at bay.😕

In my opinion? She’s going to end up needing surgery on her liver and kidneys because of this madness.

Can anyone actually explain what this specific mix of drugs does to the body—specifically to the individual organs and the brain? I’m honestly nauseated just thinking about her taking this much stuff. Is it as dangerous as I think it is? Please help!

Oh boy, the way she’s mixing these medications at those specific dosages could be absolutely devastating, especially when you consider what it does to the liver... Mixing drugs like this is never a good idea, particularly when you start throwing in different pharmacological classes on top of everything else, just deciding to do it all on one's own whim... I really have to say—it's worrying.

Looking through this extensive list, I see some pretty heavy-duty stuff, like strong opioid painkillers such as Tramadol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and even some of the newer generations of antidepressants...

Instead of me just droning on and repeating exactly what the medical experts have already laid out, you should really take a look here and it will probably all make much more sense to you...

If you want my two cents, I suspect she’s going to run into psychological issues first, simply because so many of these medications have that kind of effect on the mind. You have an antidepressant, then you follow it up with a few pills to dull the intense pain, and then there's Corsair, which is actually nitrazepam and ends up amplifying the effects of the antidepressant... With a cocktail like that, you just can't think straight, as the saying goes...

My advice would be to sit down and have a real talk with your friend about this, but please, do a little homework first to understand how these drugs actually work. You really have to realize that the effects of these medications change significantly when they are taken in combination compared to when they are used alone... Plus, some of these aren't just "as needed" things; they are meant to be taken over a set period to build up their efficacy, rather than just whenever something hurts. And don't even get me started on the mental and physical dependency risks. It doesn't take much to fall into addiction... The hardest part is that once someone is taking them regularly, it becomes incredibly difficult to even realize they need them...

If you had mentioned the timeframe of how long she's been using these combinations, I might be able to give you a more detailed perspective...

For now, I'd suggest making sure your friend understands just how destructive these combinations can be. Honestly, it surprises me that she hasn't complained about feeling drowsy or dizzy by now...

Best regards!

Estazolam - contraceptive pill
Lisinopril - blood pressure / heart medication
Celexa - antidepressant
Pepcid - antacid
Voltaren - pain reliever
Tylenol - pain reliever
Tramadol - pain reliever
Ketorolac - pain reliever
Valium - sedative

Gosh 😲, everyone else is somewhat manageable, but taking four different types of painkillers at once?
She's going to absolutely wreck her stomach, kidneys, and liver...
Honestly, just sticking to Tramadol should be enough, since that's what we reserve for unbearable pain.
Mixing Ketorolac into that cocktail will destroy her liver if it hasn't already...

She’s popping more pills than a critically ill patient in an ICU. She really needs to sit down with her doctor and actually coordinate which medications she's supposed to be taking.

By the way, regarding those patches she mentioned (like fentanyl), I highly doubt anyone is getting those for hemorrhoids; they're reserved for people dealing with terminal cancer. Besides, they're expensive and you can't just find them sitting on a shelf anywhere.

Why is she taking Lacipil? Is there high blood pressure involved? If not, there’s really no reason to be on it; if her pressure drops too low, she could start seeing spots and end up collapsing. Analgin is an option, as is Tramal, but both are heavy hitters. Even with something like Analgin, you have to watch out because it can tank your blood pressure regardless of its classification as an analgesic. Then you have Voltaren and Ketonal—she shouldn't be touching those at all. In fact, people who have undergone surgery for hemorrhoids should steer clear of Ibuprofen and Andol as well. These medications dilate the blood vessels, which increases blood flow and can trigger bleeding. Generally speaking, these types of drugs are contraindicated for anyone dealing with stomach or intestinal issues, hemorrhoids, ulcers, or colon polyps, because the risk of hemorrhage is real, even if the surgical site has already healed. For patients in those categories, we usually turn to Tramal or Analgin, but as I mentioned, they are potent, and Analgin specifically can cause a drop in blood pressure. That is just my take, coming from my experience as a nurse working in a gastrointestinal intensive care unit.

wiredpuma5 said:ironed-d - birth control pill
l

😂

Honestly, I have no clue what she's actually taking—she goes out of her way to hide her meds, so I just try to catch a glimpse when she pulls them out of the box to memorize the names. This morning, while I was dropping off some vegetables, I spotted a new box of San Francisco medication sitting right there on the table.
From what I know, the doctor only prescribed her basic aspirin. Now I’m kicking myself for not paying closer attention to what they were giving her at the hospital. It was mostly injections, I think.
And of course, she threw up three times last night.
When I suggested we head to the doctor this morning, she shot me down—claiming the doctor would just lecture her for being a "sensitive flower."
Look, she’s a good friend and lives alone, so I genuinely want to help, but she is incredibly stubborn—and frankly, I know she’s playing a dangerous game with these drugs. She insists she’s read every single instruction and indication and knows exactly what she’s doing, yet when I asked to take a look at the labels myself, she wouldn't let me.
As for the Tramadol, I know she's been on that for months to deal with migraines. And since she sources everything through friends and relatives, I wouldn't be surprised if she starts hunting for fentanyl next. She even asked me to find some kind of contact to see if her doctor could dig up a specific prescription just so she could sleep through the night—I refused, obviously. Now, I'm officially in the doghouse regarding any info about her treatment.
Sandra Martin72, what’s the best option for pain relief following surgery for hemorrhoids?

