co-codamol in pregnancy???

[memoo]

Does anyone know if it safe to take?

Was given it by the EPU but then keep reading that all you should take in pregnancy is paracetamol

Am confused?!

If there was a connection then it would be published.

I am 5 weeks pregnant with my 4th child, I have just taken a co codomol to try and relieve the constant head ache I've had for two days! When I had my 3rd child 3 months ago after an emergency c section I was prescribed oromorph even tho I was breast feeding, without it I wouldn't have been able to get down to nicu to see the baby who was 8 weeks early, my doctor has said the co codamol is fine in moderation when breast feeding and pregnant I should hope so after the oromorph !

I take co codamol 15/500 generally for backpain and as soon as I found out I was pregnant I stopped taking them. I spoke to my doctor a couple of days ago and I am now 6weeks pregnant. She told me that the codeine does reach the baby and it can have an effect on the babys breathing if taken close to birth. She advised me that I can still take them occasionaly if I feel I need them but if it was more than a couple of times a week then come back and see her. She advised me to try to only take one and see if it helped. I have just taken one and now freaking out because I came across a website which says if codeine is taken in the first trimester it can cause cardiac deformities and cleft pallate. I'm so terrified that I think I'll just suffer the pain and stick to the paracetamol. Don't know what to believe :(

i get them for my back pain as far as the doc told me they will not harm baby BUT i've found that if i take them he becomes very still and was told that they make baby drousy after birth if taken in the last few weeks so i do not take them to me making the baby drousy and still can not be good!

What do you all think about taking them in the first trimester? Has anyone else taken them in the first few weeks?

I have been given such horrendously mixed messages about it. I have seen 4 doctors and 2 midwives - all said something slightly different! Some say no, some say yes but risk the baby getting addicted, some say yes there is no problem. I have very bad SPD...and am 30 weeks. Low dose does nothing, higher dose makes me high and then the baby doesn't move for hours... so basically I have given up taking them!

NHS direct, in my experience, are less use than Dr Google. Perhaps I have just been unlucky.
If EPU gave them to you it will have been signed off by a doctor. I have been prescribed them at the lower dose during pregnancy before. the stuff you can buy over the counter 8/50 cocodamol is the same as what I was prescribed so should be fine.
Perhaps a phone call to midwife?

I am rather confused i was given co-codamol for SPD. Im 15weeks pregnant and i have been given 3 boxes ... equalling 100 tablets! Do you think he is trying to tell me its going to get bad lol! I am not one for taking painkillers anyway, let alone being preggers! Should i just grin and bare the pain as im scared to take with me being pregnant! x =)! x

Is there a limit on how many to take xxx

My consultant told me I could take co codamol sparingly but had to come off them frm 34 weeks as baby gets addicted! But on the other hand I was given them by a midwife in maternity ward after coming in thinking I was in labour but had bad kidney infection but was told not to take them again. I asked why I was given 2 and a paracetamol she said just to knock the pain on the head. I was also given 4 paracetamols before key hole surgery I asked why 4 and was it safe and the nurse said totally fine 2 won't do anything

If your EPU prescribed them, in a hospital, knowing you are pregnant they will be OK.

If you ring NHS direct you'll just get told to refer back to them! NHS direct is so risk averse.

I am on medication specifically for pregnancy which, for normal women, would not be allowed during pregnancy. A hospital specialist prescribed it: I wouldn't trust a GP or non-specialist to but you got yours from the right dept where they know about pregnancy.

cocodamol should not be taken close to birth (third trimester) and after birth if breast feeding.
it can lead to breathing problems in children.

the advice is relatively new www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/referrals/Codeine-containing_medicines/human_referral_prac_000008.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac05805c516f

I was given cocodamol after an operation at 19 weeks (general anaesthetic) on a short course.
I had a specialist consultant and the midwives team advising and they all agreed my treatment was safe.

There is a big difference between what is known to cause significant harm, what is safe but not desired as "ideal" and what know it alls will tell you.

Midjane your post annoyed me yes high doses of codeine can be dangerous in late pregnancy and baby may need to be monitored after birth. But please do not give advice as a medical person in a public forum, with respect you do not know more than an consultant. I have been prescribe codeine 60 - 120 mg a day by my consultant all my babies were fine. So the op should follow her individual medical advice.

Hello, here are links to patient info leaflets that summarise all of the currently available evidence about use of paracetamol and codeine in pregnancy. Hope this is helpful.

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Paracetamol/

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Codeine/

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/dibm/codeine_for_website_july_2013%20(1)%20(4).pdf link to codeine and breastfeeding.

Hi all

I took a co codamol earlier today as I had a killer toothache, so much pain and then read some horrible things on line. I haven't taken anymore but just wanted to hear what people's thoughts/experiences were? I am only 6 weeks pregnant x

Yes, but only the 8/500 strength x

I've been prescribed this by my gp to deal with nerve damage.

Co codomol is safe to take in pregnancy but not in labour.

I took plenty cocodamol in my last trimester because of a nasty kidney infection. My daughter was fine

ok during pregmancy.
not ok during birth and when breast feeding

I had cocodamol 30:500g prescribed in my last 3 pregnancies for SPD, the last two especially were bad I had to take 2 30 mins before getting out of bed do I could actually get out of bed, it was either cocodamol or a wheelchair.

All three babies born at term no problems including two homebirth a

My GP gave me cocodamol for pelvic pain a few weeks back (I was 20 weeks, I think) but with strict instructions to only use in worst case scenario and not at all in third trimester. Probably get slightly more circumspect advice from a midwife but worth knowing.

Hello I'm just wondering if any of u have some advice for me I've just found out that I am pregnant and I have been taking
co codamol for a slip disc and knee problems but I have been taking a lot of them but I didn't no I was pregnant will it have effected the development of my baby I am only taking 4 a day now then I am goin to stop them please could some1 help me I'm so worried thanks

I've been taking it all the way through and now at 22 weeks I'm also taking tramadol and ibuprofen on the support of my ob.