Paracetamol - really ok?

[PickledSprout]

I know it's supposed to be safe but I still feel a bit uncomfortable taking them. I am 16 weeks and have ben getting daily long lasting migraines. Have taken the odd paracetamol but never more thn 2 in a day.

Can someone reassure me that it really is ok to take more? My next option is attempting to amputate my own head!

Yes its one of the few things you are allowed. As long as you dont take more than the allowed daily dosage you will be fine.

Everywhere I've looked it says it is safe. I don't get migraines but if I had a bad headache I would take paracetamol.

Yes it is safe. If you are going to take it then do take two at a time as one is unlikely to have an effect.

Co codamol is fine until the third trimester as well If you need something a bit stronger.

Paracetamol is definitely less risky than amputating your own head.

Yes its absolutely fine. I've been hospitalised loads during my two pregnancies for various things and they always pump you full of paracetamol :) no harm in taking it at all.

Thanks everyone. I had sometimes just taken one and found it pointless. Ok I shall give myself permission to medicate :)

I suffer with migraines too so I totally sympathise! I have been and got some of that 4head stuff (it's like a stick you rub over your forehead) and also some of those cooling gel pads for headaches - definitely helps ease them and like you paracetamol doesn't touch them especially as I'm used to specific migraine meds!

Its fine, but ibuprofen is not recommended, I was prescribed cocodamol when I was pregnant too after an accident and the doctor said as long as it was prescribed in the correct dosage and in my notes so I didn't get anything else in conjunction with it, it was fine.

Yes paracetamol is safe in pregnancy at normal adult doses.
Have you ever seen a migraine specialist though? I was under the migraine team at Queens Square for a while- they recommend NOT taking paracetamol (or any painkiller) for migraines as there is some evidence that if you cut short the migraine with painkillers then you will get another migraine shortly after. There are no antimigraine drugs that can be taken in pregnancy but I found an ice cap (got mine from amazon) and going to bed to try and sleep through it really worked

I was prescribed Dihydracodeine and codeine and received morphine while pregnant, all seperately of course, not together. Paracetamol is perfectly safe.
Nothing shifts my migraines except litres and litres of water.

Im in hospital again for 3rd time.this month. Each time.ive had strong doses of paracetamol.through iv. Not to.mention the morphine and other concoction of pain relief lol so im sure ul be ok :) i understand what ur sayin though xx

I've taken it a few times and baby is fine.

Forehead patches or the balm that you put on your temples are good. Anything that cools your head down works for me. Those gel eye mask things that you keep in the fridge are also good.
HTH

Hello, here is a patient info leaflet that summarises all of the up to date info on paracetamol use in pregnancy. Hope this is helpful
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Paracetamol/

I came across this article the other day

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/scientists-investigate-possible-link-between-pregnant-women-taking-paracetamol-and-the-risk-of-adhd-9150051.html

Tosh. Read about ADHD diagnosis and genuine cases vs nom genuine misdiagnosis and this becomes less of a worry.
Paracetamol is absolutely fine.

There are now two large studies that have linked (mostly long term) paracetamol use in pregnancy to ADHD-type behaviour in children, but overall, the evidence is considered to be quite weak and some scientists have expressed concerns about the way that the data was analysed and presented. Some of the results were barely statistically significant, which means that there are doubts about whether they just occurred due to chance and were actually linked to paracetamol use. These studies have not changed current guidelines and paracetamol is still considered the best choice of painkiller for use in pregnancy.

Thanks for the advice.

I haven't had any medication for migraines since I was a teenager. Glandular fever last year, and now pregnancy, has brought them back with a vengeance!

Going to have to check out the studies mentioned above just to reassure myself.