Pregnant and addicted to co-codamol. Have cut down significantly but am worried I've already harmed baby

[CaptainUnderpants96]

Hi,

I'm incredibly anxious, worried and ashamed, and was hoping for some advice or reassurance. This was an incredibly difficult post to write so please try and be gentle.

I've been taking over the counter low dose co-codamol (8/500) for around four years to treat chronic migraines/severe headaches. About a year ago I realised I was becoming an addict as I would take upwards of 10 tablets a day even if I didn't really have a headache. I must admit I craved the chilled out feeling they gave me. I decided to cut down and gradually over a few months I weaned myself down to 4 or 5 tablets a day. This was actually relatively easy and I didn't really experience withdrawal (aside from getting headaches, otherwise I felt fine).

In June I discovered I was pregnant. I did some research on the effects of codeine during pregnancy and found very conflicting advice. Some sources said it was okay and I saw many posts from women who took it in pregnancy and delivered healthy babies, others said it could cause birth defects such as heart problems and spina bifida! I was absolutely horrified and ashamed and still am

I decided then that I would stop taking co-codamol, but also worried about potential effects of going cold turkey/withdrawal on my pregnancy, so have cut down on the co-codamol even further but not yet stopped completely. I'm now 17 weeks pregnant and take 2, sometimes 3 8/500 tablets a day. However, on days where I've gotten horrific headaches and nothing else has worked, I've given in and taken up to 5. Again, I've not experienced any serious withdrawal symptoms and am planning to cut down even further. My ultimate goal is of course to be completely off them well before baby is born.

I've already noticed that the withdrawal headaches I used to get have vastly improved. When I first started cutting down, I would get a headache if I went more than 6 hours without taking a tablet, but now I can easily go 18 hours without taking any and feel absolutely fine.

I am proud of the progress I've made but I'm utterly terrified of the potential harm I've already done to my baby. All scans and tests done so far have shown a completely healthy perfect baby and I've started to feel movements in the past week or so, but obviously some problems aren't picked up until the 20 week scan. I've got my 20 week scan next month and I'm absolutely terrified they'll tell me my baby has a heart defect/spina bifida/some other horrible illness and it'll have been completely my fault I've even sat and cried about it.

I've not told my midwife or any healthcare professional about my codeine use as I'm so ashamed and worried they'll look down on me/won't think I'll be a good parent.

Has anyone else taken co-codamol in pregnancy and their babies been fine? I've read quite a few posts from women who were actually prescribed co-codamol when they were pregnant and took higher doses than I am, which makes me think it can't be THAT harmful, but then I read another post or article about neonatal withdrawal and the shame and guilt comes flooding back. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance.

I feel like such a shitty mother and my baby hasn't even been born yet.

Ah well done; great that you feel better for a good sleep.

Definitely still tell your midwife (will be easier if you can say “I’ve not had any for x days” as it shows you’re serious about getting sorted), and definitely get your partner to get rid of any that’s still in the house so its easier to stick to your good intentions.

Keep on keeping on!

Well done! But be careful not to allow yourself to rationalise that you now don’t need to tell your midwife. It is a really important step to tell them. If your DH is unaware of your problem or the extent of it, tell her alone and she will keep it confidential.

@CaptainUnderpants96 I get where you are coming from. Though I never took a high does I couldn't get through the day without taking Solapheine for headaches always about 4-6 tablets, period week was worse and it was 8. I would also take them if I had something upset me or felt stressed, they calmed me.

When we started trying to conceive I said I had to stop taking. I cut down to two a day and now I don't take them at all unless really unwell. I am only 5 weeks pregnant.

Like you didn't have withdrawals apart from the headache. To start with I switched from taking the Solapheine to taking the Solapheine Paracetamol- what I found was it was soluble still and I always felt that worked better. I would try limit my intake though to just again 2 a day usually in the morning and now I don't get the headaches as much and feel better. I don't need even the paracetamol everyday anymore.

You've done amazing to cut down as far as you have and you will manage the rest of the way. Tell your midwife if you are worried as probably the stress of that will be playing to your headaches and therefore you may feel you need the painkillers more.

@Countrygirl94, you sound like me! I would also take them if I felt stressed out or something had upset me, even if I wasn't necessarily in pain.

It's now been over 48 hours since I took any and I feel absolutely fine, not even a headache. I'm beginning to think that it was more the caffeine in the Solpadeine that I was addicted to rather than the codeine, though I'm sure the codeine played it's part too.

My main worry now is any pontential harm I may have done to baby. Although Solpadeine contains a pretty small amount of codeine (8mg) I'm still worried. I'm also worried about my baby pontentially being born addicted/withdrawing at birth. Though I'm hoping that by stopping now and giving the baby 24 weeks where they're not being exposed to codeine will prevent that from happening.

Telling my midwife is a worrying thought and I'm terrified of her judging me and potentially getting social services involved. I'm just hoping that stopping now will make her look positively on me and show her that I am dedicated to stopping.

Thanks!

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and have been prescribed 30mg co-codamol for severe SPD.

I take 2 (60mg) before bed each night else I just can't sleep. My dr told me to do this, but to limit them just to bedtime if I can. If you're on the 8mg dose then you'll be within limits easy, so don't panic too much.

Do tell your midwife tho, just so you can get some support. They won't judge you they really just want to help.

@Dandybelle, that's reassuring, thank you. When were you prescribed it? My main concern was that baby may have been harmed whilst I took it in the first trimester, though my 12 week scan was fine and baby was wriggling away!