Is she an adult? I'm assuming she is...

She basically made it crystal clear that she doesn't want you poking around her medication, yet here you are—not only sticking your nose where it clearly doesn't belong, but actually bringing the whole thing up on a public forum? 😲

I mean, what are we supposed to say? That she’s gonna drop dead from those meds tomorrow? What's your actual plan for dealing with a woman who is OBVIOUSLY choosing not to discuss her health issues with you?

James Chase10 said:😂

Honestly, I am at a total loss regarding what her actual medication regimen is. She makes such an effort to conceal what she’s taking; I have to catch her in the act of pulling a box from the cabinet just to memorize the names. This morning, while I was dropping off some groceries, I spotted a new box of San Francisco brand pills sitting right there on the table.
From what I know, her doctor only prescribed her basic acetaminophen. Now I feel a sense of regret for not paying closer attention to what they were administering to her back at the hospital. It was mostly injections.
To top it all off, she vomited three times during the night.
When I suggested we head to the doctor this morning, she flatly refused, claiming the physician would just scold her for being "too sensitive."
She is a good friend of mine and lives alone, so my intention is purely to help, but her stubbornness is immense. I am certain she is playing a dangerous game with these medications. She insists she has pored over every single instruction manual and indication sheet—that she knows exactly what she is doing—yet when I asked to read them myself, she refused to let me see.
I know she has been on Tramadol for months to manage her migraines. Furthermore, since she sources everything through a network of friends and relatives, I suspect she will eventually move on to fentanyl. She even approached me to ask if I could somehow charm her doctor into digging up a prescription just so she could sleep through the night, which I firmly declined. Since then, I have been persona non grata whenever I try to inquire about her treatment.
Sandra Martin72, what would be the most effective option for postoperative hemorrhoid pain?

Look, we used to administer Tramadol and acetaminophen via injection—acetaminophen less frequently, Tramadol more often. I find it hard to believe the pain is truly that excruciating; if it were, she should be seeing a doctor, because experiencing that level of agony following surgery seems somewhat atypical, though I don't know exactly when her procedure took place. As for those specialized bandages, those are really only reserved for terminal patients. San Francisco is intended for sleep. In my estimation, she needs to see a psychiatrist; she appears mentally unstable and seems to have developed a psychological dependency on pills. Tramadol is supposed to be highly effective, so it makes little sense why she is mixing it with everything else—it implies she is in unbearable pain, which I find difficult to credit. If you genuinely want to assist her—and I believe she needs it—try visiting her doctor directly. Speak with them, explain the situation regarding the sheer volume of pills she is swallowing, and suggest that this may have transitioned into a psychological issue. See what their professional take is. Regardless, pain lasting two weeks post-op is suspicious to me. Tramadol has a long duration of action, so we never administered more than three injections a day. And what about her blood pressure? Does she have hypertension? Why is she taking Lacipil? It strikes me that she might be spiraling into a depression, given how she rejects both the doctor and your attempts to discuss this, and depression is a dangerous path. You might also help by speaking to those friends of hers, if you know them, and explaining the gravity of the situation so they stop supplying her. They likely think they are being helpful, but they are actually enabling her. I suspect the physical pain isn't the primary driver here, but rather something deeper. She needs medical intervention.

Rachel Brooks63 said:Is she an adult? I’m going to go out on a limb and assume she is.

She made it crystal clear—unambiguously, in fact—that she doesn't want you snooping into her medication list, yet here you are, not only sticking your nose exactly where you were told it wasn't wanted, but actually dragging the whole thing onto a public forum? 😲

And what am I supposed to tell you? That she’s going to drop dead from those pills tomorrow? What’s your actual move here if she is OBVIOUSLY choosing not to discuss her health struggles with you?

You’ve got a point, Dow Chemical. But look—I’m posting anonymously because I’m looking for perspective, which is exactly why I started this thread. This *is* me seeking advice. She is an adult—thirty-eight, to be specific—and she owns her own life. Her doctor isn't going to sit down and have a chat with me because, well, HIPAA exists for a reason. What she discusses with her friends, or who she confides in, is none of my business. Any attempt to talk about her condition with people who know who we are would just be a violation of her privacy. That’s precisely why I’m using this forum. I’m worried, plain and simple, and the only way I can—and should—help is through communication.
Thanks for the input, everyone!