Codeine in pregnancy

[Mamacita191]

Hi all. Wondering if I could get some advice. I just found out I’m pregnant, I suffer from really bad SI joint pain and back pain since giving birth to my first child 20 months ago, due to my hypermobility. The flare ups are horrendous. I spoke to a GP today and asked if there was any pain relief I could take as paracetamol doesn’t touch the sides. She said the next one up would be codeine, she read different studies out to me:

1. A study said not to take near labour as baby may be dependant
2. A study said regular use may cause addiction /withdrawal when baby is born.

She said it should be fine to take if I just take the minimum as and when I need it on a bad flare up.

I didn’t feel confident after the call. She’s prescribed me it anyway. But I was just wondering if anyone else has successfully taken codeine in pregnancy and all has been okay?

Thank you.

The best thing you can do is speak to your midwife

@kw1091

The best thing you can do is speak to your midwife

I don’t have one yet, but from what I remember in my last pregnancy they mainly deferred to GP and asked me to check things with them

I took it a couple of times in my first trimester as it was prescribed due to a severe dvt. Didn't take it beyond a week though. I also took it once in my 3rd trimester due to a cracked rib. Now 37 weeks and everything seems fine, I would just be cautious about how much you take as I believe it can be addictive. Good luck, it's so hard in pregnancy when you can't get the right medication!

Actually the best people to speak to about drugs are a pharmacist.

So when you fill your prescription or even if you have already go back to speak to them.

They are trained in who to give particular drugs to, and actually alert practices if any of their prescribers are prescribing patients drugs they shouldn't have before taking it further if necessary.

@kw1091

The best thing you can do is speak to your midwife

Midwives know very little about drugs.

I had a disagreement with my booking one about a supplement I had been prescribed then told to just buy myself by my GP. Both the GP, different GP but same practice, I saw and my obstetrician told me she was completely wrong to tell me to stop taking it.

I used it when I needed it. Obviously tried not to take the 60mg 4 times a day and only use it when I was desperate, but I could rest in the last few weeks so the pain wasn’t as horrific.

The child is now 3.5 and had no ill affects at any point.

I remember sending my husband in to get me some co-codemol from the pharmacist, as because I was pregnant they wouldn’t let me have it 😂

My obstetric consultant prescribed codeine for toothache. She said the pain and stress hormones would be worse for the baby than the medication. I was in the third trimester though, so maybe safer than the first?

I had to have codeine in my last pregnancy due to really bad sciatica. I just used it when it was really bad and the pain unbearable. Baby is one now and no issues from taking codeine during pregnancy.

The best person to speak to is a pharmacist. Ask to speak to one when you pick up your prescription. Make sure it is a pharmacist you speak to - I asked to speak to one last week about an issue but then the pharmacy tech/dispenser tried to answer my question by looking at the box and clearly wasn't too sure.

I'm 37 weeks today and I'm on codeine for PGP. I feel horribly guilty but I can't get up at times due to pain.

I had it for a tooth infection in two of my pregnancys. I was told if your not taking it in high doses or very regularly its fine. Also if your going to breastfeed it can pass through milk.

Thanks all. Already picked it up but may call Pharmacist soon to double check.

The prescription says 1 or 2 15mg tablets every 4-6 hours. So I’ll probably only take one and hopefully that’s okay?

I know this post is a few days old but I got prescribed Codeine 30mg yesterday so thought I might be able to help (I have spd, rib flare so bad it affects my entire lower, front and back, rib cage and round ligament pain - I can barely walk). It is impacting my sleep so badly (3 hours if I am lucky, but only made of up 20 min stretches here and there) and I started hallucinating, couldn't take care of my kids, couldn't safely drive and couldn't work.

I had a long discussion with my midwife about it which enabled me to make an informed decision. We weighed up the risks and benefits of it and I took them to my GP and explained why the benefits outweighed the risks.

She said that although it's a slim chance and completely dependent on the dose. baby could be born addicted and it's policy to keep mum and baby in for 72 hours monitoring when baby is born to ensure neither of us are going through severe withdrawals. I will also be more closely monitored during pregnancy (so a couple of extra appointments to check blood pressure etc). I have to keep a closer eye on babies movements and patterns. If anything changes, including quicker movements OR slower, or completely reduced, try the cold water and lying on my left trick and if that doesn't work call them within the hour for assessment.

