Codeine
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Codeine should only be taken during pregnancy if recommended by your doctor.
What is it?
Codeine (Galcodine®) is used to relieve pain and to prevent coughing. It can be prescribed or bought over-the-counter in combination with other painkillers.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking codeine in pregnancy?
Codeine sometimes works where other painkillers have not. If your pain is well-treated, this can improve your sleep and quality of life.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking codeine during pregnancy?
Most studies do not show that codeine use in pregnancy will harm your baby. Some (but not all) studies have shown that babies exposed to codeine in early pregnancy may be slightly more likely to be born with a heart defect. It is unclear whether this is directly caused by codeine and more research is needed.
Codeine used around the time of delivery can affect your baby after birth. Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms, such as being unusually irritable or shaky, have feeding problems, and need some help with breathing. These problems usually settle within the first few days.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking codeine?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat pain in pregnancy. However, if your doctor has suggested codeine, this will be based on several factors. These include which painkillers you have already tried, the chance of your pain not being as well-controlled with another painkiller, and possible side effects if your medicine is changed.
If you are taking codeine and planning a pregnancy, or you find out you are pregnant, please speak to your doctor. They will review whether codeine is still the best treatment and ensure that your dose is correct.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
Pain can greatly affect your quality of life. It can cause difficulty sleeping and mental health problems. Your doctor might suggest you take codeine in pregnancy if they think that the benefits of controlling your pain outweigh any possible risks to your baby.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
Women in the UK will be offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. Taking codeine in pregnancy is not expected to cause problems that would require any extra monitoring of your baby prior to birth.
Babies who were exposed to codeine in the womb before delivery will be more closely monitored for a while after birth to check for withdrawal symptoms and ensure they are breathing and feeding normally.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken codeine?
We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes codeine.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.