As regards telling the midwife, I can understand your fears but one way to think about it is this. Who are social services/health services concerned about when it comes to parenting? The parents who engage with them, are honest, accept help and worry about their children's health or the parents who disengage and (albeit with understandable motivations) hide information?

I don't have the expertise but I wouldn't think this would be a social services matter. I think that you are already showing through the way you have approached this that you are a responsible and caring parent who is concerned about and will take action for the health of her child. If you explain things just as you have here (maybe write it down to take with you to your mw appointment if you're worried about being clear) then I think your mw will only want to support you.

UPDATE:

I emailed my midwife detailing my struggles and being totally candid. She rang me after my email and she was lovely! She first reassured me that, after consulting the literature they use when prescribing medication (her 'bible' she called it) she didn't see anything that said you can't take codeine in pregnancy so she said I shouldn't worry about that.

She then told me I should contact my GP and talk to them about my anxiety, but that she would also pass my email on to the midwife that I'm seeing tomorrow (turns out there was a discrepancy with my 16 week appointment and it's actually tomorrow but they wrote the date down wrong!) and she will have a talk with me. She said she may arrange for me to have extra appointments if I feel I need them. There was no judgement, just support.

Overall she was lovely and really reassuring!

CaptainUnderpants96 well done for cutting it out and being honest with your midwife. If this helps at all I was prescribed tons of it for sciatic nerve issues when I was pg with DD and she'sabsolutely fine

I'm an ex drug addict (legal but not codeine) I've been clean for 4 years. It was on my pregnancy notes (disclosed by myself, GP wasn't worried about it so didn't feel the need to report it) as although I'd been clean a good couple of years I didn't want to risk being offered it again. Truthfully even now I don't think I would turn it down.

I didn't feel any judgement and I was never reported to anyone nor my parenting skills questioned. I know it doesn't help you with stopping but hopefully it might reassure you a bit.

You've done really well cutting down, I hope the withdrawals aren't too bad (I can still feel the bloody arm zaps) and your pregnancy goes well.

@Pandamodium, that is very reassuring!

It's now been good 3/4 days since I took any codeine and I feel fine! I did have a bit of an upset stomach yesterday but don't know if that was anxiety or withdrawal. It's resolved now and I feel totally normal. Mentally I feel a lot better after speaking to the midwife as well.

I can assure you if you take no more than five a day you are not addicted - you can do without. Addicts take more than three times that amount!
However if you do need pain relief you can take them. Stop worrying, you and the baby will be fine. You may find, as your pregnancy progresses, that you don't have headaches. That often happens.

Please remember that taking too many pain killers regularly can actually cause headaches.

I was prescribed them at 18 weeks pregnant so a while ago.

Well done OP, you've done brilliant and hopefully will get all the support you need

I took codeine from week 6 in my pregnancy. In weeks 17-30 I took the maximum dose of 8 x 30/500 a day, and from weeks 30-39 I cut down so that by the end I was only taking 1 tablet a day. My baby was born perfectly healthy and had no breathing or withdrawal issues.

Congratulations on your progress and try to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Just read your thread and wanted to say well done Keep going!

I'm in no way saying that this is the same for every person but I just wanted to share that in my last pregnancy (my now almost 4 year old who is absolutely fine medically) I was prescribed 60mg * 4 daily codeine phosphate with dihydrocodeine for breakthrough pain.

Provided your medical professionals are aware of what you're on, as well as allowing both you and your medics to make an informed decision on risks then all will be well.

Well done OP! So glad you spoke to your midwife and that you got the caring response you deserve. All the best with your pregnancy.

Oh well bloody done, that’s the scariest bit done. Good luck with everything

Hi! I've been addicted to tramadol for ten years. I'm 19 weeks pregnant.

I have reduced the dose from 200mg a day to 50mg a day so far. I WILL be tramadol free by 30 weeks.

It is tough. So fucking tough, but there is no better reason I can think of to fight my addiction.

Please do speak to your midwife. You won't be judged. Asking for help is an unselfish thing to do.
But also know that you're not on your own.

Hi all, just got back from midwife appointment!

It went wonderfully! Midwife was lovely and really supportive. She first off told me that she hasn't seen any scientific evidence that says codeine is harmful in pregnancy, plus the doses I was taking were so small that she is certain that they haven't hurt baby. Because I have stopped taking it now, she said there is no way baby will be born addicted.

She also said that there is no reason whatsoever to take baby off me and she wouldn't dream of contacting social services because there's no need!

Finally she said she doesn't routinely check baby's heartbeat but if I wanted to hear it I could. So I took her up on her offer and there was baby's heart beating away ❤️ Oh, and she told me to stay off Google

Overall it was a really positive experience and I feel so reassured. She has arranged to see me again in two weeks to make sure I'm doing okay but told me to call at any time if I felt like my anxiety was creeping up again.

Thanks again everyone, I feel like I can finally enjoy this pregnancy now!

Great news

So glad you’re feeling good and have a supportive midwife on side . Hope the rest of your pregnancy is straightforward and happy

That’s fantastic. She sounds sensible and supportive. Just what you need. I’m so glad. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

I had to take it. Baby was fine.

Tell the midwife. If they do escalate it then maybe you’ll find you get some proper support getting the addiction fully under control. Well done with the progress you’ve made.

A small anecdote from me. I broke a bone during labour and was in a lot of pain afterwards. I took one codeine tablet with some paracetol when baby was about a week old and breastfed and he didn’t wake up for 6 hours and I couldn’t wake him up and had to call 999. It’s strong stuff. Think carefully if you need it or not every single time - does the benefit outright the risks?