I've also been told that if at any point I feel something is wrong with me and baby to call them right away. They aren't taking any risks and I. Her words, it's why they are employed, to look after us, and they would rather send us away having deemed everything fine than have something happen to us.

I was also told to be really strict and take them only when absolutely needed. I can take them every 4 hours but obviously if I take one and I am still fine in 4 hours, then put it off until I actually start feeling pain again.

I really hope this helps, as there doesn't seem to be much out there in posts about needing the hospital stay and a lot about how bad it is to take in pregnancy!

If you need it you need it, just keep an eye on yourself and babe and make sure to talk to the midwife if you have any concerns! I hope you have a lovely, and mostly pain free pregnancy

@WhatisanODP hi! I know you may not see this as this is an old thread, I've started one but not having much luck, so just looking back on some older threads! But were you made to stay in for monitoring after you had your baby when you had to have codeine?

I'm hearing mixed things, some people had the full dose and had a home birth and wasn't any monitoring and some people had to stay in hospital for 3 days which I really don't fancy so I'm wondering if to just stop taking tablets full stop and suffer to avoid a hospital stay 🫠🫠😕😕😕 ive not been having the highest dose, but im 37 weeks pregnant with the worst spinal arthiritis pain 🤧thank you In advance if you see this!! Xx

My rheumatologist switched me from co-codamol to codeine in preparation for TTC last year. GP didn't want me on any painkillers ideally but Rheumy overruled them.

Rheumy reckoned paracetamol was riskier in pregnancy as it poses an asthma risk to the foetus apparently. Not sure if that's the case for all mothers or specific to asthmatic women.

My advice would be to speak to a pharmacist. I was briefly pregnant last year and my pharmacist was very helpful. They also directed me to websites like bumps which have info on various meds in pregnancy.

@Cuntness Hi! I know you might not see this with it being an old thread, but how was baby after you give birth? I've been having to take Dihydrocodeine and was told we may have to stay in for monitoring for 72 hours after labour, which I really don't want, and I'm terrified of the baby being addicted, did your baby have any side effects atall?

Thank you in advance if you see this! Xx

@DemelzaRobins thank you for your reply! I do go off what the GP says but I don't want to stay in after labour/birth at all so I'm hoping there is no side effects to them!

Hi @Freespirit98

My baby boy was absolutely fine. No side effects at all. He was born at 13:10 on the Wednesday and we left at about 18:30 the next day.

Congratulations. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your reply! It means a lot, do you mind me asking did you take it right up until you went in to labour? I'm on 4 tablets day at the moment at 39 weeks tomorrow! Thank you, very excited now and my mind is at ease more!

Yes I had it when I was pregnant. I had kidney stones and needed the pain relief. It was prescribed by a doctor in the pregnancy unit so I do trust they know what they're doing.

It really didn't agree with me. TMI but the constipation pain was nearly as bad as the kidney pain!

@Curtains70 I got mine from the pregnancy unit too! And now my GP just does repeat prescriptions, bless you I hope your feeling better now! Do you mind me asking did you take it right up to when you were in labour? I'm wondering if to just stop I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and on 4 a day going to try and have 2 tomorrow, but the pain is just excruciating! And I have to have suppositorys for the constipation, not nice 🙄🤣 TIA!

@WhatisanODP hi I know you may not see this as its an old thread, but we're you kept in after birth even though the baby was OK? I've been told we may need to be monitored and I'm 39 weeks tomorrow debating stopping taking the tablets and just suffering in pain as I really don't want to stay in I'm hoping to be in and out 😪🫣 Thanks In advance if you see this x

@WhatisanODP just realised I've already asked you this question up above! Sorry I didn't realise! 😂 my baby brain is doing over drive

For most people codeine in pregnancy is likely to be fine, it's certainly not unheard of. Certainly should be discussed with GP as you have done.

There's a pretty reliable website on medications in pregnancy called BUMPS which is a good resource:

Anecdotally my wife was prescribed codeine in pregnancy and we've not noted any difficulty.

Hey @Freespirit98

nope. I drove myself home about 6 hours after having him 🤣 long story, my husband was ready to come and get me with our older child…. But I was already at home with the baby.

no issues at all.