What painkillers is it safe to take for headaches in pregnancy?

[toddlerhip]

Forgot to ask the doc yesterday. Answers gratefully received!

[HolidaysQueen]

paracetamol is fine during pregnancy

[AnnVan]

My doctor said that Paracetamol is fine, but absolutely DO NOT take Ibuprofen, apparently it closes the valves/gaps in the baby's heart! Anything else I can't vouch for though

[Rhian82]

Paracetamol. Aspirin thins the blood which is a bad thing at the moment, and Ibuprofen can be iffy (I've never heard you shouldn't take it at all like Aspirin, but you shouldn't taken it continuously or at full dosages).

Paracetamol is the only one you can take right up to the full dosages on the packaging as normal.

[HolidaysQueen]

annvan - the ibuprofen issue is in the third trimester. in the second trimester it is considered fine for occasional use but paracetamol is recommended as first port of call because there are much fewer concerns about using it without a doctor's involvement.

toddlerhip - as with many things in pregnancy, it is worth seeing if other things work to clear a headache first, particularly in the first trimester, and it is wise to use paracetamol sparingly.

[HolidaysQueen]

oh and the ibuprofen thing is because a drug that is chemically similar has been seen to cause hearts problems - there is no evidence yet that ibuprofen itself causes the heart problem. so if you have a bad headache and nothing else to hand then the occasional use of ibuprofen in the second trimester should be fine.

[AnnVan]

Oh - my Doctor told me not to use Ibuprofen at all after 12 weeks!

[HolidaysQueen]

ah well, always better to be safe than sorry with drugs in pregnancy so i'd follow his advice! i think i took it once when i had nothing else to hand but paracetamol worked just fine for most things.

[HolidaysQueen]

or her advice (not to self: never assume a doctor is male!!!)

[AnnVan]

Hehe! He was male, and the best doctor I've ever had. Was so sad to have to change doctors.

[toddlerhip]

Great - Thanks all!

[cat811]

You can also use 4head, which is a stick u rub on your head - makes it go all tingly and distracts from pain. Works surprisingly often for me!

[littleboo]

Paracetamol is considered safe, but no more than max 8 in 24 hrs.

[heather1980]

it's a no-no for codeine except on drs advice in 3rd trimester as it can depress the breathing and stop lung maturity.
i work in pharmacy and the only thing we recommend is paracetamol and the strips that stick on or rub on the forehead.