Can u take cocdomol when pregnant?

[vcampbell90]

Have a really bad migraine and paracetamols not helping just wondering if I can take a couple of cocdomol?

First off I am no medical professional.

How far along are you? If in first trimester I wouldn’t. I am 20 weeks and was prescribed codeine last week for really bad tooth pain that was literally stopping me sleeping. However this was after a conversation with my doctor and paracetamol, clove oil, salt water rinses and cold compresses just not working. Apparently second trimester is a really safe time. Call 111 if u can’t speak to your own doctor.

I would definitely go with no.

I was in soo much pain during some of my pregnancy and the doctors always said paracetamol was the only safe thing to take.
I was prescribed cocodomel before pregnancy because it was soo strong and they needed to give strong pain killers.

If it's strong enough that you have to get it prescribed I wouldn't take it.

You can always check with a doctor or midwife if unsure

Yes codeine is fine in pregnancy but not when breastfeeding.

Mummy am assuming by doctor you mean GP who actually no very little about safe medication in pregnancy.

I think ibuprofen is a definite no go

Please seek real medical advice . If inUK call 111

Also there are other causes of headache in pregnancy. You may need a review

MyDcAreMarvel if you're talking about when they said that I can only take paracetamol, that was my gp who said it and also one that 111 referred me too.

@MummyCJW what pain were you in?

I've taken codeine in all of my pregnancies including current one (27 weeks) My gp initially prescribed me 8/500s at around 12 weeks this is over the counter strength

@Neverbroken
Soo I was told this about different things (I'm in no way saying it is 100 percent as I find even doctors go against what each other say😂) that why I said to speak to their own midwife or doctor.

The GP said it about backpain
But when I phoned 111 I was in extreme pain, it hard to describe but I couldn't really walk, however in that case they thought it was due to my baby laying on a nerve or something, but they advised up to 8 paracetamol a day. But said nothing should be taken stronger than that and if it lasted longer 2 weeks then to get it checked

But I would just say to everyone if your unsure just contact a midwife or GP or if you feel it may be more to it/reason for concern 111.

Codeine is NOT fine in pregnancy, people should really stop giving out medical advice when they don’t know what they are taking about. Read the BNF it’s contraindicated, partially in the 3rd trimester.

Codeine is contraindicated in the third trimester when taken regularly as the baby might experience withdrawal.

OP I’d get your BP checked

From the NHS website:

1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Co-codamol is not generally recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. There may be safer medicines you can take.

Co-codamol contains paracetamol and codeine. While paracetamol is safe to take in pregnancy, codeine is not.

In early pregnancy, codeine has been linked to some problems in the unborn baby. If you take codeine at the end of pregnancy there's a risk that your newborn may get withdrawal symptoms after birth. The baby may also get breathing problems.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/co-codamol-for-adults/

I'd phone your Midwife just to be sure x

No not cocodamol @ivegotthedecaf codeine phosphate 30mg I think codeine are prescription only. Cocodamol you can buy over counter.

This is true @mummycjw my midwife wouldn’t advise anything more than paracetamol but doctor said codeine straight away. He was quite good actually and understood I just wanted to be out of pain for a little while my appointment at the dental hospital was also the next morning. I asked him if I should have cocodamol instead but he was cautious because I’d already been taking paracetamol with no results.

I was prescribed codeine during pregnancy for SPD, went to the pharmacy to collect it and the pharmacist refused to give it to me after enquiring what it was for. Went back to the doctor and he said it the dosage he had prescribed was perfectly safe. He was furious with the pharmacist as she had put the fear of God into me, tbh though even though I did get the pills I never took them after that and was in agony the rest of the pregnancy and that was with having physiotherapy.

@tastingtherainbow I did state I was not a medical professional and also did ask how far OP was and have given my own experience after consulting my own doctor that’s it quite simply. Also advised her to seek professional medical advice.

If analgesics such as paracetamol or NSAIDs (preferably ibuprofen in the 1st or 2nd trimester) are not controlling pain experienced during pregnancy, or are contraindicated, opioids may be considered (4). The risk and tolerability of adverse effects with opioids must be balanced against the pain that the pregnant woman is experiencing and the risks to the foetus (1-5). Opioids also cause nausea and constipation which may be exacerbated in pregnancy (3).

Studies evaluating the safety of opioid analgesics during pregnancy are limited. There may be confounders such as doses used, maternal diseases and other medication (6). However, therapeutic doses of opioids have been used for many years by pregnant women and have not been linked to an increased risk of major or minor malformations (8).

www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/UKMi-QA-Opioids-for-painrelief-in-pregnancy_final-May-2017.doc

Cocodamol is only available over the counter in very low doses. Codeine is an opiate and I wouldn't take it during pregnancy at any stage! It's not jsut your own body you're exposing the opiate to remember.
OP please speak to your doctor or midwife for advice. They trained medical professionals and will know far more than random strangers on the internet who will give you their conflicting opinions.

Also do not take cocodamol if you have already taken paracetamol. You'd be combining and doubling the dose with the paracetamol already taken.

I have always been advised to stop using my codeine in the last few weeks of pregnancy but apart from that the only concern my gp had was around myself developing a dependency

I did - I cut it back as much as I could bit I still needed some most mornings especially towards the end.

DS is now 4 there were no problems.

Obviously ask your own GP/consultant though.

Just read your post looks like only on the odd occasion so🤷‍♀️

I’d seek medical advice. At 39 weeks I experienced a migraine that made me really sick, I’d had my blood pressure checked so not preeclampsia and the midwife said cocodamol was ok, for just a couple of doses. I was then given codeine in early labour (I was induced) as well, again just one dose.

I was also given some other form of codeine - dihydrocodeine? - after birth while breastfeeding.

Phone your midwife or day assessment unit.

I did. My GP had no problem with it. I too suffer from migraines. DS turned out just fine

There are risks associated with codeine in pregnancy, but doctors can prescribe it if they feel the benefit to you outweighs the risks to the foetus. You shouldn't be taking them without consulting your doctor or midwife. I feel your pain though OP, I currently have a migraine and am pregnant so trying to cope on just paracetamol 😩