Coedine

[Rapha]

Hi I am 32 weeks and have a herniated disc, have been suffering with horrendous sciatica which is making sleep impossible. I have tried physio, chiropractor and accupuncture and pelvic support band. Nothing has worked and it is getting worse. I have been back to the doctor today and been prescribed coedine. However I have had a look on the Internet at home and I am reluctant to take it given the recommendation not to when pregnant. I can't help thinking I would not have been prescribed it if it's really dangerous on the other hand don't want to do anything that would harm the baby. Has anyone taken coedine in pregnancy or got any thoughts on it. Thanks.

it's fine during most stages of pregnancy but contraindicated close to birth and when breastfeeding.
you should be ok taking it for short term pain relief at your stage.

I've been on a daily dose of codeine since 31 weeks because of an irritable uterus threatening preterm labour, I'm nearly 36 weeks now. I would think if it's being prescribed to pregnant women it must be safe, to be fair it never occurred to me to question it. I gave not noticed any change in baby so far and I've been taking for weeks now. I'm sorry it's mot really advice or knowledge I know but I thought I would let you know you are not alone in being prescribed it in pregnancy. Hth a bit?

I was admitted to hospital at 36wks with severe pain and was taking paracetamol and codeine regularly for a week. All was ok. Hope the pain gets better for you.

I'm 38 weeks and taking codeine to deal with nerve pain related to carpal tunnel/swelling hands. They wouldn't prescribe it if it weren't safe. I think it's also a very old drug so they will be well aware of when it should/n't be used. I'm just trying to keep the dose as low as possible but still enabling sleep. Being tired is really not good, so if it's the only way of getting sleep, you've just got to trust them I'm afraid. Dr Google is not your friend during pregnancy methinks!

I've been taking 30/500 codeine since 24 weeks, and probably will be for the foreseeable. (Am 29 weeks now) I've also got a ruptured disc, sciatica, among other back problems, and now Spd. My GP prescribed it and my consultant and midwife both recommended taking it so I could get some sleep and have some pain free movement. Warm baths and hot water bottles help too. I was told that if you are still taking it close to term it can make your baby a bit dopey, but when I asked the consultant he said its a very similar side effect to that of pethadine, which is regularly given in labour and not considered harmful. It's really helped me, considering I struggle to waddle a few steps at all some days.
One tip tho, if you do choose to take it, is to get some lactulose. Codeine is very constipating!!

Thanks all for the comments. I had some and it took the edge off the pain but it made me feel so sick it was horrendous. Not sure what was worse the sciatica or nausea.

Don't take it on an empty stomach. I took it for strained rib muscles while I had pneumonia, I wouldn't have had a wink of sleep without it.

They gave it me regularly in hospital at 36 weeks. I found it made me really constipated which was pretty unpleasant!