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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Bad Migraine

20 replies

Thanksforthat · 17/04/2015 11:25

I got a really bad migraine yesterday. I left work and collected my DD (6yrs). It got so bad. I couldn't see properly and was vomiting. I've never experienced anything like the pain.
Today it has subsided. I feel delicate but ok.
My concern is this. I took paracetamol every4 hours. I ended up taking 5 doses in 24 hours. I feel dreadful this today.. I was alone with my DD so just put her in bed with me. My

OP posts:

Original poster

Thanksforthat · 17/04/2015 11:26

My hubby is working away. Sorry doing this on my phone. I did the best I could in situation I was in. Now the stress of worrying about paracetamol is giving me the starts of another headache.

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CaspianSea · 17/04/2015 18:47

Oh dear, migraines are awful, since getting pregnant mine often last 2 days.

I find co-codamol from GP helps. Other than that I lie flat with cold flannel on head.

applecore0317 · 17/04/2015 19:01

I spoke to the midwife last night as I have bad back pain from a urine infection, and she told me to take paracetamol as I normally would. It is recommended for pain when pregnant

reb2g08 · 17/04/2015 22:54

I had one last week, try to sleep it off the best you can and take paracetamol is fine in pregnancy just not Ibroprofen.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 17/04/2015 22:58

I had stomach flu and was told by doctor/nurse/midwife to take the normal amounts of paracetamol to bring my temperature down. As Applecore says, it's ok to take during pregnancy - they even recommend it as the first stage of pain relief at the beginning of labour. I think I would personally not want to take full doses for a prolonged period of time, but you only took it for one day - I wouldn't worry! Especially don't worry yourself into another migraine!

helloelo · 18/04/2015 04:27

Sumatriptan is safe to use in pregnancy. If you have a migraine and not a headache, get it from your GP, it's much more effective. If it's a headache, paracetamol is fine at non pg dose.
(Usually it gets better in the 2nd trimester)

SueGeneris · 18/04/2015 04:49

Also try paracetamol plus caffeine ie the tablets with caffeine in them. I find it is the one thing that will halt migraines and had to take it often during each of my 3 pregnancies. Paracetamol on its own never worked.

ovumahead · 18/04/2015 05:10

If you're worried about having overdosed by taking 5 doses in 24 hours, don't fret. There's not an awful lot you can do now anyhow but it's very unlikely to have caused you any harm - such a small amount over. I would avoid the paracetamol and caffeine due to the potential effects of caffeine on your baby, and visit the gp instead and explain issues with migraines and see if they recommend anything. I've been getting very frequent migraines during this pregnancy but I just take myself to bed and let it pass. It can take up to two days which is a nightmare. Do you know what triggered yours? I've developed really strong sensitivities to certain foods since being pregnant - I can't eat cheese at all now without getting a migraine within the hour. Foods containing tyramine are the culprit for me. Might be worth tracking food consumption and migraines /headaches for a while to see what you come up with.

eeyore125 · 18/04/2015 05:29

Could you be experiencing Hemiplegic Migraines? From researching this type of migraine I believe that some can develop these while pregnant.

Allmychildrenhavepaws · 18/04/2015 15:21

Just to let all you ladies know, I have suffered migraines since a child and mine are hormonal around the time of my period. When pregnant I got them nearly every day. I am prescribed sumatriptam, but it is not allowed to be taken during pregnancy as the effects on the baby are unknown. Paracetamol will never cure a true migraine, if paracetamol helps or cures it, then it is just a bad headache. If you had true migraine like I did during pregnancy then you may take codiene phosphate prescribed by your doctor, cocodamol is a no-no. You can take the codiene together with paracetamol however. Although again, if you have true migraine then it will only help ease the pain. Bottom line, no painkillers will cure migraine, only sumatriptan which I was dying to take but was told I couldn't ?? sorry to bum you guys out, but have had many years experience with migraine, and know how awfull the pain is. Sadly I miscarried and now can take my sumatriptan once again. All the best, forgive me if I don't reply to any responses to my message, I'm rarely on here xxx

CaspianSea · 18/04/2015 19:02

Allmy, cocodamol consists of paracetamol with codeine phosphate, so it's no different from taking codeine and paracetamol separately

Allmychildrenhavepaws · 18/04/2015 21:59

My doctor told me that it's the way in which the two medicines are combined together to make cocodamol that makes it unsafe in pregnancy. Possibly bulking agents, I'm not too sure but most definitely a no-no in pregnancy. Although doc said its perfectly fine to take the codiene phosphate and paracetamol seprately together.... ??

Allmychildrenhavepaws · 18/04/2015 22:01

Always ask your doctor before taking any medication guys, even if you think it to be safe in pregnancy.

Allmychildrenhavepaws · 18/04/2015 22:13

Caspian, not being harsh correcting you, just passing on the knowledge my doctor gave me. Perhaps your doc has said different.... Mine told me what I stated above, and if you google cocodamol it will say not to take during pregnancy, but weirdly you can take its two main ingredients separately and together...

rallytog1 · 18/04/2015 22:32

Cocodamol is just paracetamol and codeine together. I don't think your doctor is talking sense. It's fine to take in pregnancy, even at prescription doses (about x4 as strong as the otc version). It's all a balance between possible risk and likely benefits. However you're right in that painkillers won't stop a migraine, although they take the edge off the pain for some people. You need a triptan to actually get rid of a migraine.

rallytog1 · 18/04/2015 22:37

Obviously I mean it's fine to take in pregnancy if you have pain and your doctor recommends it. Don't just take it willy nilly, obviously. I had it on repeat prescription throughout my pregnancy.

You'll be hard pushed to find any medicine that says it can be taken during pregnancy, but that's because there's no ethical or safe way to test its safety on pregnant women and unborn children. But data can be gathered to suggest that certain drugs are not associated with poor outcomes or elevated risks.

Allmychildrenhavepaws · 18/04/2015 23:34

Very true about sumatriptan, I suffered years not even knowing it was an option! I find it a godsend....doc said not to take it during pg so she prescribed me the codiene ph. and told me to take paracetamol with it...i did ask her why I couldn't just take the cocodamol I had previously been prescribed, and she said its due to the way the ingredients are combined.....have a research and see what comes up. I don't think my doc is wrong, but every doc seems to have a different opinion ??.... I know the pg books I have got state that codiene ph. is safe, as is paracetamol, but they don't state cocodamol....im gonna google it now to see what it says about cocodamol and pg cos this is doing my nut in

rallytog1 · 19/04/2015 08:04

That's just bizarre! I had it throughout my pregnancy and I know plenty of other people who had it prescribed for spd. I can only find references to it not being recommended in pregnancy (same as most things) but nothing really different to plain codeine. Different doctors to belong to different schools of thought on these things though - some will believe certain studies, others will want to see more evidence, and others will blindly follow what that year's version of the textbook says!

Original poster

Thanksforthat · 19/04/2015 08:19

Thank you all for your responses. It's hard to take to bed when you're on your own with a little person. The paracetamol was pointless. I see that now. My babe has been kicking away so I'm reassured he's ok. It sucks having a hubby that works away but I'm not the only one.

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Allmychildrenhavepaws · 19/04/2015 21:12

Rally, ur right about different doctors....hey ho, at least I can rest assured that my taking the cocodamol before I found out I was pg had no part in the miscarriage. Thanks for, I hope you feel better soon

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